“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Galatians 2:16-18 (KJV)
Christians do not approach life and living like the rest of society. We do not follow societal or cultural norms. The Christian lifestyle is based upon a principle of holiness set by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is a life of moral excellence and ethical purity. It honors Christ because our faith in his sacrifice at Calvary destroyed our past, justifies our present, and points us to our future.
Yet, we have to take time to be holy (remember the old hymn). Holiness is not realized through our works, but comes as the result of our intentional response to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It certainly takes time to develop the habit of walking in the Spirit. It is this walk according to the Spirit that cultivates maturity in us. It is the refusal to be found sinners that builds strength against the enemy. It is this intention to be holy that derails our adversary from rebuilding the things of our past, which we have destroyed through our faith in Christ.
The power for this holy lifestyle is neither generated by us nor our works. It comes only from a current relationship with God through Christ. The Holy Spirit activates and operates this new life power. He cleanses us from our sinful thinking; corrects our sinful speaking; convicts us of our sinful practices; forgives us of all our sin; and transforms us into holy beings.
Our continual response is: holy, holy, holy is our God!
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Enable us to fully consecrate ourselves and be holy as you have instructed us to be. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged in the holiness of Christ,