THE HOLY ONES PART 2. HOLINESS IN CONDUCT

THE HOLY ONES PART 2. HOLINESS IN CONDUCT

In the part one of this series we established that anyone in Christ is a Holy person. This person has been made a saint, he has been set apart unto God . This holiness is a nature. It is this nature that produces the lifestyle of holiness. Click here to read the part one of the Holy ones if you have not read it. In this second part, we will be looking at holy living . We  would look at instances of holy living, the useless struggle of trying to be holy under the law and how to  live an effortless  Christian life.

Titus 3
4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, note
5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; note
7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men
Notice this scripture, verse 4 to 7 explains how we are saved and how we received eternal life. It is by the Grace of God. We are made holy, justified and made righteous according to the mercies of God . It is not according to our works. All that we have, we received freely when we got regenerated by the Holy ghost.  As we said in part one, HOW CAN A MAN HAVE THE HOLY GHOST AND NOT BE HOLY? It is impossible. 
After talking of what we have, verse 8 gives an admonition to live a Holy life. We are to maintain good works. We are to live well among others. Maintaining good works is PROFITABLE TO MEN. See verse 8 above. The only way your lifestyle is pleasing to God is because it's pleasing to Men. Let's look at importance of holy living in details.

IMPORTANCE OF HOLY LIVING
As holy  people we are to conduct ourselves in holiness.  Saying the truth that what we have in Christ is independent of our lifestyle does not mean our lifestyle doesn't matter. How we conduct our lives on earth matter a lot.  This is because it is profitable to Men. When you steal, kill , destroy,  and do any evil, it is men you do it to. Therefore we are not to live our lives any how. Holy living matters to God because it matters to Men. As holy people, saints, we are to live a life that shows who we are. Someone putting on white and conscious of His dressing can not be comfortably swimming in mud.
1 Peter 1
14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Notice in the scripture above, we are admonish to be holy in our conversation(behaviour ). As obedient children , we are to conduct our selves in holiness. The holiness here is in lifestyle. As Believers we are not to pattern our lives according to the world. We are to live a life separated unto God.
Hebrews 12
14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Many people have interpreted this verse to mean that we are to follow peace and holiness with God. This is not true. It says FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN, FOLLOW  HOLINESS WITH ALL MEN TOO. Without this, no eyes can see God in you. We know that we have peace and holiness with God ONLY through what Jesus has done. We have established that in part 1.
Romans 5:  1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
When it comes to God, it is strictly based on what Christ has done. Therefore Hebrews 12:14 is talking of the lifestyle of holiness before men. We have established that holy living is important to God because it is beneficial to Men. Imagine as a man in Christ, you are quarrelling and fighting with everyone around you, how will the people see God in you? In that case they will even be doubting If you are saved. Here lies the relevance of holy living. It is so that men can see God in you.

HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN HOLINESS
Now that we have seen the relevance of holiness in conduct, how are we to conduct ourselves in holiness? 
First you must realize and accept the truth that you are a holy one. You are a saint in Christ. Remember that holiness in nature preceeds action. You can not give what you don’t have.  Many times Christians deceive themselves by thinking they still have the sin nature. That is not true. When you see yourself in sin realise that it is not you. Apostle Paul in correcting the Corinthian Church will ask them, KNOW ye not that ye are the temple of God?  1 Corinthians 6:19. So it's primarily based on a knowing and a consciousness of who you are that produces the lifestyle.
Secondly, you should allow, let God live through you.
Philippians 2
12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Notice, it didn’t say work for your salvation. It says work out your salvation . Salvation is free. It ONLY by what Jesus has done . Ephesians 2 :8-9. You can only work out what has been work in. You cannot give what you don’t have. The next verse tells us HOW we work out this salvation. It is by knowing that it is God who works through you.
Matthew 5 :  16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The light is in you already. All you need to do is to Let it shine. Allow God to live through you. We see so many Christians acting contrary to God in them. For example when you say I will never forgive. You notice within you, a discomfort telling you to forgive. All you need do is to Allow it. That is the real you. This is how to be holy in conduct.
The Christian life is not just hard to live. It is impossible to live without Christ.  This is why we must allow Christ to live it through us. No man can live the Christian life. There is morality that religion can produce, there is holiness by the Spirit. (For more on this check my post on GOOD WORKS BEYOND RELIGION). All that we can produce without the Spirit is filthy rag. Many times when people hear holy living the first thing they think of is laws, do’s and don’t ‘s. Fishes don’t need laws to swim because it is their natural habitat. As believers, we don’t need laws to live right. In fact it is the law that strengthens sin. Read Roman 7, you will see the struggle of those under the law.
Romans 7
4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. note
6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

We have been made dead to the law by the sacrifice of Jesus. Notice verse 5. The fruits produced under the law are fruits unto death.  All we need do is to produce fruit according to the life we have received

Colossians 2
16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: note note
17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, note note
19  And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, note
21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. note
The LAW  CAN NEVER HELP A MAN TO BE HOLY IN CONDUCTS. It can only produce hypocrisy. It can only produce men who have a show of wisdom in worship and humility, but are like white watched sepulchre.
FINALLY, You want to be holy in your conduct, focus on the right thing. We must realise that the goal of Christianity is not to be sinless neither is it to be sinful. The goal is to Know God. John 3:16, 17:3. Any man who focus on being sinless definitely have a wrong focus and so will keep falling into sin. KEEP your eyes on what Jesus has done for you and who you are in Christ, not whether to sin or not to sin. We are told to awake to righteousness and sin not. As you are given to righteousness, your mistakes will reduce. JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE, you fall and rise, still live. Ignore the devil trying to draw your attention to your sins. BE FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS AND BE GIVEN TO THE THINGS OF GOD. Then you will have less occasion to sin. Part of being given to God is renewing your mind. You must allow God’s word be your perspective about everything.  This is  where we have a part to play in conducting ourselves in holiness.

God continues to strengthen you, and help you produce the fruits of Righteousness. You are bursting forth as light in all areas. You are shinning in dark places. You are producing works that will always make men to glorify God.

By OBIAZIKWOR EMEKE MODESTY

www.emekemodesty.com

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