There cannot be any doubt that we ARE instructed to live holy lives and that it IS possible.
The way of obeying this instruction is what is discussed here.
The most anyone can achieve in the way of holiness is to become like the Pharisees. (Righteous but not in spirit and
truth) What is needed is not stronger will power or better self control. What is needed is a NEW HEART. Can anyone
change his own heart? If you love violence for example, can you change your heart so that when you see it on
television you immediately and truly hate it? No, the best that you can do is to suppress your curiosity and switch off
the television or look the other way. Even this we may find difficult to do. If you have an adulterous eye, can you
change your heart so that when you see a nude woman on the television you do not look at her lustfully? No, the best
that you can do is to deny your wicket heart its desires and to either switch off the program or look away. While an
adulterer is not physically committing the act, did he stop being an adulterer? When the thief is not busy stealing is he
not a thief. We all have the inclination and desire to do sin even if we manage to restrain ourselves and not do the act.
The old self is capable of restraining its own wicket desires and to keep the law to some extend but it cannot change
itself to be good. That is why we must be born again. Due to the fall of man our very nature has become corrupted
and we are not able to achieve any degree of righteousness in ourselves. If we were able to be righteous why was the
Cross needed. No, Jesus came because every human being lacked eternally. That is why Jesus said:
Joh 17:19 And I sanctify Myself for their sakes, so that they also might be sanctified in truth.
However we are commanded to be holy and it IS possible because the Lord Jesus Christ has made it
possible for us to stay and live in Him, the vine. He IS the vine and He has already overcome the world.
If Jesus Christ lives in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit we have the source of all goodness and holiness living in us.
Now we have both the will and the power to please God. The only limitation to the manifestation of the power of God
in our lives is now our free will. Shall we walk in the Spirit or fulfill the desires of our sinful nature?
We must learn to choose to walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:16) What about the sinful nature that we have in our flesh? We
must through faith hold that it was crucified with Christ and that it is dead and buried with Him.
2Ti 2:11 For faithful is the Word, for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
We were resurrected with Him because the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead also now lives in us.
Rom 8:11-12
But if the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised
up Christ from the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive by His Spirit who dwells in
you. Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Just as a baby learns to walk we must learn to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. This takes time and we by the
grace of God eventually find that we are changing.
Jas 3:2
For in many things we all offend. If anyone does not offend in word, the same is a full-grown
man, able also to bridle the whole body.
We are not changed in that we develop stronger will power or better self control. No, we discover over time that our
hearts have changed. We no longer want to commit adultery etc. We have changed hearts and because it is not an
effort of our will, (and performed by the Spirit) we are changed and serve God in Spirit and truth.
This journey is not to make us better people. It is not to make us righteous according to our standards or that of the
church or other people. No, much more. It is to make us conform to the image of Jesus Christ. This is a process called
sanctification. It is the work of the Spirit. He IS our sanctification and righteousness.
1Co 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and
sanctification and redemption...
1Th 5:23-24
And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who called you, who also will
do it.
Php 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Having said this we know that we have a responsibility also. I have mentioned earlier that we can limit the working
of the Holy Spirit in our lives because we have free will. We are required to Walk in the Spirit.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord...
Gal 5:16 I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
I may not be able to explain this sufficiently but I know this, that when Jesus Christ apears we shall be perfect.
Although I strive to please Him in all things and walk in the Spirit, I have no trust in my ability and often fail, but I
know that He Who cannot fail has promised to complete the Work that He has started in me.
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day
of Jesus Christ,
Jud 1:24-25
Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His glory without blemish, with
unspeakable joy; to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty and might and authority, even now and
forever. Amen.
Adriaan