Practical Holiness

[Guest DonaldN]

I have been doing some studying concerning holiness. I would like your ideas as to what it really means in a practical every day life to live holy. Any ideas?

[byHisGrace]

Holiness is a separation to God-being set apart.  In a practical way?? Putting away those things that feed your carnal man.  Take a look at the list in Colossians 3, for some of the ways holiness is manifested in our lives.

[tsth]

When we receive Jesus Christ to "be" our Lord and Savior, (which by the way is Master) of our lives, I believe we are then beginning a journey of change. We are accompanied along a road of cleansing, and given many forks in the road. If we get hung up in one particular spot, and ask not for Jesus to help us, we will "stay" in that particular place, and will not continue in the journey, until that spot is reconciled to Christ.

I believe, that according to the Scriptures, there is a teaching of becoming a new creation, that we ignore. We cannot disregard that unity with Christ is "not" unity with the world, in terms of "our desires". Our desires should be in accordance with His desires now. In terms of how we view ourselves and others in this world. We die to self and belong to Christ, not to the world. Eve disregarded the Lord's desires, and acted on her own, even though she was told not to.

We, however have something different that we disregard as well, it is Jesus Christ and His grace. We are disregarding His grace all the time. Paul speaks of these things in the Ministry of Reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:11

11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Cor. 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you."* Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you* are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

2 Cor. 6-7 (I'll only post 7:1-3 here)

1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to  die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

(I would add that Eve corrupted Adam as well, when she asked him to join her in the eating of the forbidden fruit) And we are guilty of these things all the time, when we do not consider (or we are indifferent) how our behavior might corrupt another.

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

In His Love,

Suzanne