A Holy Nation

The God of The Bible is holy.  This fundamental trait permeates everything associated with our Lord and it characterizes all of His actions.  Revelation 4:8 NASB95 tells us,

And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, HOLY, HOLY is THE Lord GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, who WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

Isn’t such purity a contrast to the duplicity that is on display in so much of the world today?  His righteousness isn’t for show or a temporary state of being. He has always been perfect and will never lie to anyone.   What a relief it is to know that there is an alternative to the crooked, self destroying path that sin so clearly paves in our world.  Even more, we PRAISE GOD that His Holy Standard, a beacon of hope for freedom from darkness, is always offered to anyone that submits to His leadership! Romans 8:1-4 NASB95 teaches us,

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. [3] For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, [4] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The phrase no condemnation is often associated with relief from guilt for having already committed a sin.  However the real meaning, looking at the context that comes before Romans 8, is very different.  Because of Jesus and His work done on the cross, when we turn to Him and follow His leading through The Holy Spirit, we don’t have to sin when the enemy tries to trap us.  We get the opportunity to show a decaying world, increasingly beset with bondage, that living a life of freedom from having to commit sin in the first place is a real option! 

1 Peter 1:13-16 NASB95 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, [15] but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; [16] because it is written, “You SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Understanding The Holy Nation

Once we know that God’s Holiness for our daily lives is accessible, let’s take every available step to grow in it!  One of The Bible’s visionary scriptures on this subject is 1 Peter 2:9 NASB95 which says,

But you are a CHOSEN RACE, A royal priesthood, A holy NATION, a PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Here the word holy is clearly joined with the word nation.  First of all take note that the world will certainly take notice when issues like addiction, divorce, lying, greed, etc. are notably less present in The Church than in the rest of society.  But it is also crucial to understand that we will never walk in the blessings of holiness until we understand that we are part of a larger whole, a nation.  Central to the Biblical definition of a nation is an understanding that the members of the nation love, care and fight for each other.  One piece of practical instruction comes from Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB95:

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; [24] and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, [25] not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

I don’t know anyone, with any degree of experience in life, who doesn’t value the encouragement of others at various times.  Beyond the general idea of helping our fellow Christians, we are called to specific relationships with other Christians.  1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB95 tells us plainly,

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

If you have a hard time with a particular area of your behavior, make sure you know who God has called you to walk with!  Listen to the people God identifies, by letting what The Lord says through them change what you are doing. Make time with them a priority among your many responsibilities!

When it feels like the sky is falling in the world

It is obvious that evil and the resultant chaos it produces in the world are increasing.  Do you wonder about what to do in response or even experience discouragement that things are too far gone to change?  Rebuke those thoughts and remember Romans 13:12-14 NASB95:

The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Start by asking God to show you just one area where darkness has a grip on you.  Make sure that you fit in His Nation, The Body of Christ, where He wants.  With their help, keep turning to Jesus and He will change you.  There is a reason Paul, Peter and just about everyone trusted with writing scripture championed the growth of every Christian in this area.  When we make it part of our mission to turn to The Holy One, His Holiness in us will spark hope and in turn change others.