Holiness - Clean it Up, Part 1
Given the general way that we find ourselves today it is no wonder that we have almost abandoned the concept of Holiness. What is Holiness and why should we pursue it? What does it have to do with our day to day walk with the Lord? To answer these questions we should look at a couple of verses, first from 2 Cor:
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB)
[7:1] Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Notice that a clean life, holiness, and the fear of God go hand in hand. It would seem that we are to do the cleansing from defilement. That requires work on our part. That means that we have to be constantly on the alert to make sure that defilement in both flesh and spirit are not around us. It says to flee youthful lusts:
2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)
[22] Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
It doesn't say that the Lord is going to zap you and instantaneously you will not lust after things. After all, we have the "old man" to contend with (Rom 6:6; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9). The greek word katharizo in our passage means to make clean, to cleanse (aorist, active, subjunctive - reality remains dependent on future developments). Let me explain this a different way. We have to get actively involved in this process. Without our pushing forward in this, the accomplishment never occurs. The Lord is waiting for us to humble ourselves and, test ourselves, and let Him know that we are serious about our getting right before Him. Again, this is both in the flesh and spirit areas. We have to abandon fleshly pursuits. We are the ones who need to make sure that our foot doesn't go down the wrong path (similar to the youth in Proverbs 5). This type of thing will wage war with our minds, and we are out to change our minds (Rom 12). Notice that our pursuit path of life involves a steady engagement of our review:
Proverbs 4:23-27 (NASB)
[23] Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
[24] Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious *speech far from you.
[25] Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your *gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
[26] Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
[27] Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.
This appears to be fleshly habits that will need to be corrected by losing the habit and replacing it with something else. Getting defilement from our spirit involves constantly bathing our spirit with things of the Lord, such as digging into His word. The Lord would not have told us this from His Word if it were not possible to do.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB)
[7:1] Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Notice that a clean life, holiness, and the fear of God go hand in hand. It would seem that we are to do the cleansing from defilement. That requires work on our part. That means that we have to be constantly on the alert to make sure that defilement in both flesh and spirit are not around us. It says to flee youthful lusts:
2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)
[22] Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
It doesn't say that the Lord is going to zap you and instantaneously you will not lust after things. After all, we have the "old man" to contend with (Rom 6:6; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9). The greek word katharizo in our passage means to make clean, to cleanse (aorist, active, subjunctive - reality remains dependent on future developments). Let me explain this a different way. We have to get actively involved in this process. Without our pushing forward in this, the accomplishment never occurs. The Lord is waiting for us to humble ourselves and, test ourselves, and let Him know that we are serious about our getting right before Him. Again, this is both in the flesh and spirit areas. We have to abandon fleshly pursuits. We are the ones who need to make sure that our foot doesn't go down the wrong path (similar to the youth in Proverbs 5). This type of thing will wage war with our minds, and we are out to change our minds (Rom 12). Notice that our pursuit path of life involves a steady engagement of our review:
Proverbs 4:23-27 (NASB)
[23] Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
[24] Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious *speech far from you.
[25] Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your *gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
[26] Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
[27] Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.
This appears to be fleshly habits that will need to be corrected by losing the habit and replacing it with something else. Getting defilement from our spirit involves constantly bathing our spirit with things of the Lord, such as digging into His word. The Lord would not have told us this from His Word if it were not possible to do.