Holiness

April 12, 2021 (Monday)

 

I am firmly of the “holiness” theological persuasion. Let me explain what that means.

 

Let’s start with something that should be self-evident, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” [1 John 2:3 ESV] The test of knowing God is not confession. The test of knowing God is obedience.

 

John continues, “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” [1 John 2:4 ESV] John uses the word “liar,” a lot. Now the question is who are we lying too? Certainly we are not lying to God. God already know everything. So the lie must be the one we tell ourselves, and maybe others.

 

John then expands the idea from simple obedience, “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.” [1 John 2:5 ESV] Obedience (“keeps his word”) now migrates to the love of God. Not just having the love of God, but this love is perfected. In other words, it full fills a purpose. So we learn to completely love God and be loved by God.

 

My suspicion is loving God is “easy.” At least it is easier than being loved by God. How many of us are constantly regurgitating and ruminating on our past. This rots our love for God. This ruins the progress God’s love for us makes in our lives.

 

John next gives us a visual. “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” [1 John 2:6 ESV] Sometimes, when we deal with theoretical stuff, it is difficult to understand. John here gives us a visual of what this will look like… Jesus! Walk is a verb. In English a verb is an action, something done (something doing, something that will be doing).

 

Getting to a sensitive issue he is addressing, John clearly states, “If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark.” [1 John 2:9 CEV] Actually the verse clearly states, “brother” or better understood as “fellow believer.” Here’s the problem: we justify our “hate” by disqualifying them from the faith.

 

We use excuses based on color, race, tribe, language, fill in the blank, and name on the church door. The danger we run into when we do this is we “hate” is always based on our perspective and self-interests. God loves the world, unless Jesus was wrong about that point. If God loves the unconditionally, then holy people will also unconditionally love them.

 

Hey, Jesus used a Samaritan as the hero of one of His stories. What was a Samaritan? Someone who was ethnically different. Someone who was religiously different. Someone who was quick to be in conflict with the “good” or “correct” religious point.

 

Let me get back to the holiness bit. “If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ.” [1 John 1:6 CEV] Let me “drop the mic” at this point and just let you think…