THE KEY TO HOLINESSSteve NoelHoliness is a subject of great importance to the Christian. No higher authority than God himself has said, Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16). Yet the key to holiness is often lost amidst legalism or is languishing under license. Confusion about holiness abounds and distortions dominate the minds of many believers. Those who are laboring under the load of legalism need to hear that HOLINESS IS NOT A BURDEN. While those lounging in the lawn chair of license must realize that HOLINESS IS NOT AN OPTION. Scripture emphatically states that, without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14b). Yet herein lies the key to holiness: WITHOUT THE LORD NO ONE WILL SEE HOLINESS. This is the secret of holiness. This is the foundation of holiness. Holiness is the fruit of a living vibrant relationship with Christ. Holiness is not the product of human effort or determination. It is the outgrowth of intimacy with the Lord. This was the message of Jesus himself. He said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5). That being the case our focus should be on Jesus and not on producing holiness. Jesus is the source of holiness. Jesus is the root of holiness. Jesus is the foundation of holiness. If we neglect intimacy with Jesus, then holiness is impossible. How often I have tried to maintain holiness apart from a living vibrant walk with Christ. How often I have neglected quality time in prayer and in the Word and have seen it show up in my attitudes and actions. My Pastor once summarized this aptly when he preached a message called, You Can Trace Your Mistake to Neglect of the Secret Place.If we want our lives to be characterized by holiness, then we must make intimacy with Jesus our ultimate priority. Remember, without the Lord no one will see holiness. If youre lacking in holiness youre probably lacking in intimacy with the Lord. You can trace your mistake to neglect of the secret place. If you correct the root, then youll see the fruit produced in your life. Commit yourself again to seek the Lord in the Word and in prayer. Dont forget that Jesus is your focus and without Him you can do nothing.
_________________Steve Noel
If we want our lives to be characterized by holiness, then we must make intimacy with Jesus our ultimate priority.
If youre lacking in holiness youre probably lacking in intimacy with the Lord. You can trace your mistake to neglect of the secret place.
Lack of prayer, lack of holiness.There are no short cuts to what God wants. We either do it His way or forget it.If God says be holy for I am holy, then, that is what He wants. He wants to see His holiness in us, His people.When Moses stood before the burning bush, God told him to remove his shoes for the place where he stood was holy ground.The ground was only holy, because God was present.If God is not present in our lives, then holiness isn't either.We need holiness, God says so.God bless.
The ground was only holy, because God was present.
