Monday, May 9, 2016

Holiness

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“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God; the benefits you reap lead to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:22 (NIV)

Holiness [N] [T]
in the highest sense belongs to God ( Isaiah 6:3 ; Revelation 15:4 ), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God ( Romans 6:19 Romans 6:22 ; Ephesians 1:4 ; Titus 1:8 ; 1 Peter 1:15 ). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 ; 2 co 7:1 ; Ephesians 4:23 Ephesians 4:24 ). (See SANCTIFICATION .)1

               Paul writes to the believers in Rome. He reminds them God set them free from their sinful pasts. Further, he relates they have become God’s servants.

               When people ask Jesus to come into their hearts, they receive certain “benefits.” Believers have peace, wholeness, eternal life, and the Holy Spirit and His gifts. These benefits work together in our hearts to set us apart for God’s service. We become sanctified—separated from the secular and the sinful for a sacred purpose. 2

               Recently, in Sunday school, we heard of Mother Teresa’s history. Her father died when she was 8 years old. She felt called by God to go to India to minister to the people there. She never saw her homeland in Macedonia again. She felt called of God to spend her life in His service.
I have always admired her for her work and for her living out her faith. God prepared her for the task He gave her to do.
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1. http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/holiness/

2  The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, Chicago, revised 1988, page 1124   

4 comments:

  1. You don't hear much on holiness these days, do you? Thanks for sharing this with us. Enjoy the rest of the week! :)

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    1. Karen: You're welcome.I love the graphic and that definition of Holiness.

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  2. We don't hear much about it indeed, although the Bible speaks about holiness from cover to cover. I actually visited the place where Mother Theresa used to live in Macedonia (although she is was born in Albania)... there is a memory plaque where the house once stood.

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    1. Marja: When I first heard the term 'sanctified', I asked what that meant. My co-worker gave me her definition by describing her grandmother. White gloves, holy talk, etc.After being in a holiness church for almost two decades I learned it has to do with the condition of our hearts. Although, we now are in a different denomination, several of us still can say we seek to strive for holiness.

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