Holiness (part 3)

10/10/12 Holiness is necessary because God is holy and He expects us to be holy and walk with Him. We must have a desire to be holy out of our love for the Lord and desire to be close to Him. Remember God demands that we walk as Jesus walked. 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (The word ‘ought’ means necessary or obligated.) As I pointed out a few days ago, the Lord Jesus walked with the Father in complete agreement. This is genuine fellowship – walking with God and becoming holy as He is holy. Our fellowship is with the Father, in the Son, by the Spirit. This is an amazing reality! We can fellowship with the thrice holy God. But how is this possible? How can a sinner (unholy) walk with the Holy One? It is because of the blood of Jesus! 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. The fellowship spoken of here is fellowship with God. Some understand the ‘one another’ of this passage to mean other believers and there is an element of truth to that. But the context, before and after this verse, is clearly speaking of fellowship with God. As followers of Jesus we desire to walk with God. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and provides the means for one who is unholy to walk with the Holy One. No wonder Peter referred to the blood of Christ as precious. (1Pet.1:19) This is amazing love: that Christ would not only shed His blood so that my sins can be forgiven but His blood also provides the means for me to fellowship with Him. Through the blood of Christ I can walk in sweet fellowship with the God! Even as these words flow from my fingers I cannot express the feelings of love and gratitude that I have for the One who died for me so that I might have fellowship with Him. Anyone who rejects this great love treats the blood of Christ as a common thing, tramples on it, and insults the Spirit of grace. (Heb.10:29) Eternal punishment in hell is all that is life for them. Do you express your love for the Lord? Could you tell and show others how you walk with the Lord? Prayer: Fathers, words are not adequate to express my love for You in sending Your Son to shed His blood for me. Today I want to draw as near to You as possible. Help me to walk with You. In Jesus name amen.