The Holiness God Desires

 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1–2 ESV).

 

Almost every time I speak or write about the grace of God, I am asked something like “But what do I have to do?” My answer is always the same: “We don’t have to do anything; however, we get to do everything.” In our reading today the Apostle John says Jesus is the “propitiation” for our sin. That word, “propitiation,” in the original language is ἱλασμός (pronounced hē-läs-mos'). It means an offering to appease (satisfy) an angry, offended party. Hhilasmós is only used twice (cf. 1 Jn 2:2, 4:10) in the New Testament. Both times it speaks of Christ's atoning blood that appeases God's wrath, on all sin. By the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus Christ provided the ultimate hilasmós ("propitiation").

 

Rober Murray M’Cheyne wrote the following in his Memoir and Remains: “Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.” God’s desire for our holiness burns through the Scriptures like a purifying fire. Paul would have us think so: “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Peter would have us think so: “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15–16). Hebrews would have us think so: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). There can be no doubt that God’s desire is the holiness of all His children. Since we had no mean by which we could accomplish that, the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to do so on our behalf.

 

We must understand what this holiness truly looks like. It is breathtakingly beautiful. It participates in God’s own glory — a glory bursting with life and majesty. It is not religious ritual: food laws and temple sacrifices, perhaps, or a devotion to churchly routines. Such was the mistake of many Pharisees — those punctual, precise, “worshiping” bundles of corruption (cf. Matthew 23:25–28). True holiness pierces to the deepest parts of a person; it touches and transforms “spirit and soul and body” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Holiness is a hand that plucks the heart’s hidden strings, filling all of life with heavenly melody. It is not smoke arising from the altar, but faith and love arising from the soul that has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

 

God desires one thing only… that is our relationship to Him through the blood of Jesus! We are holy because Jesus is holy. Trust in Him and Him alone. Then we are set free to do what is holy!