According to Andrew Murray, 19th Century Christian writer, teacher and pastor, there are two sides from which we can approach the higher truth of God’s word regarding holiness and likeness to Jesus. 1) the desire to know all Scripture truthfully and to have our system of doctrine complete and perfect. 2) the deep, intense longing to be made free from sin, as free as God can make us in this life. He said it is only from the latter that real access will be given into the heavenly life of Christ. Amen! Imagine the witness of today’s Christianity if the emphasis was on the latter more so than the former.
“Know the word of God like the back of your hand,” was the exhortation from the pulpit when I was new to the church. The only problem being however, the same person said privately that he would never preach on holiness. Time told down the track that a high price was paid for that refusal; which lines up with Scripture though, For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16. Whilst the desire to know all Scripture is vitally important, the desire to know the God of all Scripture is far more important and the two do not always go hand in hand. That means we should never be impressed solely by a person’s Bible knowledge or how well they are able to systematize their doctrines into completeness and perfection.
If knowledge of Scripture was all it took to make us holy and Christlike, the church and secular society would not be drowning in a cesspool of filth, delusion and perversion that each is. Although they could be counted on one hand, the most holy and Christlike people I have known personally have been those whose Scripture knowledge was not extensive. But so holy and Christlike were they, each left a stamp in my memory that can never be erased. Knowing their sins had been blood-washed for all time caused them to be grateful and faithful towards Christ, not frivolous or flippant towards Him as are so many at this current time. Very blessed they were to know, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8:1.
Whilst each of these holy and Christlike people did not live a life free from sin after their redemption, it was their desire to do so. To die to sin and live for Christ was their goal. They knew if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness Romans 8:10. That’s why they gave testimony to the saving and keeping power of the Holy Spirit. Not only did they fully embrace the work of the Lord on the earth for them, but by His grace they fully embraced His ongoing work in heaven for them, where He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews 1:3. In other words, the moment they came under sinful temptations and condemnation, they didn’t get religious before the Lord, they got real!
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…… let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith…… Hebrews 10:19-22. Amen! Whatever it was they were attacked with, the blood of Jesus sprinkled from heaven upon their hearts and consciences enabled them to live the heavenly and holy life, rather than the fleshly and earthly life so prevalent in the church today. No need had they to run around rebuking the devil, they ran to Jesus instead. And when they did that, the devil ran from them! Hallelujah! Through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit we are drawn into the very presence of God Himself. How sad that much of the church is not honoring this glorious truth.
For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you Luke 17:21. Although the word within probably means “among” in that Scripture, given Jesus was responding to a question from hypocrites, and although we are yet to experience the kingdom in all its fullness here on the earth, it is nevertheless, a grand reality for all born-again Christians; the kingdom of God is within individually as well as collectively. It is so important we stay mindful of this. A great blessing it is to hear and study the word of God in the collective setting but it’s not enough to safeguard us from caving in to the wiles of the devil if that’s all we do from week to week. Better it is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…… Matthew 6:33, on a moment by moment basis.
Because the Scripture tells them they’re in possession of it, holy and Christlike people seek to cultivate the mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16. They want nothing to do with anything that seeks to clash with that mind. They know the mind of the natural man does clash with the mind of Christ, so they give no heed to him or her who expresses their opinions according to it or who try force their “wisdom” and ways upon them, like the PC crowd are doing right now. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…… But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned ……… 1 Corinthians 2:13-14.
Holy and Christlike people take delight in their Christ-dependence. They bless their fellow man and brothers and sisters in Christ but they are not dependent upon them for anything in life. They’ve learned from the Scriptures the faithfulness of God to His people in days of old and they’ve learned by experience that same faithfulness towards themselves in this day. That’s why their response is always a resounding, “Amen!” when they read or hear, For I am the LORD; I do not change Malachi 3:6. It is also why they will encourage their fellow Christians to take their fears and concerns to God and get released from the burden of them. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and, and I will give you rest Matthew 11:28.
Because holy and Christlike people will take their every sin and every hint of such to the Lord without delay, they give witness to the truth of 2 Corinthians 2:15-16: For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life…… That’s right; holy and Christlike people will either attract or repel even when they don’t open their mouths to speak. Those who seek to be like them are drawn to them effortlessly, those who don’t, go out of their way to keep their distance from them. No better way is there of discerning who favors religiosity in the church and who favors reality.
Holy and Christlike people don’t see themselves as holy and Christlike, they see themselves as sinners redeemed by the grace of God. And when they’re asked to give testimony to what Christ has done in their lives they’ll tell you that they can identify clearly with the apostle Paul, who said he was once the chief of sinners 1 Timothy 1:15. No airs and graces will you discern from them. Like the Psalmist, they’ll twice tell you they hate every false way Psalm 119:104, 128. Like CH Spurgeon before them, done they are with all cross purposes, crooked dealings, hypocrisy and deceit. They know what it was once like to be trapped in those and they have nothing but empathy for those still trapped in them.
Holy and Christlike people are the backbone of the church. Someone’s marriage has been on the brink for months and then gradually there comes a glorious turnaround. What brought that about? The answered prayers and intercession of holy and Christ like people. A small child lies in a hospital bed not expected to live beyond the next 3 or 4 days when out of the blue he/she sits up, clearly healed, and asks for something to eat. Why the healing? Certainly it was due to the mercy of God, but also because of the prayers and intercession of holy and Christlike people. The 50-year old had been out of work for 18 months, seen by the in-crowd as one whose used-by date was up. Not so in the eyes of holy and Christlike people though; back in the workforce he now is!
Not only are they the backbone of the church, but holy and Christlike people are the backbone of all society. Society doesn’t see that of course, but God does. Society will have to wait until the holy and Christlike people have been removed from the earth; then it will know. When men’s hearts start failing them from fear and the expectations of those things coming on the earth….. Luke 21:26, society will know. And while most people will curse God on that day, many will not. They will humble themselves, repent and turn to Christ. Some of them will even learn the reason they were able to change was due only to the faithfulness of God in answering the prayer and intercession of holy and Christlike people prior to their earth removal. Jesus said, I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness John 12:46.
“That’s right; holy and Christlike people will either attract or repel even when they don’t open their mouths to speak.”
Today, men still love darkness rather than light. (John 3:19)
They do, Larry, which makes the Bible as true today as it has always been doesn’t it? Thanks and God bless you.