BUILDING HOLINESS

Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and do My judgments and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will establish My word with you which I spoke to David your father. 1 Kings 6:13

King Solomon was chosen by God to build the worship center of Israel, the temple. In so doing, he was not just building a material structure but also centralizing the worship of Israel which was not simply outward. A surface reading of 1 Kings 6:13 might give you the idea that holiness comes by obedience. Many, many people think that holiness means keeping rules. That is not holiness; that is one fruit of holiness. Consequently, God says to Solomon in verse 13 that He will manifest His presence in the nation of Israel on one condition: verse 12. You keep My commandments. Keeping of God’s commandments is the demonstration that His holiness is in us. Sometimes, Israel is told to obey because they believe and sometimes, they are told to believe in order to obey (Deut. 6:1, 5; Josh. 1:5, 8; Isa. 1:18-19). What follows, then, is growth in holiness. We also call it sanctification. It is the spiritual growth into the image of Jesus. It is becoming more and more like God. The more that we grow spiritually, the more that we become like Jesus.

Holiness is a state of being, a process, and a goal. It begins with receiving the holiness of God when a person is born again; that is, they receive Jesus Christ as Savior and the Holy Spirit indwells that person permanently. That’s why Hebrews 12:14 reads, “Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” It culminates when we enter the presence of God. At that point, sin is eradicated and holiness dominates forever as 1 Thessalonians 5:23 states: the God of peace Himself will sanctify us completely, or entirely. Where are you in the building of holiness into your life? Ask your pastor how you are progressing.

Ike Graham