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If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis - Religion - Nairaland

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If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 7:16pm On Feb 04, 2017
Here’s a question grace preachers hear a lot: “If we are already holy, then why does God call us to be holy?” Answer: He’s calling us to be who we truly are. He is saying, “You are my sanctified children. Act like it. Be who I made you to be.”

As D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said:

Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are…

“Paul, I’m still confused. It seems there are a lot of scriptures exhorting us to become holy. How do we reconcile those with other scriptures that say that we are already holy?” The best answer I’ve heard comes from Bill Gillham, who compares Christians to oak trees:

Are Christians a truly holy people, or are we trying to become a holy people?… As an oak sapling grows, it doesn’t get “oakier.” Oak is oak. It simply matures into what it is, a full-grown oak tree.

You don’t become an oak tree by acting like an oak tree; nor do you become holy by acting holy. Jesus makes you holy. Your part is to mature into what He has already made you. This takes time, but just as a baby never becomes more human as it grows, you will never become more holy as you mature. You simply grow into who God has already made you to be. Here’s Bill Gillham again:

Needless to say, maturity doesn’t occur in one giant leap, but through a process: “But we all … are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Notice it’s “from glory to glory,” not “from garbage to glory.” You are already holy in Christ … Just as an oak sapling does not get oakier as it matures, neither does a new creature in Christ get holier, more forgiven, more accepted, etc.

Critics of the modern grace message say we who preach it are opposed to holy living. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we are opposed to is the old habit of trying to make yourself holy by acting holy . You just can’t do it. The standard is too high. But the good news declares God makes us holy. He takes the shards of our broken lives and makes something beautiful, pleasing, sweet-smelling, and Christ-like.

Now that we have a good understanding of why the Bible calls us to be holy, we can look at some of the NT scriptures on holiness:

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints (Romans 1:7a, ESV). Be saintly because you are saints, as Paul says many times in his letter to the Romans.

Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:19b). Given that Christ has already sanctified us, a more accurate translation might be “unto holiness” as in, “Just as you used to live unto wickedness when you were wicked, live unto holiness now that you are holy.”

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:22). A better translation may be, “have fruit unto sanctification.” Holy fruit are reaped not manufactured. Like eternal life, fruit are gifts, not wages (John 3:16, 5:21).

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people … (1 Corinthians 1:2a). You are sanctified so act like it.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity … (Colossians 3:5a). If you’re a butterfly, don’t act like a caterpillar. If you have been given a new nature, don’t act in accordance with your old one. That’s hypocrisy. It’s pretending to be someone you are not.

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality … (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It is God’s will that you should be sanctified in your conduct, not because your salvation hinges on it, but your wellbeing does. Sin is destructive.

Each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4:4–5). You know who your Father is so don’t act like someone who doesn’t.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23a). Sanctification is God’s work, not yours. Just as His gift of salvation is something to work out in your life, so is His sanctification. You already have it, so enjoy it!

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do (1 Peter 1:15). You are not holy because you act holy. You are holy because you are children of a holy Father. Indeed, you are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). Be who you truly are.

New Testament exhortations to live holy should not be read as a self-help guide to holiness. Rather, they are pictures of the wholesome, healthy life we get to enjoy as we allow Christ to express His holy life through us.

New Testament exhortations to live holy are advertisements for the abundant life that is already ours in Christ.


https://escapetoreality.org/2014/08/22/be-holy/
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by Danielgabby(m): 10:18pm On Feb 04, 2017
@jiggaz ..NYC 1..u actually know the truth......We are Men Made Perfect (heb 12:23). We have the Spirit of God in us to know the things which are freely given to us of God.......The grace is sufficient for us i.e the grace of salvation.....

1 Like

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 7:08am On Feb 05, 2017
Danielgabby:
@jiggaz ..NYC 1..u actually know the truth......We are Men Made Perfect (heb 12:23). We have the Spirit of God in us to know the things which are freely given to us of God.......The grace is sufficient for us i.e the grace of salvation.....
Thanx bro. Am happy you know the truth also.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 12:55pm On Feb 05, 2017
Afternoon
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 6:36am On Feb 06, 2017
morning
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 6:24pm On Feb 06, 2017
jiggaz:
morning
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 6:55am On Feb 09, 2017
. . .
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by Janeyinspires(f): 9:45am On Feb 09, 2017
This is scriptures breaken down to tiny,edible bits for easy passage to ones spiritual system.
.
.
.
I really must commend you,jiggaz!
Tnx for the enlightenment.
It can only be God!
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 11:24am On Feb 09, 2017
Janeyinspires:
This is scriptures breaken down to tiny,edible bits for easy passage to ones spiritual system.
.
.
.
I really must commend you,jiggaz!
Tnx for the enlightenment.
It can only be God!
You welcome my dear, all glory to Christ Jesus!! Paul Ellis is a great teacher and Pastor, and i have learnt so much from him via his blog -->> Escape to reality.... That's why i always post his articles here for the embodiment of the Body of Christ. God is good...
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by Janeyinspires(f): 3:03pm On Feb 09, 2017
jiggaz:
You welcome my dear, all glory to Christ Jesus!! Paul Ellis is a great teacher and Pastor, and i have learnt so much from him via his blog -->> Escape to reality.... That's why i always post his articles here for the embodiment of the Body of Christ. God is good...

Ama check his blog out.Tenkiu!
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 3:31pm On Feb 09, 2017
Janeyinspires:

Ama check his blog out.Tenkiu!
Alright, u welcome.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by oaroloye(m): 7:10pm On Feb 09, 2017
Oyinbos generally do not know what they are talking about.

HOLINESS is merely the highest of four Spiritual Energy classifications:

. REVELATION 22:11.
. MATTHEW 13:1-23.

"ENERGY" is the ability to do work.

Those who are HOLY can do all the works of Gos effortlessly.

Those who are RIGHTEOUS can do all the Works of God with effort.

Those who are FILTHY cannot do the Works of God, because they have insufficient Energy to complete their efforts.

Those who are UNJUST lack the Energy to even understand, receive, nor believe the Works of God.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 6:24am On Feb 10, 2017
morning
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 6:21pm On Feb 10, 2017
evening
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 12:48pm On Feb 12, 2017
afternoon..
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 7:07am On Feb 19, 2017
noted
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 1:32pm On Feb 19, 2017
noted...
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by Janeyinspires(f): 4:57pm On Feb 19, 2017
jiggaz:
You welcome my dear, all glory to Christ Jesus!! Paul Ellis is a great teacher and Pastor, and i have learnt so much from him via his blog -->> Escape to reality.... That's why i always post his articles here for the embodiment of the Body of Christ. God is good...

Beautiful Sunday jigazz,I was over at Paul's blog.That's really an escape to reality.Each post I read sets in a new exhilarating feeling in my spirit.I am now viewing my walk with God in a new light....Only grace.Not about us,but all about Jesus .Remain Free.

1 Like

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 12:56am On Feb 20, 2017
Janeyinspires:


Beautiful Sunday jigazz,I was over at Paul's blog.That's really an escape to reality.Each post I read sets in a new exhilarating feeling in my spirit.I am now viewing my walk with God in a new light....Only grace.Not about us,but all about Jesus .Remain Free.
Am glad to hear this Janey... Yes God is really using Paul Ellis mightily in the spread of the Gospel of Grace... Am glad you know the truth.

1 Like

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 11:51am On Feb 26, 2017
mm mmm mmm
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 8:54pm On Feb 26, 2017
mom.. nnnmmm...

1 Like

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 1:10pm On Mar 15, 2017
nn... nnnn.... nnnnn
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by donnie(m): 2:27pm On Mar 15, 2017
jiggaz:
Here’s a question grace preachers hear a lot: “If we are already holy, then why does God call us to be holy?” Answer: He’s calling us to be who we truly are. He is saying, “You are my sanctified children. Act like it. Be who I made you to be.”

As D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said:

Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are…

“Paul, I’m still confused. It seems there are a lot of scriptures exhorting us to become holy. How do we reconcile those with other scriptures that say that we are already holy?” The best answer I’ve heard comes from Bill Gillham, who compares Christians to oak trees:

Are Christians a truly holy people, or are we trying to become a holy people?… As an oak sapling grows, it doesn’t get “oakier.” Oak is oak. It simply matures into what it is, a full-grown oak tree.

You don’t become an oak tree by acting like an oak tree; nor do you become holy by acting holy. Jesus makes you holy. Your part is to mature into what He has already made you. This takes time, but just as a baby never becomes more human as it grows, you will never become more holy as you mature. You simply grow into who God has already made you to be. Here’s Bill Gillham again:

Needless to say, maturity doesn’t occur in one giant leap, but through a process: “But we all … are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Notice it’s “from glory to glory,” not “from garbage to glory.” You are already holy in Christ … Just as an oak sapling does not get oakier as it matures, neither does a new creature in Christ get holier, more forgiven, more accepted, etc.

Critics of the modern grace message say we who preach it are opposed to holy living. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we are opposed to is the old habit of trying to make yourself holy by acting holy . You just can’t do it. The standard is too high. But the good news declares God makes us holy. He takes the shards of our broken lives and makes something beautiful, pleasing, sweet-smelling, and Christ-like.

Now that we have a good understanding of why the Bible calls us to be holy, we can look at some of the NT scriptures on holiness:

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints (Romans 1:7a, ESV). Be saintly because you are saints, as Paul says many times in his letter to the Romans.

Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:19b). Given that Christ has already sanctified us, a more accurate translation might be “unto holiness” as in, “Just as you used to live unto wickedness when you were wicked, live unto holiness now that you are holy.”

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:22). A better translation may be, “have fruit unto sanctification.” Holy fruit are reaped not manufactured. Like eternal life, fruit are gifts, not wages (John 3:16, 5:21).

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people … (1 Corinthians 1:2a). You are sanctified so act like it.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity … (Colossians 3:5a). If you’re a butterfly, don’t act like a caterpillar. If you have been given a new nature, don’t act in accordance with your old one. That’s hypocrisy. It’s pretending to be someone you are not.

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality … (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It is God’s will that you should be sanctified in your conduct, not because your salvation hinges on it, but your wellbeing does. Sin is destructive.

Each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4:4–5). You know who your Father is so don’t act like someone who doesn’t.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23a). Sanctification is God’s work, not yours. Just as His gift of salvation is something to work out in your life, so is His sanctification. You already have it, so enjoy it!

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do (1 Peter 1:15). You are not holy because you act holy. You are holy because you are children of a holy Father. Indeed, you are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). Be who you truly are.

New Testament exhortations to live holy should not be read as a self-help guide to holiness. Rather, they are pictures of the wholesome, healthy life we get to enjoy as we allow Christ to express His holy life through us.

New Testament exhortations to live holy are advertisements for the abundant life that is already ours in Christ.


https://escapetoreality.org/2014/08/22/be-holy/

This is the true message of the new testament. Weldone.

This is what Rev Dr. Chris Oyakhilome has been teaching for decades. The Word of God is not a set of rules, but a mirror showing us our true reflection.

As we continually look at our true reflection in the mirror (God's Word), we are transformed into the same image by the power of the Holy Ghost.

This is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. O glory!!

1 Like 1 Share

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 3:12pm On Mar 15, 2017
donnie:


This is the true message of the new testament. Weldone.

This is what Rev Dr. Chris Oyakhilome has been teaching for decades. The Word of God is not a set of rules, but a mirror showing us our true reflection.

As we continually look at our true reflection in the mirror (God's Word), we are transformed into the same image by the power of the Holy Ghost.

This is the law of the Spirit of life on Christ Jesus. O glory!!
Thank you... yes, what you said is correct.

1 Like

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by donnie(m): 4:41pm On Mar 15, 2017
oaroloye:
Oyinbos generally do not know what they are talking about.

HOLINESS is merely the highest of four Spiritual Energy classifications:

. REVELATION 22:11.
. MATTHEW 13:1-23.

"ENERGY" is the ability to do work.

Those who are HOLY can do all the works of Gos effortlessly.

Those who are RIGHTEOUS can do all the Works of God with effort.

Those who are FILTHY cannot do the Works of God, because they have insufficient Energy to complete their efforts.

Those who are UNJUST lack the Energy to even understand, receive, nor believe the Works of God.

And how did you come about this teaching?
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 5:40pm On Mar 19, 2017
evening...
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by MrPRevailer(m): 8:07pm On Mar 19, 2017
donnie:


This is the true message of the new testament. Weldone.

This is what Rev Dr. Chris Oyakhilome has been teaching for decades. The Word of God is not a set of rules, but a mirror showing us our true reflection.

As we continually look at our true reflection in the mirror (God's Word), we are transformed into the same image by the power of the Holy Ghost.

This is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. O glory!!

bro.. the Bible says "If you continue to live in the flesh, you will SURELY DIE. But if you mortify the deeds of the flesh through the spirit, you shall live". Romans

Galatians 5:19-21 "And the works of the flesh are made manifest lasciviousness, envy, fornication, wrath.... of which I have told you (Believers) that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by donnie(m): 1:44pm On Mar 20, 2017
MrPRevailer:


bro.. the Bible says "If you continue to live in the flesh, you will SURELY DIE. But if you mortify the deeds of the flesh through the spirit, you shall live". Romans

Galatians 5:19-21 "And the works of the flesh are made manifest lasciviousness, envy, fornication, wrath.... of which I have told you (Believers) that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

And you have succeeded in saying?
You are not supposed to live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

If you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

And to walk in the Spirit is to walk in the light of His Word.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by MrPRevailer(m): 3:02pm On Mar 20, 2017
donnie:


And you have succeeded in saying?
You are not supposed to live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

If you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

And to walk in the Spirit is to walk in the light of His Word.

I suceeded in proving in the undiluted Word of God that no unrightoeous believer will enter the kingdom of God because of the works of the flesh: fornication, adultery, envy, wrath etc.

Also Matthew 7:21 "Many will say Lord we prophesied in your name, I will say to them, depart from me you worker of iniquity.

So Be you Righteous. Walk in the Spirit.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by donnie(m): 9:24am On Mar 21, 2017
MrPRevailer:


I suceeded in proving in the undiluted Word of God that no unrightoeous believer will enter the kingdom of God because of the works of the flesh: fornication, adultery, envy, wrath etc.

Also Matthew 7:21 "Many will say Lord we prophesied in your name, I will say to them, depart from me you worker of iniquity.

So Be you Righteous. Walk in the Spirit.

I know you think you will be seen as spiritual simply because you quote "works of the flesh" several times. Well not to me... because I know that only the spiritual will understand the OPs message which you do not seem to understand.

By the way, there's nothing like "unrighteous believer" in the bible.

1 Like 1 Share

Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by MrPRevailer(m): 9:54pm On Mar 22, 2017
donnie:


I know you think you will be seen as spiritual simply because you quote "works of the flesh" several times. Well not to me... because I know that only the spiritual will understand the OPs message which you do not seem to understand.

By the way, there's nothing like "unrighteous believer" in the bible.

Paul says know you not that the unrighteous will not enter the kingdom of God. And he's talking to believers.
So those who have common sense knows he's referring to both unbelivers and believers. And admonishing us to stay away from these things.
Re: If We Are Holy, Why Does God Call Us To Be Holy? - Paul Ellis by jiggaz(m): 6:48am On Apr 02, 2017
morning

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