Called unto Holiness

Background Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4-5
Lesson Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, 9; 5:16-23

Introduction

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). God’s call to holiness cannot be sidestepped; if we aim to be saved, we will need to be holy (Heb. 12:14). We are to be both separated from the world and, most importantly, separated unto God.

“I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (Rom. 6:19). God’s call to holiness appears throughout the Bible and is a prevailing theme of God dealing with mankind. This call is not reserved for a select few but is for all born-again believers. To be holy is to be godly, to be obedient, to be prayerful, and to be humble and teachable. True holiness will touch every area of our lives.

As the world strays further from the tenets of biblical morality and truth, the need for God’s people to be righteous and holy becomes most urgent. Will you heed the call?

Key Verse

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy (Lev. 19:2).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The lesson scripture is an exhortation given to a group of recent converts. The apostle Paul’s concern and care for the believers at Thessalonica is clearly evident throughout this epistle. Preceding the lesson text, he tells them of his purpose in writing this encouragement to godly living: “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thess. 3:13). The imminent return of Christ urges us as it did them to faithfulness and godliness.

Thessalonica was a major metropolis of Macedonia, and Paul’s concern for the church’s spiritual welfare was justifiable. His appeal to “abound more and more” would be necessary if they were going to escape the tendency towards spiritual mediocrity. A purposeful effort to grow in Christ would be needed. The Bible offers many examples where spiritual complacency led to moral carelessness. In its pages are also expressed that indispensable component of a sound Christian life: a clear sense of right and wrong—that which pleases God and that which He hates. Christian growth is God’s sanctifying work; this results in people of conviction who are settled and secure yet resigned to God.

In chapter five, Paul shares seven keys to holy living. He begins by urging the believers to not only rejoice but to always be joyful, not just to pray but to perpetually pray, and not merely to give thanks but to have a thankful state of mind. These are three characteristics of a heart near to God. The next three keys encourage us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work and follow his guidance. His seventh key is an admonition to not just refrain from evil but to stay away from anything that may be interpreted as evil. If we are to be holy, we must be careful not to give any opportunity for reproach upon the faith of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s closing words are a benediction as he reaffirms the Christian’s complete dependency upon God for sanctification, preservation, and purification.

Practical Truths for Today

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Rom. 1:28). The world is consumed with immoderate and self-indulgent living. One does not need to look too far to recognize that man’s appetite for immorality, immodesty, entertainment, worldly recreation, and sports is an ever-present force. These things are found in nearly everything they speak of. In simple terms, the motivation behind much of these pursuits is ungodliness.

“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (Eph. 5:3-4). Have the immoral tides of the world affected how Christians understand holiness? Are we witnessing a slow but consistent erosion of the godly standard of holiness that our fathers once held? God commanded Moses to tell his people, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). This verse makes it clear that God alone is the standard of what constitutes holiness. Since God is unchangeable, this standard remains constant and consistent throughout time and eternity. Man has made a habit of redefining God, fitting Him into whatever pattern of life is deemed necessary. Alas, God is not mocked. We must be the ones to make the necessary changes, conforming ourselves to his will. God does not change, nor does He ever need to. God’s continuing work of sanctification in us, forming and molding us into the image of his dear Son, will produce fruits of holiness. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (1 John 2:6).

“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). Holiness is at home in a humble heart just as contentment and security rest upon a child who is fully dependent on his parents and accepts his place in submission to their authority. Some hear God’s call to holiness and are attracted to the light, purity, and cleanliness of being holy but are unwilling to relinquish control of their lives to God. These have not yet recognized their utter dependence on God. No amount of self-effort, even when done with the best of intentions, will produce true holiness. Holiness is the result of us letting God be God. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

“A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Prov. 24:16). Holy living is victory through commitment. We must be resolute in our pursuit of holiness, knowing that it won’t necessarily be easy, but it will be rewarding. The apostle Paul once noted, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9). God opens the door to holiness, but the evil one will seek to hinder us from passing through it. A commitment to godliness tears down the hindrances that have been erected in the path. This does not mean we will never stumble or fall, but within a commitment to God, there is keeping power saving us from falling too far or staying down very long. A committed Christian doesn’t give place for excuses or discouragement. If we do fail, the ever-available grace of God will guide us to repent, get back up, and declare anew to the devil and the world, “I am committed to holy living to glorify God in my body and in my spirit.” “For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed” (Isa. 50:7). God intends for his people to be his unique possession—a people who will love Him and glorify Him. “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6). Holiness can only be revealed to the extent that our human reasoning is subject to God. God has always had a people separated from all other people unto Himself. In the law of Moses, God instituted specific laws prohibiting them from intermixing unequal animals in their farm work, sowing diverse seeds in the same field, and combining wool and linen in the same garment. It appears He did this in part to teach them lessons on the necessity of maintaining a proper separation from unbelievers in their midst. Could it be that God, understanding the need to keep the true faith preserved, also engineered this separation by giving them dietary and hygiene laws that made it more difficult for his people to intermingle with the heathens they lived among? Some in the Old Testament challenged parts of the law God gave Moses, failing to see the purpose or necessity of it. These same challenging voices are also heard in our day, not always in a defiant manner that asks, “What’s wrong with it?” but in an unteachable spirit not far removed from an insubordinate attitude. God surely guides his church in decisions with the sole purpose of maintaining a healthy separation from the world, ultimately for the preservation of faith. “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Lev. 20:26).

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:20-21). Holiness is possible for each of us but only through faith. We must believe that the One who said to us “Be ye holy” meant it and that He alone can help us to live it. Nothing hinders the work of the Holy Spirit more than a heart of unbelief. Are there those who have tried to live a Christian life but found only failure, concluding a holy life is not achievable? No one need settle for the empty pleasure of Egypt while God stands ready to deliver us into a land of milk and honey. God has a purpose for each one, and that purpose is only discovered in a life of holiness. If we attempt to subdue the flesh by the power of the flesh, we can only expect defeat, “but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13). Let us choose life, the life of holiness through faith in the Son of God.

Questions

1. Is the biblical teaching of modesty part of holy living?
2. Why would we shy away from conversations about the need for holiness?
3. Discuss: Is it possible to keep one’s self separate from the world but not necessarily unto God? What does that look like?
4. Is our vision of nonconformity to the world as clear today as in our grandfather’s day?
5. What cautions we should keep in mind when reading books written by authors of various persuasions?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).