YOU ARE HOLY FOR HE IS HOLY by DONNETTE THOMPSON

Holiness is not an outward work, but inward. It is not the external acts or the things we do, but it is the internal work of Holy Spirit.

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; For I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 11:44, 45, 19:2, 20:7, 26 (KJV)

How could God ask that of us if He didn’t think it was possible?

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3 (KJV)

How is this possible? Well, the scripture says that “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit”. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Jesus prayed that we would be one with Him as the Father and He and Holy Spirit are one. (John 17). We are holy because we are joined to and are one with Him. If He is holy, then we being joined and being partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) makes us holy. Let me try to create a picture to help to explain this.

You are the temple of the Holy Ghost who is in you (1 Corinthians 6:19), His abode, His house where He lives is you. So, let’s say you spend the whole day cleaning your house and when you are finished it is perfect, “without spot or wrinkle” -- A complete work. After a while you notice there is a place that did not receive the complete work of the cleaning. Do you clean the whole house because that particular spot is not clean? Well, there are some who might, but most would focus on the part that needs more attention or need to be surrendered to the cleaning while maintaining (abiding) the cleanliness of the rest of the house.

When you surrendered to the cleaning of the house (the temple of Holy Spirit), you accepted the blood of Jesus cleaning you from all unrighteousness; the efficacious work of the cross of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Keep this truth in mind, Salvation is a complete work. There are some areas, as we all can attest to, that have not yet completely surrendered to the complete cleaning. Remember, it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel. It takes time to get stuff out of us. But the mercy of God is great! Look at this amazing scripture that shows God’s grace to Israel when they are to inherit the promised land.

“I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land”. Exodus 23: 29-30 (KJV).

God absolutely knew their limitations and He absolutely knows ours. He also knows the unlimited ability we have because He has joined Himself to us so we can become one with Him. So as we abide in Him as He abides in us (maintenance of the cleanliness), that is how we are able to see the areas that need to be tended to. The whole house doesn’t need to be cleaned again. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us. As we see the spots and wrinkles, we surrender them to Him. Sometimes it will not be easy, but He reveals to redeem.

Remember when Jesus washed His disciple’s feet. When He came to Peter, Peter was indignant and did not want his Lord to wash his feet. Jesus told Peter that if he didn’t allow it then he could have no part of Him. Peter then said, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head”. But Jesus then said to Peter, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” John 13: 6-10

So, it is not the external acts we think we need to do, but it is the internal (abiding) that is to inspire the external to act. You are holy because you are joined to Him who is holy. Abiding in Him is the key and He is the one makes sure you remain holy as you continue to abide in Him.