Thank you to Ian for this week’s MWB
The Promise of Holiness
Lev.11 v.45b says – “Be Holy, because I am holy.”
Paul says – “I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way.” – Acts 24 v.14
The Way was the name given to the church throughout the book of Acts. The origins of this title – The Way – can be traced back to the Jewish word – Halakhah – which united all the Biblical and Theological teachings of the Jews to provide – “The way of the Lord” – the way of life aligned to God’s will.
In Jn.14 v.6 Jesus says – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”
In Lk.3 v.4, talking of John the Baptist, Luke quotes Isaiah 40 – A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord.’” Isaiah is referring back to the promise of ch.35 which starts – “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.” – He then continues in v.6 – And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way;” and again in v.9 – “only the redeemed will walk there and the ransomed of the Lord will return.” – (the whole chapter is recommended reading; it marries holiness with joy).
In Eph.5 v.25b to 26a Paul writes – “ Christ Loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy.” – – and again, in the prayer of Jesus, Jn.17 v.19 – – “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” – We can see that God’s plan is that, through Jesus Christ, we be restored to holiness; that, as John says in 1 Jn.3 v.2 – “we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” – John continues in v.4 – “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
When Jesus tells his disciples to follow him, our obedience to that call puts us on the highway called – “ the Way of Holiness.” – and he is – “the way and the truth and the life.” – Daniel in ch.12 v.10 prophecies – “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” – The purpose of these next few weeks is for us to grow in our understanding of what it means to walk humbly and joyfully with our God on – “ the Way of Holiness.” – and to join the ransomed of the Lord who – “will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Prayer – Help us Lord to grow in understanding of holiness.