The Pursuit of Holiness? (Why we must have a Purpose Driven Holy Life )

Can someone pursue too much holiness?

It is interesting how some actually think so. I'm saddened when I hear others throw out words and terms without making sure that they are defining them correctly. (Been there) Legalism is one of those words that is a favorite for people to use. To the surprise of many, the definition of legalism is not someone who desires holiness. Because if that were the case, then every follower of Christ would be a legalist. The bible definitely does not call Christians to be legalist. Instead, we are called to be holy people. But this seems to raise a lot of confusion in our minds.

We begin to ask questions like: What are someones motives for pursuing holiness? Why be holy in the first place? Is it to Lord it over other people? To flaunt it? Is it about attaining perfection, a type of "works righteousness?"

We have lots of questions to answer, but let us define what holiness is not by understanding the term legalism. Robert Spinney gives a clear definition. Legalism is defined as:

"...an attitude (or motive) that leads people to try to establish, maintain, or improve a righteous standing before God by their own activities.

He goes on to say that

Legalism is founded upon the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ's justifying and saving work must be supplemented by one's own works. It results in an unbiblical emphasis upon works in one's relationship with God, especially by injecting works into the matter of justification.

This is quite clear if you think about it. In order to spot a legalist, you look at his inner motives for why he does what he does. Its all about the heart's intentions! When you look at a person's reasons for why they do what they do, it tells you a lot about them. If someone lives a life of strict obedience for the purpose of self-accolades, pedestal praises, or even perfectionism, then by all means, call it what it is: LEGALISM. But as you can see, legalism has no place in the life of a Christian. On the contrary, our Lord condemned the hypocritical legalistic lifestyle of the Pharisees who thought their external good deeds and recognition from men could place them into a good standing before God. That is not what we as Christians are to model our lives after. Believers in Christ have motives for holiness but those motives are not about self-glory.

"For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."
1 Thessalonians 4:7

This verse is in the context of God's will for a believers life in the area of sanctification, specifically, it is in reference sexual immorality. What Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica in this verse is that they are defined as people of holiness. The word "call" is a word that has connections to the naming of an individual. For example: "That girl was called Susie." Thats simple enough, right? In the same way, believers in the Gospel, are named or called by God as "saints." This word means "holy one" or "set apart ones" to God. It can also mean "sanctified ones." It is amazing how the very definition of our name has implications of holiness that pop directly out of it.

What we pull from this verse is that our ambition and goal as believers is to live holy and blameless lives that are pleasing to our Lord. You guys remember how we talked about motives right? Well our motive for holiness is to please our God. That is what fuels our engines! That is what drives us to learning more about God, sharing the Gospel, and living a life of purity. We don't seek to be pure because we want to Lord it over anyone (2 Cor. 1:24) or earn our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). But why we as Christian strive so hard for holiness is because that is what God calls us to be. (1 Pet. 1:16) We are to be holy because that's what He is.

Our purpose in life is sanctification and that is what people should think of when they think about us. The name of Christ has been drug through the dirt because so many profess to know Him yet do not reflect His Grace in their lives. If we are saved by the grace of our Lord, so we must live like we are saved by that grace. (Rom. 6:1-2)

My prayer for you is that when people think of you and you're name, that they wouldn't see you as a legalist or a holiness freak. Though we cannot help it when people accuse us of sins we did not commit, we must continue on to "excel still more" and strive for purity. Others must see us as people who have been with Christ, and say to themselves "that man/woman must be a saint of God." Again, not to glorify the flesh, but to magnify the Father!

You shouldn't define yourself as what the world wants you to be, but you should define yourself by who you are in Christ. Since we are called saints we must live like saints and never sully the name of God and our affiliation with Christ Jesus. So let us pursue holiness okay guys? Because that is what were suppose to do. Love you guys so much.

- Hacim

P.S. By the way, love for Jesus = Holiness too (John 14:15)