There is much effort, time and energy expended in the church today regarding attempts to be holy. It is an admirable and good thing that men would seek to live good and wholesome lives. In fact we are encouraged to do so in the word of God. However, our desired goal of holiness cannot and will not come as a result of our abilities to resist sin or temptation, this is due to the simple fact that we are sinners.
My brothers and sisters, we are saved and sanctified through faith in Jesus Christ. It is He who is justified and sanctified in the eyes of God. Our saving grace is that He (Christ) is in us. We must recognize this fact and grow in the power of it. Faith opens the way for the Holy Spirit to come and live in us; thereby producing the living life of Christ in us. It is Christ in us who is eternal life! Our work is in not trying to become holy, but in increasing our faith so that we can accept the great truth of "....Christ in us, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27). The following is the answer provided by Jesus to His disciples when asked by them "what shall we do, that we may work the works of God? (John 1:28) His answer in John 1:29 is the great work that we as Christians should seek to do in our lives. "Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." It is on the basis on our belief (faith) that we accept the eternal life which lives in us. Then we are to work out that which is within us. (See Philippians 2:12-13).
THE CRISIS OF FAITH
This is where we as believers encounter what my brother Watchman Nee refers to as the "Crisis of Faith." Would you dare to believe what the word of God says about our salvation and holiness?
Ephesians 1:7 " In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
Colossians 2:14 "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us."
Romans 8:2-3 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin, He condemned sin in the flesh."
You and I are save (yes sanctified) because of the One (Christ) who has accomplished all that is required by God to provide eternal life to us His creation. Our eternal life is based upon that immutable fact and nothing else. Our great work as Christians today is in believing this truth!
