Plus a sure sign of the absence of holiness...
A sure sign that a person is not at all good is if he/she claims, "I am a good person". The question is, by whose standard of measurement. By your own ...
or as compared to someone else? Good is relative but is best measured by the standard of God's word, not our own. And nobody lives up to God's word with anywhere near perfection. We all fall short. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...." Rom.3:23.
It is futile to seek to measure our "goodness" by comparing our level of righteousness (rightness) by the goodness or badness of others.
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
2 Cor.10:12.
Any human being who claims to be, or allows others to believe, he is "holy" within himself, by his actions, is not just lying, but is, in his flesh, completely unholy and likely completely lost. The only "holiness" any true Christian has is not his own, and is not in his flesh, but his spirit is "clothed" with and "covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness". "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isa. 61:10.
Our righteousness is totally in Jesus because he took all our sins, past, present, and future, upon himself, and bore them to the cross where he suffered, bled and died in our place for our sins that we might be spiritually cleansed in our souls.
"For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, (him) who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor.5:21.
John the Baptist, though completely human, was chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah... Christ's arrival among men. He was held in high esteem by the Jews, and lived an exemplary life, but still did not consider himself "worthy". "...he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear..." Matt.3:11. Neither are we... none of us.
A sure sign that a person is not at all good is if he/she claims, "I am a good person". The question is, by whose standard of measurement. By your own ...
or as compared to someone else? Good is relative but is best measured by the standard of God's word, not our own. And nobody lives up to God's word with anywhere near perfection. We all fall short. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...." Rom.3:23.
It is futile to seek to measure our "goodness" by comparing our level of righteousness (rightness) by the goodness or badness of others.
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
2 Cor.10:12.
Any human being who claims to be, or allows others to believe, he is "holy" within himself, by his actions, is not just lying, but is, in his flesh, completely unholy and likely completely lost. The only "holiness" any true Christian has is not his own, and is not in his flesh, but his spirit is "clothed" with and "covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness". "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isa. 61:10.
Our righteousness is totally in Jesus because he took all our sins, past, present, and future, upon himself, and bore them to the cross where he suffered, bled and died in our place for our sins that we might be spiritually cleansed in our souls.
"For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, (him) who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor.5:21.
John the Baptist, though completely human, was chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah... Christ's arrival among men. He was held in high esteem by the Jews, and lived an exemplary life, but still did not consider himself "worthy". "...he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear..." Matt.3:11. Neither are we... none of us.
The Roman Centurion, who was a high ranking official representing Caesar, nevertheless, humbly conceded his lack of holiness... though he had faith in Jesus. "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." Matt.8:8. This man's humility, and repentant spirit, not his own holiness, is what commended him to God.
The Apostle Paul went even further in his confession of unworthiness when he described, in great detail, his human, propensity to the sins of the flesh, though highly educated, wealthy, successful and an Apostle of Jesus. With all that, Paul was honest about his own fleshly weaknesses. See Rom.7:14-25. Through chosen of God to write half the books of the New Testament, he confessed, in great humility Paul admitted ... "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Tim.1:15. ("I AM" is a present tense verb). Do we have the humility and honesty of this fantastic Christian? Paul also admitted his human fleshly feelings of guilt, regret, and unworthiness, when he said ... "For I am least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." 1 Cor.15:9.
And yet, in all spiritual honesty, knowing the truth that neither were any of Christ's other Apostles worthy of their calling either, and he, understanding that he was actually, in all things, equal to the other Apostles... though none were worthy, said... "...In nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing." 2Cor.12:11.
Honesty and Humility are two of the crowning glories of all truly great Christians. There is no spirituality where there is no honesty or humility. A truly great Christian does not seek greatness or the appearance of holiness... but holiness itself which is Christlikeness.
Honesty and Humility are two of the crowning glories of all truly great Christians. There is no spirituality where there is no honesty or humility. A truly great Christian does not seek greatness or the appearance of holiness... but holiness itself which is Christlikeness.
No comments:
Post a Comment