Holiness: Beautiful & Distasteful

The concept of holiness is just as beautiful and distasteful these days as it was when the book of Hebrews was written.

It is beautiful in that is the attitude and activity that directs our minds away from sin and self and points us to Jesus. It calls us to obey Him and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him as sin and its consequences loosens its grip on us.

It is also distasteful because it goes against our natural inclinations, especially those who are not followers of Jesus. Someone who is not saved will settle for a high degree of morality but they will not pursue holiness (being completely set apart for God). If they claim to be saved (and are not) they will find it appalling to spend regular time in God's Word putting into practice what they learn and repenting of their shortcomings. They want to settle for a salvation that keeps them out of hell ... and that is all.

The writer of Hebrews warns us that for those who know the Gospel and yet continue pursuing a self-directed life (sin) rather than holiness are held more guilty before God than those who have never received the knowledge of the truth.

Those who have never heard that Jesus died to save them will still spend eternity apart from God. We MUST tell them! Yet, those who have heard (and maybe even superficially embraced the message without any life change) and continue to live a self-directed life are held more guilty before God. Their punishment will be more severe throughout eternity.

This is serious!

Hebrews 10:26-29
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.