The Holiness of Christ

We must first be grounded in our security in Christ.

2 Cor.5:21 “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Consider the following testimonies about Jesus’ holiness:

Heb.4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

1 Pet.2:22 “He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;”

1 Jn.3:5 “You know that he was revealed so that he might take away sins, and there is no sin in him.”

Isa.53:11 “After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities.”

Ps.45:7 “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.”

Jn.8:46 “Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?” Maybe it’s not their failure to answer that is so striking, but the fact that Jesus was aware enough of His own righteousness to even ask it!

It is more than the lack of active rebellion exhibited by Jesus, but also the fact that He perfectly conformed His will to the Father’s.

Jn.6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

Jn.4:34 ““My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work,” Jesus told them.”

Jn.8:29 “The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.””

As we contemplate sin, holiness, God’s utter perfection, and His hatred of sin, we quickly arrive at Isaiah’s conclusion in Isa.6:5 “Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies,” especially as we grow in our own personal holiness. Bridges writes:

…it is important that we receive the same assurance that Isaiah received: Isa.6:7 “He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.” It is not only at the initial point of salvation that we need this assurance. In fact, the more we grow in holiness, the more we need assurance that the perfect righteousness of Christ is credited to us. This is true because a part of growing in righteousness is the Holy Spirit’s making us aware of our need of holiness.

We NEED to dwell on Christ’s righteousness on our behalf because as we grow in righteousness and the Spirit convicts us of unrighteousness, Satan will use the Spirit’s conviction to discourage us in our walk with God.

Have you ever experienced this?

What is the proper response to the Spirit when He convicts of sin?

What is the proper response to Satan when He attacks our conviction?

Bridges says, “You, too, if you diligently pursue holiness, must often flee to the Rock of your salvation.”

His life is meant to be an example of holiness for us.

Peter tells believers that Christ left an example for us to follow (1 Pet.2:21 “For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” ) and while the immediate context is suffering without retaliation, we are reminded in the next verse that Jesus committed no sin (1 Pet.2:22 “He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;” )

Paul urged us to be imitators of God (Eph.5:1 “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,”) and encouraged his churches to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor.11:1 “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”)

If Jesus always did what pleased the Father, then should this not become the goal in our life as well?

How much do you scrutinize your daily activities?

When is the last time you examined your life goals?

Have you started to embrace any impulsive, sinful actions?

Have you recently asked yourself, “Am I doing this to please God?”

Finally, consider the thoughts of a nineteenth-century Scottish theologian named John Brown: “Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.”

Further, holiness does not mean, as so many times it is treated, as a list of do’s and don’ts…mostly don’ts. Christ came into the world with this confession: Heb.10:7 “Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.”” This is the example we have been given, and this is the example we must follow.

“In all of our thoughts, all of our actions, in every part of our character, the ruling principle that motivates and guides us should be the desire to follow Christ in doing the will of the Father. This is the high road we must follow in the pursuit of holiness.”