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"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean
the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of
robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the
dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also."
(Matthew 23:25,26)
Is holiness not watching TV, going to the movies, dancing, gambling, smoking, drinking, doing drugs, not fornicating? A person with heart holiness will indeed separate himself from much that the world loves, but a person could abstain from all these things and still be unholy. Such was the holiness of the Pharisees, outwardly pious, visibly following the traditions of religion, even making a show of of their piety. Yet inside they remained unchanged, devoted to self, doing all for the sake of receiving the praise of men rather than pleasing God. (Matthew 6:5)
For holiness is first and formost a separation unto the Lord, a whole hearted devotion to Christ. Holiness is love aflame, where Christ is all in all. A person in passionate love with Jesus has no need for manmade lists of do nots, for she seeks to please her Bridegroom, and she embraces her marriage (baptismal) vow to "love, honor, and obey." Submission to Christ is not a chore, but her earnest desire.
Heart holiness is the promise and gift of God in the New Covenant. It is the work of the Spirit of Holiness in the Bride of Christ to prepare her for the coming of her Bridegroom. Only a person with heart holiness can walk in the midst of the world and yet be uncontaminated by the world, living among sinners and calling them to repentance and faith, yet always yearning and ready for the midnight cry "the Bridegroom cometh!"
NAS Jeremiah 31:33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within
them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
The Church of Jesus Christ MUST keep herself ready and unsoiled by the world. We must keep the world at arms length. We have been bought with a (bride) price and are not our own. We are commissioned to invite others to join us. Yet our call is for whosoever will to come out of the world and into the Kingdom of our Lord. For without holiness (separation unto Christ) none shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to
share with him who has need.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may
give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (Ephesians 4:17-5:21 NAS)
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
(1 Peter 2:9)
Therefore:
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND
WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome
you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in
the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
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