All who remain “in Christ” shine with the complete holiness of Christ Himself. This is true because God applies all of His Son’s virtue to us as a free gift that we neither earned nor deserved. Thus Scripture says,
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption… (1 Corinthians 1:30).
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). M
Yet, without weakening this truth in any way, we need to see another way in which the Bible speaks of holiness. Though we receive perfect holiness, we also pursue holiness as an ongoing activity.1 “Strive… for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?…Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you (2 Corinthians 6:14,17).
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
- As people who are “in Christ,” Christ’s blood already purifies us from all our sins.2 Then Christ gives us the responsibility to “purify ourselves.” We purify ourselves in the sense of staying away from “everything” that interferes with pure living, whether physical or spiritual.3
- Already the divine blood makes us completely holy.4 Then we must “perfect holiness.” That is, we must become completely holy in the way we think and live.
- Already we are “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8 cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Then we must “live as children of light.”5 In the darkness of this world, we shine like stars!
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world… (Philippians 2:14-15). M
1. Cf. Hebrews 10:14, which says, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” This passage shows both sides of Christ’s work. On the one hand His death has already given perfection. The verb form of “has perfected” is perfect active, which means the action has been completed. On the other hand, those who have received this completed perfection “are being sanctified.” This verb form is a present passive participle, which shows that the change to holiness is ongoing. This change – often called “sanctification” – requires our cooperation, Hebrews 12:10-11, 12:14; 1 Peter 1:14-16 cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Revelation 22:11. That is why we are told to “perfect holiness” so that God’s light shines in all our relationships and habits, 2 Corinthians 7:1 cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 5:23. “Sanctified” means set apart for God’s special use or made holy. Word forms of “holy” and “sanctify” often translate the same Greek word, from which the word “saint” also comes. See Matthew 23:17,19; 27:52; John 17:17,19; Acts 9:13,32; 20:32; 26:10,18; Romans 1:7; 15:16,25-26,31; 1 Corinthians 1:2,30; 6:11; 7:14; 14:33; 2 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 1:1,15; 2:19; 4:12; 5:26; 6:18; Philippians 1;1; Colossians 1:2,4,12; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:3-4; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 2:21; Hebrews 2:11; 9:13; 10:10,14,29; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2; 3:15; Jude 1:1,3,14; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4; 14:12; 19:8; 20:9.
3. To “contaminate” means to stain, to make filthy or unclean. In Greek 2 Corinthians 7:1 uses the noun: defilement, pollution, uncleanness. 1 Corinthians 8:7; Revelation 3:4; 14:4 use the verb. Research Subject – Stay free of stains: James 1:27; 3:6; 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 Timothy 2:21; Titus 1:15; Hebrews 12:15; 2 Peter 1:4; 2:20; Revelation 21:7; Psalm 24:3-4; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 4:14 cf. Old Testament types in Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10; 29:4; 30:19-21; Leviticus 14:8-9; Numbers 8:6-7; Daniel 1:8; Nehemiah 13:22-30; Hebrews 9:13.