Separated Unto God

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through immersion into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be nullified, that we should no longer serve sin. For he who has died has been justified from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives unto God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law but under grace? Let it not be! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness unto sanctification. For when you were slaves to sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6

 

What does being a Christian entail? What are the attributes of a Christian? What are God’s expectations? We are going to take a look at holiness in relation to our behavior towards God and His expectation of those whom are in Christ. We shall see if the world’s definition of Christian matches up with God’s definition. Let’s begin by researching what the word holy means.

 

Holy (Adjective)

 

According to Webster’s University Dictionary Unabridged, Copyright 1942

 

1.) Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use; having a sacred character or associations; as, the holy temple; holy vessels; holy words

 

2.) Free from sin, pure in heart, immaculate in moral character; perfect in a moral sense: exhibiting holiness; righteous; as, a holy man; holy zeal

 

Here we can see in both definitions characteristics of a true Believer in Christ. In the first, a Believer is set apart unto God through Jesus Christ. In the second, we can see what being holy means in regards to our behavior, actions, thoughts, desires, etc. Now consider this in retrospect to what the world considers to be Christianity.

 

How many people sitting in a Sunday church service week after week can not wait to ‘fellowship’ afterwards with a lunch at a local restaurant? Where is their zeal for God or the desire to learn of His Word, growing in Christ. These people spend more time dining for one meal then they will talking about, listening to or reading His Word for the remainder of the week.

 

How many people even read the bible daily? Weekly? Monthly? How many of those who claim to be Christians have even read the entire Holy Scriptures or are diligently seeking to do so? Yet, how many spend 2, 3, 4 or even 5 or more hours EACH and EVERY day watching television!

 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

 

How many Believers aspire to be pleasing towards God and work towards purifying themselves as He is pure?

 

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1st John 3:2-3

 

Really how many of those who call themselves Christians even exhibit fruits of being a Christian? How much different are the mass majority of these supposed christians than that of the rest of the world? With the exception of attending church, a bible study or being involved in some sort of supposed ministry, what is the difference compared to those who claim nothing of the sort and simply live their lives, lost and without Christ?

 

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit. Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore from their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-20

 

How about you, dear reader, are you sure that you are Saved? Are you being separated unto God, are you becoming holy, is your conduct becoming more and more pure, are you abstaining from sin, are you dying to self? What are the attributes laid out in God’s Word of a Christian?

 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 2:16

 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also become holy in all conduct, because it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” 1st Peter 1:13-16

 

“For the love of Christ holds us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2nd Corinthians 5:14-15

 

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

 

As Believers in Christ we are to become holy as He is holy. We are servants of God, no longer self-seeking, but rather servants of the Most High God.

 

“For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.” 1st Corinthians 7:22

 

We need to become more and more separated from the world in our Christian lives, those of us who are actually in Christ. However, for those who are unsure or those who simply know that they are not truly born-again Christians, but have simply been going through the motions.

 

Do you not see that the time is at hand, that it is near, at the doors?

 

“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2nd Corinthians 6:2

 

Time is nearly out, will you answer His call?

 

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked; I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation of Jesus Christ 3:14-22

 

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation of Jesus Christ 22:11

 

If Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart, you best answer it while you still can.

 

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