For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in
holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has
also given us His Holy Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 4.7-8
Paul wants to make a couple of things very clear. One of
those is the importance of love. Another is the importance of holiness.
We are all called to holiness. It is not man’s idea but
God’s idea.
It can be hard to preach or teach on holy living. It can
sound so out of date and so picky and even so legalistic when we preach that
men ought to live holy lives. When we talk about holy living people may think
that we are being harsh or judgemental or unloving.
We God called us and sanctified us and set us apart for His
use He did not call us to continue a life of unclean living. There is no room
for uncleanness in the life of the believer. When we are truly in Christ 'old
things are passed away and all things have been made new.'
Holiness is not something the preacher came up with. To reject the teaching and application of
holiness is not to reject man – it is rejecting God.
J.C. Ryle wrote a marvellous book on holiness about 150
years ago. He clearly addresses how impossible it is for holiness to exist with
worldly living -
‘it is sickening and disgusting to hear the cool and
flippant language which many pour out about "conversion--the Saviour--the
Gospel--finding peace--free grace," and the like, while they are
notoriously serving sin or living for the world. Can we doubt that such talk is
abominable in God's sight, and is little better than cursing, swearing, and
taking God's name in vain? The tongue is not the only member that Christ bids
us give to His service. God does not want His people to be mere empty tubs,
sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. We must be sanctified, not only "in
word and in tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John iii. 18.)’
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