We have repented, we have been baptized in Jesus name for
the remission of sins, and we have received the gift of God’s Spirit, the Holy
Ghost.
We have become His child, and He has become our Father.
(John 1:12-13, John 3:5, Acts 2:38)
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what
part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for
ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them,
and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
The next verse is,
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Corinthians 7:1
As His beloved, and because of our deep respect and awe of
Jesus, we desire to be holy as He is holy.
When we hear the preaching of the word, and when we read our
Bibles, His Spirit within us, the Holy Ghost, reveals areas in our life that
need correcting.
Jesus leads us to repentance in these areas, and by His
blood that we applied to our life in baptism in Jesus name, these areas of spots
and blemishes are cleansed. By this process, we progress towards holiness.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27
We turn away from the lifestyles of the world to a lifestyle
of holiness and faithfulness to God.
We make sure that Jesus has all of our heart, and we are not
sharing our heart with a love for the things of the world.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
the world.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
- James 4:8 (“…for your loyalty is divided between God and the world”. NLT)
When we truly humble ourselves before God in repentance and
awe of His holiness, with the realization that our righteousness really is as
filthy rags in comparison to His righteousness, we enter into another dimension
with Him.
His mercy and love surrounds us, letting us know there is
nothing and no one more intimate and more caring of us than Jesus. By His love,
He brings us into His glory.
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he
shall lift you up." - James 4:10
"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye
see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory:" - 1 Peter 1:8
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