Dear Church Family,
Before we read the Statement of Faith on Sunday, I cited these words from 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” In this verse Paul summarizes the argument he made in the previous section that address the question, “Why be holy?” Here is a summary of Paul’s reasoning.
First, God’s people must “not be yoked together with unbelievers.” Paul echoes this thought in Ephesians 5:7 when he writes, “do not be partners” with those who lives in ways that “are improper for God’s holy people.” This refers certainly to a Christian marrying an unbeliever, but also to being in any relationship that could cause one to not live a holy life. Then Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions that ends with, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.” The temple served as the dwelling place of the holy God and now by grace His people serve as that temple. Therefore, they must be holy [set apart for divine service] as God is holy.
Paul strengthens his contention by quoting Isaiah 52:11, “Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lords. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” Isaiah’s words come in the context of God’s promised salvation coming to His redeemed people through the work of the Suffering Savior. This mirrors Romans 12:1 call to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices” in light of God’s mercy. Any acceptable sacrifice had to meet high and exact standards before an Old Testament priest could offer it to God at the temple in Jerusalem.
Paul closes 2 Corinthians 6 with another promise of God given to King David in 2 Samuel 7. Note the words on adoption that come to God’s holy people, “I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters, say the Lord Almighty.” In other words, the children of God live in a way that brings honor to the head of the family. God is holy, therefore His children lives as holy people.
So why are we to be holy? We need no further reasons that what Paul gives. We have God’s promises. We live in reverence of God. We have been declared to be His holy people – even His beloved children.
In the pandemic we use anti-viral wipes to protect during the pandemic. More importantly, may we by grace live pure lives free from the contamination of body and spirit.
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin