"If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power."
We do not become interested in our holiness because we do not maintain as distinct from our infinite oneness with God:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
Christ Himself is out "Sanctification" -- He Himself is our Holiness!
We do not strive for Holiness, but we grow in Holiness in the following manner:
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)
How do we do that? Through the Word of God:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
Know Him through His Word:
"Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old." (Matthew 13:52)
When we are rooted and grounded in Him (cf Colossians 2:10), we do not worry about sin, error, persecution:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16)
The lust of the flesh is evident (and evidently very bad!):
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
"Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
"Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
Yet the fruit of the Spirit is: "Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
The Spirit within us produces these works, and the Spirit is producing them NOW! Receive this revelation by faith -- it has nothing to do with what you do to earn or make them come to pass.
All the rules and regulations in an attempt to "stay holy" are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ:
"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
"(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
"Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
"Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." (Colosssians 2:20-23)
We are dead to the law and alive in righteousness through Jesus Christ; therefore, we do not strive in our own flesh to "stay holy", but trust the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead us as we are already sanctified in Him who died for us.
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