Holiness William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

Transcription

1 Holiness The apostle John under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit employs the figurative usage of light for the holiness of God, which refers to His absolute perfection of character. In the 1 st 4 verses of his prologue in his 1 st epistle, the apostle John states the following: 1 John 1:1, Who has always existed from eternity past, who we have heard, who we have witnessed with our eyes, who we observed, even our hands touched concerning the Word who is the life (of God). 1 John 1:2, that is, this One who is the life (of God) was revealed (by the Holy Spirit) and we have witnessed and we testify and we are proclaiming (from God) at this particular time for the benefit of all of you this One who is the eternal life (of God), who indeed by virtue of His divine nature has always existed face to face with the Father and was revealed (by the Holy Spirit) for the benefit of all of us. 1 John 1:3, Who, we have witnessed and we have heard, we also are proclaiming (from God) at this particular time for the benefit of all of you in order that all of you without exception might also continue to experience fellowship and this fellowship is as an eternal spiritual truth with the Father and with His Son, Jesus who is the Christ. 1 John 1:4, Also, we ourselves are providing information in writing at this particular time concerning these things in order that it might at this particular time cause our joy to overflow. 1 John 1:5, Now, this is, as an eternal spiritual truth, the proclamation, which we have heard from Him and we are imparting at this particular time for the benefit of all of you that the (Triune) God is, as an eternal spiritual truth, light. In fact, there is, as an eternal spiritual truth, absolutely no darkness in Him, none. Light is the nominative neuter singular noun phos. The word appears as early as the 8 th century B.C. in the writings of Homer. Its basic meaning of light, brightness, also covers the following nuances among others: sunlight, daylight, torch, fire, and eyesight. Figuratively in poetic writings phos means, the light of life, i.e. life itself, which is highly valued as something bright, and as being comparable with salvation, happiness or military triumph. The bringer of such salvation can also be referred to as phos. Light further represents intellectual illumination, or it can stand for physical sight. Metaphorically, phos denotes victory, deliverance, and thus happiness. Phos, light, was of course naturally the antithesis to skotos, light. Relatively early in Greek usage phos in contrast with skotos, darkness, or nyx, night came to mean the sphere of ethical good, 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 whereas wrongdoing are said to take place in darkness. Hence, it is the task such as a judge to bring hidden things to light. In Scripture, light has 2 usages when used in relation to God: (1) Physical light: Manifestation of God s glory and presence. (2) Figurative light: Holiness of God, i.e. absolute perfection of character. Here in 1 John 1:5 we have the figurative use of light ascribed to God in order to express the holiness of God. The apostle John in 1 John 1:5 is making a declaration concerning the character and nature of God. In fact, John in his writings makes 3 declarations concerning the nature of God: (1) God is spirit (Jn. 4:24). (2) God is light (1 Jn. 1:5). (3) God is love (1 Jn. 4:8). In 1 John 1:5 the noun phos means light and is used in the figurative sense for the holiness or more accurately the absolute perfection of the character of God. The emphasis with this word is not upon physical light whose source is the manifestation of the glory and presence of God but rather the holiness (i.e. absolute perfect character) of God. As language of accommodation, the apostle John under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit is employing a figure of speech here in 1 John 1:5 called an anthropopathism by stating that God is light. An anthropopathism is language of accommodation through which infinite God reveals Himself to the finite man. The following is a brief list of anthropopathisms found in the Word of God: (1) God hates (Rm. 9:13). (2) Harbors jealousy (Ex. 20:5a; 34:14; Deut. 4:24; 6:15a). (3) Changes His mind (Gn. 6:6). (4) Vents violent anger (Jer. 4:8; 12:13; 25:37; 51:45; Ezek. 5:15). These qualities are incompatible with God s essence, but such statements are descriptive and gain the attention of the reader. Here in 1 John 1:5, God is figured by an inanimate thing, namely, light. God is not physical light but rather He is the source of physical light in creation. Physical light is simply the means by which God who is holy chooses to express His glory and presence. Ps 104:1-2, Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. 1 Tim 6:16, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. The apostle John under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit is ascribing to God the characteristic of light in order to explain to the human frame of reference the perfect character of God. By employing this figure of light, infinite God is explaining or revealing Himself to finite man regarding His perfect eternal character. He is condescending by ascribing the characteristics of light to Himself in order that finite man can understand something about Himself William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 The apostle John employs phos here in 1 John 1:5 to describe the absolute perfection of character of the Trinity (1 Jn. 1:5). This figure emphasizes the absolute perfection of God s character. As light is the antithesis to darkness, so God is the antithesis to sin and the author of sin, Satan. So light is used here by John under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit in 1 John 1:5 as a figure for the holiness, i.e. the absolute perfection of God. The figure of light used by John to describe God and refers to the fact that God is totally separated from all sin and evil. It means that He is pure and thus distinct from all His moral rational creatures, both men and angels. God s holiness expresses His purity of His character or moral perfection and excellence. The application for John s readers is that the absolute and innate holiness or perfect character of God means that God can have nothing to do with sin or sinners. He is totally separate from sin and sinners unless a way can be found to constitute them holy and that way has been provided based upon the merits of the impeccable Person and Finished Work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. The apostle John in 1 John 1:5 ascribes the figure of light to God in order to express the holiness of God, which the absolute perfection of His character and nature. This is absolutely essential for John s readers to understand in order to continue to experience and enjoy fellowship with God and other believers because God is holy, He does not and will not, nor will He ever in the future tolerate sin in the life of the believer. John ascribes the figure of light to God because light is pure and reveals. God s absolute perfection of character reveals our sinful nature, which produces sin in our lives. We must remember that 1 John 1:5 begins a section that deals with maintaining fellowship with God and is concluded in 1 John 2:2. The apostle John under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit in 1 John 1:5 ascribes the figure of light to God in order to convey to his readers the absolute total perfection of God s character, which reveals sin in the life of the believer and that they cannot have fellowship with God if they do not acknowledge their sins to the Father. So John establishes the absolute perfection of God s character in order that his readers might have a point of reference in their lives, which will enable them to maintain their fellowship with God. 1 Cor 1:9, God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Fellowship with God is based upon the holiness of God, i.e. the absolute perfection of God s character and nature. The believer who experiences fellowship with God is experiencing the holiness of God. The term holiness has become an obscure term. Webster s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines holiness, the quality or state of being holy; 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 sanctity. They define sanctity, sacred or hallowed character. One of the definitions that Webster s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary gives for the adjective holy is, entitled to worship or profound religious reverence because of divine character or origin or connection with God or divinity. Therefore, holiness pertains to the absolute perfection of the divine character. John employs light in the figurative sense for the absolute eternal perfection of character of the Triune God. One of the definitions for the noun character that Webster s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary provides that applies to the context of our passage is the following: the aggregate of features and traits that form the apparent individual nature of some person or thing. If we paraphrase this definition, and give it a spiritual application we would say that the noun phos, light here in 1 John 1:5 emphasizes the aggregate (i.e. sum total) of perfect features and traits that form the nature of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we can say that the holiness of God is the aggregate of perfect divine attributes that form the nature of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Thus, God s holiness is related to all of His divine attributes. The holiness of God is simply the harmony of all His perfections or attributes. In fact, grace is simply the function of the holiness of God (sum total of His divine attributes) toward undeserving mankind. In relation to the unbeliever, the holiness of God is expressed through His attributes: (1) Sovereignty: God desires for all men to be saved, therefore He sent the Son into the world. (2) Righteousness: God demanded that the sins of mankind be paid for. (3) Justice: God executed the judgment of the Son for the payment of those sins. (4) Love: God provided the sacrifice of the Son because of His care for all mankind. (5) Eternal life: God offers His eternal life to anyone who trusts in His Son for salvation. (6) Omnipotence: God s power enabled Him through the Son to not only judge the sins of all mankind but to provide salvation for them as well. (7) Omniscience: God knew perfectly what would be needed in order to provide salvation for all mankind. (8) Omnipresence: God is always present with mankind and is thus intimately aware of the needs of all mankind. (9) Immutability: God s attributes never change at any time in their function toward mankind. (10) Veracity: God is always honest with men and will always give to mankind the facts about Himself and His attitude toward them. (11) Mercy: God s mercy is demonstrated toward all mankind in that He acted according to His grace policy and provided the sacrifice of the Son hopeless, helpless sinners. (12) Faithfulness: God fulfilled His promise to all mankind to provide a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. (13) Goodness: God s will always do what is best for all mankind according to His perfect character. (14) Unity: The divine attributes of all 3 members of the Trinity are united in their function toward the unbeliever William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 In relation to the believer, the holiness of God is also expressed through His attributes: (1) Sovereignty: God desires to have fellowship with the believer. (2) Righteousness: God demands that the believer acknowledge to Him in order to be restored to fellowship with him. (3) Justice: God restores the believer to fellowship when the believer meets the demands of His righteousness. (4) Love: God cares for the believer in that He provided the sacrifice of His Son that enables the believer to be restored to fellowship. (5) Eternal life: God s life provides the believer with the capacity to live with Him and have fellowship with Him forever. (6) Omnipotence: God s power not only enables Him to restore the believer to fellowship who appropriates the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. (7) Omniscience: God knew perfectly what would be needed in order have fellowship with the believer. (8) Omnipresence: God is always present and thus always available to have fellowship with the believer at any time. (9) Immutability: God s attributes never change in their function toward the believer. (10) Veracity: God is always honest with the believer and will always give to the believer the facts about Himself and His attitude toward the believer. (11) Mercy: God s mercy is demonstrated toward the believer in that He acted according to His grace policy and provided the sacrifice of the Son that enables the believer to be restored to fellowship. (12) Faithfulness: God fulfills His promise to restore the believer to fellowship when the believer acknowledges any know sin to the Father. (13) Goodness: God s will always do what is best for the believer according to His perfect character. (14) Unity: The divine attributes of all 3 members of the Trinity are united in their function toward the believer. Webster s states that character refers especially to moral qualities, ethical standards, principles and the like. If we paraphrase this too and give this a spiritual application, we would say that ascribing light to God emphasizes His perfect moral qualities, ethical standards and principles. In context, by using the figure of light, John is stating that the presence of evil, sin and injustice is totally absent in the character of God, thus God does not tolerate evil or sin because it is contrary to His character, i.e. His inherent moral qualities, ethical standards and principles. The perfect character or holiness of God is the excellence of the divine nature. It is the very antithesis to sin, evil, moral blemish or defilement. The Word of God devotes many passages to the holiness or righteousness of God since it is the excellency of His divine nature and because it was attacked by Satan in eternity past and continues to be attacked throughout human history, which is the appeal trial of Satan. Holiness is used often to describe the Person of God William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 Lev 22:2, Tell Aaron and his sons to be careful with the holy gifts of the sons of Israel, which they dedicate to Me, so as not to profane My holy name; I am the LORD. 1 Chron 16:10, Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Ps 30:4, Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name. Ps 97:12, Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, and give thanks to His holy name. Ezek 43:7-8, He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die, by setting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, with only the wall between Me and them. And they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger. The title His Holy Name refers to the perfect character of the Person of God. This absolute perfection of God s character is celebrated throughout the Scriptures. Isa. 6:3, And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory. Rev 4:8, And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." God swears by the perfect character of His person (Ps. 89:35) because that is a complete expression of Himself than anything else. Ps 89:35-37, Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the sky is faithful. Selah. The holiness or perfect character of God is the perfection of the glory of God and every Person of the Trinity. It is the rule of all His actions and relationships with both men and angels. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed the holiness or character of God during His 1 st Advent. John 1:18, No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. The absolute perfection of God s character was revealed perfectly at the Cross when the impeccable humanity of Christ in hypostatic union received the imputation of every sin in human history-past, present and future as a our 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 Substitute and was judged for those sins by being separated in His perfect humanity from the Father for those last 3 hours on the Cross (Mt. 27:46). God s holiness or perfect character is manifested in His Word, which is the mind of Christ and expresses His will. The holiness of God was manifested at the Cross where the righteousness of God demanded that the sins of both mankind and angels be judged and the justice of God judged the impeccable humanity of Christ in hypostatic union as a substitute for these moral rational creatures of His. So God s abhorrence and intolerance of sin was manifested through the judgment of His impeccable Son. The love of God was also manifested at the Cross through the Father s judgment of His as a Substitute for all mankind (Rm. 5:6-8). While God s holiness demanded the judgment of sin, the holiness of God provided a substitutionary sacrifice for all mankind. In an anthropopathic sense, God s attribute of love motivated Him to provide a substitutionary sacrifice. It motivated the Son to become a human being to be that sacrifice for all mankind. I say anthropopathic sense because God cannot be motivated since love is an attribute that is inherent in His nature and that He has not acquired. God is self-motivating because as to His nature, He is love. 1 John 1:5, Now, this is, as an eternal spiritual truth, the proclamation, which we have heard from Him and we are imparting at this particular time for the benefit of all of you that the (Triune) God is, as an eternal spiritual truth, light. In fact, there is, as an eternal spiritual truth, absolutely no darkness in Him, none. John ascribes the figure of light to God in order to emphasize the absolute perfection of God s character. God s holiness or perfect character demands of the believer the utmost reverence in approaching fellowship with God. In fact, it demands of all men and angels the utmost reverence toward God. Failure by the unbeliever to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation will result in the judgment of the unbeliever because he has not appropriated for himself God s provision of a Savior, which is in the unique Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The unbeliever expresses his reverence for God by believing in His Son Jesus Christ. The believer expresses his reverence for God by maintaining his fellowship with God by acknowledging any known sin to the Father when necessary. As physical light reveals so the absolute perfection of God s character reveals the imperfections of men, i.e. sin. The fact that God is light or is perfect in His character demands that the unbeliever accept Jesus Christ for salvation and to avoid eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10-15). The fact that God is light or is the perfection of character demands that the believer acknowledge any known sin to the Father in order to be restored to fellowship with God. The unbeliever is saved based upon the merits of the Person and Work on the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer is restored to 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 fellowship with God based upon the merits of the Person and Work on the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The perfect character or holiness of God thus becomes the standard for the believer s life and conduct. In the context of 1 John 1:5 John employs this figure of light in order to convey to his readers that the absolute perfection of God s character reveals sin in the lives of believers. It also clearly implies that since God is light, i.e. holy, the believer must be holy too in order to experience and enjoy fellowship with Him. As physical light reveals what is in the darkness so the absolute perfection of God s character reveals sin the life of the believer. John is saying here that because of the absolute perfection of God s character, He won t tolerate sin in the life of the believer meaning that He will not have fellowship with the believer who is harboring any known sin in his stream of consciousness. The Holy Spirit is the member of the Trinity who convicts or convinces the believer of sin in His life. John 16:7-11, But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. Although this passage speaks of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the unbeliever the principle of convicting of sin has application for the believer. Philippians 3:15-16, Therefore, as many as are mature, let us consistently think this. Nevertheless, if-and let us assume it is true for the sake of argument anyone of you are thinking otherwise at the present time then God the Holy Spirit as a rule will reveal this for your benefit. In any case, having progressed this far, let us continue to live in agreement according to the same code of conduct. Thus, John employs the figure of light to communicate to his readers that you cannot hide sin because God s holiness, i.e. His absolute perfection of character will reveal it. The absolute perfection of God s character will not tolerate sin in the life of the believer, therefore the believer as we will note in 1 John 1:9 must acknowledge the sin to the Father who paid for that sin on the Cross 2000 years ago in order to be restored to fellowship with God. 1 John 1:9, If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins with the result that He purifies us from all unrighteousness William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 As 1 John 1:9 states the believer s sin must be acknowledged to the Father who paid the penalty (substitutionary spiritual death: separation from God) for those sins at Calvary in order to be restored to fellowship. In the same way that the believer was saved based upon the merits of Christ and His work on the Cross so the believer is restored to fellowship because of the merits of Christ and His work on the Cross. This understanding of God s holiness, i.e. His absolute perfection of character will make the believer sensitive to sin in his thought life, words and actions. Fellowship with God is contingent upon the believer being sensitive to sin in his own life and acknowledging it when he does commit mental, verbal or overt acts of sin. Therefore, the apostle John under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit employs the figure that God is light in 1 John 1:5 in order to remind his readers that God does not tolerate sin because He holy or has perfect character and therefore, the believer in order to maintain fellowship with God must not tolerate sin in his own life and conduct. This figure implies that the believer must be transparent before God or in other words he must be totally open and honest with God in order to maintain fellowship with Him. The believer must constantly be examining himself regarding sin in his life. Paul reminds the Corinthians of this principle in 1 Cor 11: So the holiness or perfect character of God is active since in order to maintain fellowship with God the believer must acknowledge any known sin to the Father. Restoration to fellowship demands the acknowledgement of sin to the Father and based upon the merits of the Lord Jesus, the Father restores the believer to fellowship with Himself. Recovery must now take place after the restoration to fellowship and this means that the believer must immediately apply the Word of God to his thought process. Rom 12:1-3, Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Recovery means our thought process is to be influenced by means of the Spirit, which is accomplished through obedience to the Word of Christ. Ephesians 5:18, And do not permit yourselves to get into the habit of being drunk with wine because that is non-sensical behavior, but rather permit yourselves on a habitual basis to be influenced by means of the Spirit. Recovering means that we are to walk by means of the Spirit, which deals with our lifestyle, i.e. our words and actions William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 Gal 5:16, But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. When the believer recovers after being restored this will enable him to experience the holiness or perfect character of God in his life and thus to continue to experience and enjoy fellowship with God. The holiness or perfect character of God is thus always interacting with believers since fellowship with God demands holiness on the part of the believer. The perfect character of God is intrinsic, uncreated, and untarnishable and is observable in every divine attitude and action. It expresses God s attitude toward sin and evil as well as His inherent devotion to what is good, right and just, thus, there is in divine holiness the capacity for response towards others, which is both positive and negative. This response is motivated and directed by the love of God. The most obvious characteristic of light is that it reveals thus John employs this figure in relation to sin and the believer s fellowship with God. As physical light reveals so the absolute perfection of God s character reveals their imperfections, i.e. sin. In the context of 1 John 1:5 John employs this figure of light in order to convey to his readers that the absolute perfection of God s character reveals sin in their lives. By employing ascribing the figure of light to God John is implying that you cannot hide sin with God and have fellowship with Him at the same time. God s absolute perfection of character won t permit it. Ps 66:18, If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Heb 4:12-13, For the word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Because God is holy, fellowship with Him demands holiness on the part of the believer. Sanctification is all about the believer experiencing the holiness or perfect character of God in his life or manifesting the character of God through his thoughts, words and actions. 1 Cor 1:30, But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Thess 4:3, For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality. 2 Thess 2:13, But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. Sanctification thus demands holiness or perfect character from the believer. It demands that the believer live in the new Christ nature that he received through 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 regeneration. He cannot experience fellowship with God without experiencing the holiness of God. If God is holy and He is, then the believer must be holy as well. In fact, every believer is commanded in Scripture to be as holy as God. Lev 11:44-45, For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.' 1 Peter 1:14-16, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." Like sanctification, holiness for the believer is progressive and is accomplished in 3 stages: (1) Positionally at the moment of salvation through regeneration, which gives the believer a new Christ nature, which is the new spiritual species. (2) Experientially after salvation the believer is conformed to the image of Christ by having a lifestyle of operating in the new Christ nature. (3) Ultimately the believer will receive a resurrection body and will be rid of the old sin nature and thus the believer will be perfectly like Christ. The person who makes the non-meritorious decision to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation receives a new divine nature that has imputed to it divine righteousness and eternal life, thus making him positionally holy as God or in other words he is now positionally having the same perfect character of God (Gen. 15:6; Rm. 3:22-23; 4:3). Gen 15:6, Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Rom 4:3, For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." The fact that we are positionally holy and righteous as God through faith in the Holy One, the Lord Jesus Christ means that this is what God has done for the believer and it is His viewpoint of the believer. God s will is that the believer experience after salvation that which is true of him positionally, namely that he is righteous and holy as God. Also, simultaneously at the moment of salvation, through regeneration, the Holy Spirit creates a human spirit for the imputation of eternal life by God the Father. This imputation makes the believer a new spiritual species meaning he now possesses the divine nature. This human spirit with eternal life imputed to composes the believer new nature, i.e. the new self. This new nature is the nature of Christ. 2 Peter 1:4, For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 Gal 3:27, For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with the nature of Christ. 1 Cor 15:45, So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 2 Cor 5:17, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new spiritual species; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Peter 1:4, For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 1 John 3:9, No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. The new Christ nature that indwells every believer is the holiness of God. The nature of Christ is perfectly holy just as Christ is. The new Christ nature provides the believer the capacity to experience the holiness of God in his life and Christlikeness is the production or the result of having a lifestyle of living in the new Christ nature. The new Christ nature functions when the believer is obedient to the voice of the Spirit, which is heard through the communication of the Word of God. Just as the humanity of Christ in hypostatic union perpetually obeyed the voice of the Spirit and was guided and directed by the Spirit as well as performing His miracles by means of the omnipotence of the Spirit so the new Christ nature, that is created in the image of Christ, obeys the voice of the Spirit and is guided and directed by the Spirit. The old Adamic nature does not have the capacity to obey the Spirit, nor will it listen to the Spirit s voice, i.e. the Word of God but only the new nature has the capacity. The believer sins because he disobeys the voice of the Spirit, which is heard through the Word of God and as a result lives in the old Adamic sin nature. The new Christ nature gives the believer the capacity to experience and enjoy fellowship with God. The new Christ nature enables the believer to reflect the holiness or absolute perfection of God s character. The new Christ nature is ultimately designed to reside in the resurrection body and not the physical body of the believer, which has inherent in it the old Adamic sin nature. The new Christ nature and resurrection body are designed for the eternal state where the believer will reside in the new heavens and the new earth and the New Jerusalem. The experientially holy the believer becomes the more he experiences of being in the presence of God. In the eternal state, the believer will experience fully being in the presence of God since God and His holiness will totally and completely permeate the new heavens and new earth and New Jerusalem. As we noted, God the Father s will from eternity past is that the believer be conformed to the image of His Son. We also noted that being conformed to the 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 image of Christ is being holy as Christ. The reason the Father wants us to be conformed to the image of His Son and therefore, be holy like He is, is that the Father wants the believer in His presence. The fact that God wants the believer in His presence indicates that He wants to have fellowship with the believer. When we are holy as Christ we are in the presence of God since Christ perpetually is in the presence of God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Again, the new Christ nature enables the believer to be conformed to the image of Christ and therefore enables the believer to experience the holiness of God and thus fellowship with God. The new Christ nature enables the believer to come into the presence of God since the new Christ nature is as holy as God since it was created in the image of Christ who is God. Fellowship means being in the presence of God and being in the presence of God means that one is holy as God. God is holy and because He is holy the believer must be as holy as God in order to come into His presence, therefore, fellowship with God demands that the believer approach God with reverence by acknowledging any known sin to the Father. It demands that the believer be honest with God since God is light and can reveal the hidden motives and thoughts of the believer as well as knowing all his actions. Fellowship with God and thus being in His presence demands that the believer function according to the new Christ nature, which is created in the image of Christ who is holy. Fellowship demands holiness and when this demand is met, the believer is in the presence of God. God wants us to live in this new Christ nature instead of our old Adamic sin nature that we received at physical birth through the imputation of Adam s original sin to our genetically formed old sin nature in order that we can have fellowship with Him. 1 Cor 1:9, God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This new nature is the Christ nature that cannot sin according to 1 John 3:9 is the alternative to living in the old Adamic nature and enables the believer to enjoy fellowship with God. 1 John 3:9, No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. The Christ nature has been created in righteousness (of God) and holiness of the truth according to Ephesians 4:24. Eph 4:24, and clothe yourself with the new man (Christ nature), which in conformity with the nature of God has been created by means of righteousness and holiness from the truth William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 Imputed righteousness and eternal life reside in the new Christ nature. This new Christ nature gives the believer the capacity to experience the holiness of God in his life because the new Christ nature is holy. In order to experience the holiness of God, the believer must function according to the new Christ nature, which is perfectly holy because it has been created in righteousness and holiness from the truth. God desires that this new Christ nature dominate the soul rather than the old Adamic nature, which cannot please God or do His will. In order for this new Christ nature to achieve dominance over the soul, the believer must obey the voice of the Spirit who feeds the believer s new Christ nature with the Word of God, which is the believer s spiritual food (Mt. 4:4). This new Christ nature, which is the holiness of God, demands that the believer feed this new Christ nature the Word of God, which is the believer s spiritual food. Matt 4:4, But He answered and said, "It is written, "MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" 2 Cor 4:16, Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Eph 3:16, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. Bible Doctrine is the believer s spiritual food (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3; Psa. 119:103; Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 3:1-3; 1 Cor. 10:3). Job 23:12, I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Ps 119:103. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Jer 15:16, Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. The Word of God is more necessary than your physical food (Job 23:12; Matt. 4:4). Job 23:12, I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. The Word of God, Bible Doctrine provides the believer with spiritual energy needed to live the Christian way of life. The Christian way of life is a supernatural way of life and demands a supernatural means of execution. The believer s sanctification is accomplished by means of the Word of truth. John 17:17, Sanctify them by means of the truth; Your word is truth. The believer must acquire this perfect character of God or holiness of God by learning and applying the Word of God William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 The Scriptures characterize the Word of God as a light to the soul of the believer (Jb. 24:13; Ps. 119:105; Prv. 6:23; Mt. 5:14-16; Jn. 8:12; 2 Co. 4:5-7; Eph. 5:7-14). Job 24:13, There are those who are rebellious against the Light, who are not acquainted with its ways and not stay in its paths. Psalm 119:105, Your doctrine is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Proverbs 6:23, For the commandment is a lamp and doctrine a light and the reproofs for discipline are the way of life. Bible doctrine is divine viewpoint and God s objective is that the believer possess divine viewpoint in his soul (Mt. 6:19-24). Jesus Christ is the Living Word and Bible Doctrine is the Written Word of God. All Scripture is theopneustos, God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16). 2 Tim 3:16-17, All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The doctrine of inspiration contends that, God the Holy Spirit so supernaturally directed the human authors of Scripture, that without destroying their individuality, their literary style, their personal interests, their vocabulary, God s complete and connected thought towards man was recorded with perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture. The original languages of Scripture contain the very words of God, and therefore, bear the authority of divine authorship. The original languages of Scripture are the exact record, the mind and will of God. God the Holy Spirit provided the inhale of the contents of the Bible and the human authors exhaled it in writing. Bible Doctrine, the words of our Lord are spirit and our life (John 6:63). John 6:63, It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. The written Word of God is the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). 1 Cor 2:16, For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. The Word of God is God (John 1:1-2). John 1:1-4, In eternity past the Word has always existed and the Word has always existed face to face with the God (the Father) and the Word has always existed as God. He was in eternity past face to face with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. It holds the universe together (Heb. 1:3). Heb 1:3, And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. The Word of God will live forever (1 Pet. 1:24; Isa. 40:6-8). Isa 40:6-8, A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. The Word of God can judge the thoughts and intentions of man (Heb. 4:12; John 12:48). Hebrews 4:12, The Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word of God is the Author of creation (Heb. 11:3). Heb 11:3, By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Bible Doctrine is the most powerful weapon the believer possesses (Heb. 4:12; 2 Cor. 6:7). The Word of God is likened to a sword, which was the most powerful and dangerous weapon in the ancient world (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12). Eph 6:17, And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. To know the living Word is to know God and to experience eternal life. John 17:3, This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. The new Christ nature at salvation is like a seed that is planted in the ground by the farmer and it needs to be watered in order for it to grow and mature and produce fruit for the farmer. 1 Peter 1:23, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. In the same way the new Christ nature must be watered with the Word of God in order for it to grow and mature and produce fruit, which is Christ-like character. The believer who feeds the new nature by learning and applying the Word of God will water the seed, i.e. the new Christ nature that indwells his body. This seed that was planted by God in the believer at salvation must be watered by the Word of God in order for it to grow and produce fruit. Fruit bearing is simply the production of Christ-like character in the believer from having a lifestyle of living in the new Christ nature. Fruit bearing, i.e. Christlike character is the result of experiencing fellowship with God as a lifestyle. It is 2003 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 the result of experiencing the holiness of God since the believer cannot experience the holiness of God unless he is living in the new Christ nature, in which produces Christ-like character and where the righteousness and holiness of God resides. Fruit bearing, i.e. Christ-like character is the result of experiencing the holiness of God since the believer cannot experience fellowship with a holy God unless he himself is holy. It is the result of obeying the voice of the Spirit, which is accomplished by the believer who is obedient to the Word of God since the Spirit inspires the Word of God and the Spirit speaks through the Word of God. The Spirit s job after salvation is to reproduce the life and character of Christ in the believer s life. This is called fruit-bearing. Remember what Paul said in Galatians 4:19, My children, with whom I am again in labor until the character of Christ is formed in all of you. The fruit of the Spirit is the production of Christ-like character. Gal 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is divine-love, contentment, peace, patient-endurance, integrity, generosity, faithfulness, humility, discipline, against such things there is no law. Fruit bearing talks about building Christ-like character. Eph 5:9, (for the fruit of the Light {consists} in all goodness and righteousness and truth). Phil 1:11, having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which {comes} through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Col 1:10, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please {Him} in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Heb 12:11, All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. James 3:18, And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. The Holy Spirit employs the Word of God in order to perform this postsalvation function on behalf of the believer. He performs this post-salvation only on behalf of those believers who apply the Word of God. Holiness demands that the believer obey the Holy Spirit who speaks to the believer through the communication of the Word of God. Rev 2:7, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.' Heb 3:7-8, Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 The Spirit never works independently of the Word of God (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-11). John 16:14, He (Holy Spirit) will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. He always works in accordance with the Word of God, which He inspired men to record in perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:21, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. The believer cannot experience the holiness of God in his life, which is reproduction of the character and life of Christ in the believer, unless he obeys the voice of the Spirit, which is heard through the communication of the Word of God. The believer who does not apply the Word of God hinders the Spirit s work of reproducing the life and character of Christ in his life. The Spirit speaks through the Word of God to the believer. The believer s responsibility is to obey the Spirit s voice, which is heard through the Word of God. Ephesians 5:18, And do not permit yourselves to get into the habit of being drunk with wine because that is non-sensical behavior, but rather permit yourselves on a habitual basis to be influenced by means of the Spirit. Gal 5:16, But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Holiness for the believer is Christ-likeness, which is the reproduction of Christlike character in the believer, i.e. spiritual maturity. It is the reproduction of the character and life of Christ in the believer, which is accomplished by the Holy Spirit in the believer who obeys the Spirit s voice, which is heard through the communication of the Word of God. Being holy is being like Christ who is holy. We are holy when we are thinking, speaking and acting like Christ and this all begins with adopting the mind of Christ in your thinking. The more the believer matures, the more he will experience the holiness of God in his life. The holiness of God is achieved by the believer progressively and not all in 1 shot. The believer advances to greater stages of holiness (i.e. Christ-likeness) when he is obedient to the revelation he has received. He is then given more revelation concerning God and His modus operandi, which he must be obedient to as well in order to advance to a greater stage of holiness, i.e. Christ-like character. So fellowship demands the believer be holy as God and this holiness has provided every believer the capacity to experience the holiness of God in the form of the new Christ nature, in which the holiness of God resides. Thus, fellowship with God demands that the new Christ nature be operational in the life of the believer William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18