Sanctification: Perfecting holiness in the fear of God

As I have been teaching since the beginning of this year, we want to have as our objective to have more of Messiah living in and through us: more of Him, less of us; He must increase, I must decrease. 

Pr 1:7  
2Cor 6:14-18; 7:1 
Heb 12:14-17
1Jn 3:1-5    

King Solomon – the wisest man in history until the Messiah came – wrote many proverbs. A proverb is a short sentence or saying that states a truth and advice, not necessarily directly. The Hebrew word for a proverb, and for a parable, is mashal/משל. The word for a governor, or for government, has the same root; in other words, the proverbs and the parables are to help us govern our lives with wisdom. In the very first proverb, Solomon writes that “the fear of YHVH is the beginning of knowledge; and that fools despise wisdom and [moral] instruction”. This is his wise advice to each and to all of us.  In Jesus’/Yeshua’s first parable (Mk 4:1-20), He gives instructions and wisdom regarding truths of the Kingdom of Heaven now, so that we can live wisely according to God’s ways and governance. (He says that we need to understand the first parable in order to understand the others.)

In the beginning, God created Man in His image and in His likeness. Every human being today, no matter our sins, is still distinguished from any animal by this: we are created in the image of God. (Gen 1:26-27; Ja 3:9) There are people who act like animals, but they are still actually humans created in the image of God, for whom Jesus/Yeshua died that they might be saved. (Jude 1:10-11; Jn 3:16) 

Everyone who is born again by the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in the gospel becomes a new creation to be conformed to the image of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. (Rom 8:28-30) Why is Yeshua/Jesus the exemplar? Because He is the express image of the invisible God!  God is love. Yeshua has said that if we see Him, we see the Father. (Col 1:15; Tit 3:4-7; Heb 1:1-4; Jn 14:6-11)  When three apostles saw Yeshua transformed on the mountain of transfiguration (probably Mt Hermon), they saw Him in glory as the perfect Man in the image and likeness of YHVH God, in whom He dwelled; and they heard a voice from within a white cloud above them, saying: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Mt 17:1-9) 

When YHVH chose Israel to be His chosen people, He commanded them to be holy, for He is holy. (Lev 19:1-2) He separated them unto Himself from among all the other nations, to know Him and to serve Him. (This is also what He did in separating the tribe of Levi from among the other tribes of Israel, to be holy unto Him in their holy service.) They are His witnesses, a light, to the Gentiles of the one true living God; and He is working through His plan of redemption towards Israel and the Jewish people being the holy people and nation that He has created them to be. This is the same call and purpose for every believer in Jesus Christ, from whatever people and nation we have been called out from. We have been separated unto God for His use and purpose and glory: holiness to YHVH. (Zech 14:20-21; 2Tim 2:21) More of Christ’s/Messiah’s life in us and through us!

At the Passover, the Jewish people remember that YHVH God took them out as a nation and as the family of Israel – a people forged together through hard slavery, with promises of being redeemed by the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob – at a set time. God brought them out of Egypt that they would be HIS servants and a free people. At our spiritual new birth, our Father in Heaven redeemed us from being slaves to sin in all its manifestations, and chose each of us to become His son or daughter, witnesses of His great love and holiness. (Jn 1:10-13) 

Israel is still a holy nation because God has chosen them for Himself; yet, most Jewish people are not living holy lives. The Body of Christ is holy, because God has chosen each believer for Himself; yet many Christians are not living holy lives.  We are told to perfect holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. This tells us that we absolutely need the fear of God in our lives!  A bitter root against God or against someone else (often both) can cause us to sin a definite offense just to spite the one against whom we blame for our bitterness. The spirit of Esau/Edom (which was also in Haman, and Edomite) still thrives in his spiritual seed that refuses to accept the land of promise going to his twin brother, Jacob. Until today, that bitter root brings many into that spirit to justify their grievance, and to all they can to deprive the Jewish people from their God-given inheritance, even if everyone must die in that pursuit. (Heb 12:14-17) The fear of YHVH is a protection against sinning, and also an encouragement to do what is right and good towards others. Those who want to just “trust their own heart” will find themselves doing many things based on their own understanding or on their own “feelings”. 

Let me give some common practical examples of fearing God:

He tells us to honor our mother and father; and promises long life to those who do so.  So, let us say that you know that your mother and/or father want you to, or do not want you to, do a certain thing or go to certain places. If you actually want to do what you know they do not; or if you do not want to do what you know they do, then you are much more likely to disobey them if you think that they will not know. But, if your mother and/or father were with you when those opportunities presented themselves, then you would not do what they do not want you to do, or you would do what they want you to do. You may not like it, but you would obey because they do see. 

Another example is similar: in the workplace. You may work differently if you know your manager is around than if not, wanting to give an impression that you are a good worker. 

Another example is at school: you may cheat if you think it will help you, and if you think that no one notices; but if your teacher were around and watching, you could not. 

Another positive example: if I know that my Father and my Savior wants me to help someone in need, even though it will take me out of my own routine or “plan for the day”, then I am much likely to do so, rather than justify myself for not helping, thinking that someone else will.

These are all examples of “the fear of God”. But they are also examples of not being holy, because we are acting out of fear of “being caught”, and not out of the heart that has learned to do right and good even if you are “without supervision”. This is where the fear of YHVH God comes in for those who love Him: He is everywhere, and does see everything, and knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. If we love Him, this helps us not to do what we know does not please Him, and also to do what we know honors Him. Jesus died on the cross because of our sins, and God has given us His HOLY Spirit to dwell within the born-again believer, who helps us to know and to remember and to keep His commandments (much more effectively than tassels/fringes/tzitzit!). (Num 15:37-41) 

As we are being transformed more and more into the image of the Son of God, we will gladly and thankfully live our lives – within and without – in a manner that is pleasing to our holy and righteous Father in Heaven. Those who want to be with Jesus, and are anticipating this at His glorious return, will purify themselves, because He is pure. “Be holy, for I am holy!” Sanctification is a life-long process from the moment of new birth unto full maturity this side of the resurrection. It is a daily choice to deny ourselves, to pick up our cross, and to follow Jesus. As we do so, we will not only be holy because of being called and chosen to be, but we will live in the truth of it.  

The Apostle John wrote as a spiritual father that he has no greater joy than to hear that his children walk in the truth. This is the joy of our Father in Heaven for His children whom He has redeemed from slavery to sin, in order to serve Him in love, truth, and righteousness. Let us have our hearts after His. (3Jn 1:1-4)  

Ps 139:23-24; 1Jn 3:3; Heb 12:13-14