THE CHOSEN RACE IS A HOLY
NATION
“…you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY
NATION, A
PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of
Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light …” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).
*
Back in the day, ONLY the
HIGH PRIEST could enter into the HOLY of HOLIES. Jesus became the SUPREME HIGH
PRIEST and entered into the REAL Holy of Holies; heaven or God's PRESENCE. “… Christ did not enter into a holy place made
with human hands …. He
entered into heaven (the REAL HOLY OF HOLIES)
itself to appear now before God on our behalf…”
(Hebrews 9:23-24 NASB).
A barrier of SIN stood
between God and mankind. Thus ONLY once a year could EVEN the HIGH PRIEST
access the HOLY of HOLIES. “… only the high priest ever
entered the Most Holy Place, and only
once a year. … he always offered blood for his own sins and
for the sins the people had committed in ignorance…”
(Hebrew 9:7 NLT).
God’s eyes “…are TOO pure to look on evil…” (Habakukk
1:13 NIV). “…[HIS] eyes are too pure to approve evil…”
(Habakukk 1:13 NASB). “…[He] can not look on wickedness with
favor…” (Habakukk 1:13 NASB).
Human eyes are too sinful to look upon
holiness. “…Moses said, “…show me your glory … [God said,] …When my GLORY
passes by, I will …cover you with my hand until I have passed by …”
(Exodus 33:16-23 NIV).
His HOLiness is so PURE
it is like a blinding, transparent light that is too brilliant for the naked
human eye. “… It shone
with the GLORY of
God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal…” (Revelation 21:11 NIV).
As a child you were
told not to look directly at the sun. If you do happen to look at the sun with the
naked, human eye, the damage to the retina is irreversible. God’s HOLiness
is more brilliance than that
of the sun. “… And
the city had no
need of the sun … for the (holiness)
… of God did
lighten it …” (Revelation 21:23 KJV).
Looking
directly at the sun damages the eyes, whereas looking at God’s HOLINESS will
kill you. “…You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live …” (Exodus 33:16-23 NIV).
The barrier exists
because HOLINESS can NOT and will NOT “EVER”
MIX with SIN, so it SEPARATES instead; just like oil and water. “…Your INIQUITIES (sin) have separated
between you and your God (holy), …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from
God (who is HOLY)…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
However, Jesus is like
an EMULSIFIER which enables the mixture or emulsion of two unlikely substances. “…He that is joined (MIXED) unto the Lord
(Jesus) is ONE
spirit… [with the HOLY God]” (1
Corinthians 6:17 KJV).
Therefore, if an emulsifier
is added to the oil and water it will miraculously enable them to MIX together.
“…He that is joined (MIXED
together) unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE spirit…
[with God]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).“…. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
Jesus miraculously
enables the HOLY God and SINFUL mankind to MIX together as ONE. “…What therefore God has joined together,
let no man
separate…” (Mark 10:9 NASB). “…Let no
one split apart what God
has joined together…” (Mark 10:9 NLT).
God loved sinful man,
but because of his HOLY nature he simply could NOT mix or have a relationship
with SINFUL man. “…There ... [is] … …one … who can
reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT).
The barrier of SIN is A
REALITY. It PREVENTS access to God’s HOLY PRESENCE. “…one … can
reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT). “….Apart from Me, you
can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY
… no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…”
(John 14 6 KJV). “…There
is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12a NLT).
Even with ALL the rituals and elaborate sacrifices
performed in the Old Testament, mankind could NOT perpetually “MIX” with the
“HOLY” God! “…For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…” (Hebrews 10:1-4 NASB).
The significance and
IMPORTANCE of being HOLY is about having a relationship with God and being in
his HOLY PRESENCE! “…YOUR SINS have hid his
face from you … he will not hear… [you] …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…Because of YOUR SINS, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore…” (Isaiah
59:2 NLT).
When there is a BARRIER
it blocks God’s view of you and prevents him from hearing you. God can NOT
connect, MIX, or be yoked together with sinners. “…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?” (2 Corinthians
6:14-15 KJV).
Remember the biblical
story of the poor man and the rich man? “…The poor man died and was carried away by
the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his
eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off
my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham
said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and
likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in
agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm
(barrier) has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you
cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us…”
(Luke 16:22-25 NASB).
Without Jesus, the
emulsifier, there would ALWAYS remain an impenetrable
BARRIER or CHASM between mankind and God. “…There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and
humanity—the man Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
Jesus OPENED the way
for God and mankind to MIX together in a loving, covenant relationship! “….By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the
Most Holy Place…” (Hebrews 10:19-20 NLT). “Jesus saith…I am
the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV).
Not only does holiness and sin NOT mix,
but being in the HOLY PRESENCE of God without having your sins properly atoned for
causes DEATH. “…“you cannot see my
face, for no one may see me and live.”
…” (Exodus 33:16-23 NIV)
In the Old Testament, when the HIGH PRIEST
went into the HOLY of HOLIES a scarlet rope was tied to his feet just in case
his sins were not atoned for properly and he died in the presence of God’s
Glory. “…Moses said, “…show
me your glory.” …The Lord said …“you cannot see
my face,
for no one may see me and live.”
…” (Exodus 33:16-23 NIV).
Without Jesus, the
emulsifier, no one would be able to MIX with God or be in his HOLY PRESENCE. “…[There
is] … one
… who can reconcile
God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 2:5 NLT). “… Apart from Me, you
can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
“… [You] … can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth … [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…It is God who works in [you]… to will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13
NIV).
The DEATH of the HIGH
PRIESTS - whose sins were NOT properly atoned for - is a WARNING of the
importance of reverence and respect for the HOLY PRESENCE of God. “…The law of the LORD is perfect …by them Your servant
is WARNED…” (Psalm 19:7-11 NASB). “…For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning…” (Romans
15:4 KJV). “…and they are written for our admonition
(warning)…” (1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV).
The precious atonement sinners
have been GRACED with through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is the
ULTIMATE GIFT. “…BY GRACE have ye been saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of
works, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
Jesus’ sacrificial death was
the atoning sacrifice for your sins. “He
is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins…” (1 John 2:2 NIV). “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world” (John 1:29 KJV). .“…God so loved the world, that HE GAVE his
only begotten (specially created)
Son …”
(John 3:16 KJV). “...whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…”
(John 3:16 KJV).
“….HE FIRST LOVED US…” (1 John 4:19 ASV). “…not
that we loved God,
but that he loved us and SENT
HIS SON to be the propitiation
for our sins.”
(1 John 4:10 KJV). “…[God]
… SPARED NOT his own Son, but DELIVERED him up FOR US ALL…” (Romans 8:32 KJV). “…God SHOWED HIS
GREAT LOVE FOR US by “SENDING” Christ to die for us WHILE
we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:7-9 NLT). “… the just for the unjust, that he might BRING US to God…” (1 Peter 3:18 KJV). “…There is no GREATER LOVE than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).
“…BY GRACE … [you are] …saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of
WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “….God …now
commandeth all men every where to REPENT…” (Acts 17:30 KJV). “… REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…”
(Acts 3:19 NASB). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye
shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV). “…BY
GRACE … [you are] …saved …not of
WORKS, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
Therefore,
“…He that is joined unto the Lord is ONE spirit (with the HOLY
God)…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). HOW?
“…The Lord (emulsifier) is that Spirit…”
(2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…God [sends]… forth the
Spirit
of His Son “INTO”
[YOUR]… HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…Jesus
Christ is … [NOW] … in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1
John 1:9 KJV). “… [God]…
[considers]…us ACCEPTED in the beloved (Jesus Christ)…” (Ephesians 1:6 KJV). Therefore,
“…if Christ be in you… [then] …the Lord …[is] … in your presence (and “YOU” are in his presence)
…”
(Romans 8:10 KJV &
Exodus 33:16-23 NIV). “… [Jesus
sets]… me in [god’s] … presence forever…”
(Psalms 44:12 NASB). “…YOU
(God) MAKE HIM (her) “MOST” BLESSED forever … in
YOUR PRESENCE…”
(Psalms 21:6 NASB).
Therefore, “…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “ …[you] … have this treasure (his holy spirit, indwelling) in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be
of God, and not of us...” (2
Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
“… [God’s indwelling Spirit is]…for our profit, that [we] might be partakers (participants) of
his holiness...” (Hebrews 12:10 KJV). “…there is none like unto thee…” (Jeremiah
10:6 KJV). He is “…majestic in holiness…” (Exodus 15:11 KJV). “…[God is] …
very GREAT;
[He is] … clothed
in SPLENDER and MAJESTY,
Covering [Him]self … with LIGHT as with a cloak…”(Psalm 104:1-2 NASB).
“…there is none like
unto thee…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV). “…His
radiance is like the
sunlight; He has
rays flashing from His hand…” (Habakkuk 3:4.NASB.
“…
His
… [Holiness] … is above earth
and heaven…”
(Psalms 148:13 NASB). “…. the whole earth is full of [your HOLY]…glory…”
(Isaiah 6:3).
God DESIRES to MIX his HOLY PRESENCE with mankind,
especially HIS people. “He
said to [them].., "You are My Servant, Israel (HIS PEOPLE), In Whom I will show
My GLORY (HOLY NATURE)…” (Isaiah 49:3 NASB).
You are servants of God. He DESIRES to
show you His HOLINESS which he confirms “through” Christ. “….The Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we [can see]
His (God’s) GLORY (HOLY nature)…”
(John 1:14 NASB).
You can see God’s HOLINESS because, “… The Son (Jesus) is the radiance of God’s GLORY (HOLY nature) and the EXACT representation of his being….” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
God’s HOLINESS is the
PRESENCE of God himself as experienced through Jesus Christ. “…which is CHRIST
IN YOU…”
(Colossians 1:25-28 KJV). “ …We (YOU) have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the POWER may be of God, and not of us...” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7
KJV). “…Know ye not your
own selves …that Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians KJV). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV).
“… We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars
containing this great treasure. This
makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves…” (2
Corinthians 4:7 NLT).
God said: “…I will put a new
spirit in you (an emulsifier). …”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…The
Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole,
put (or MIX) you together—spirit,
soul, and body
…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 MSG). “…Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Jesus
Christ maketh thee whole (HOLY)…”
(Acts 9:34 KJV). NLT).
“…Ye shall be holy
unto me: for I the Lord am holy…”
(Leviticus 20:26 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is in
you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…That’s why those who are still under the
control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled
by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit
of God living in you. (And remember that
those who do not
have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at
all.)….”
(Romans 8:8-11 NLT).
“… I AM HOLY…” (1
Peter 1:14-16 KJV). “…you are
… A HOLY NATION…” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “…by the Grace of God … [you
are what you are] …” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…How
great is [Jthe HOLY God’s] … benevolent kindness…” (Psalm 31:19-20 KJV).
“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). The title does not automatically MAKE the people HOLY; the
people MAKE the title true and worthy by their HOLY conduct. “…be
holy, because I am holy…”
(1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy
will not see …
[God] …” (Hebrews 12:14 NLT).
God is inherently HOLY
and mankind can “ONLY” become HOLY
through the emulsifier, Jesus Christ. “…It is
God who works IN YOU to will and TO
ACT…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “….Apart from [Jesus]…YOU CAN DO NOTHING…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them…” (2 Corinthians 6:16
KJV). “…May … God … WORK IN US what is pleasing to him, THROUGH Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
God’s supplies HOLINESS to his
people through the INDWELLING SPIRIT. “…God will supply all [your need for holiness]…” (Philippians
4:19 NASB). “…God will generously
PROVIDE (give) all you need (holiness). Then you will always have
everything you need (holiness) …” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT).
HOLINESS does NOT
naturally MIX with SIN. HOLINESS is NOT SIMPLY a behavior, action, or some
ideology of perfection. God insist that
his people “…be holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy…”
(Leviticus 20:26 KJV).
First,
HOLINESS is “NOT” something you DO.
“…the Father that
dwelleth in … [you], he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). “…God …works
in you … TO ACT in order to fulfill his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “ … God … equip you with
everything good for doing his will …”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV)
Second,
HOLINESS is something you become
through the indwelling Spirit. “…The Holy Spirit gives
birth to… [HOLINESS]…”
(John 3:6 NLT). “ …The Spirit of God
dwelleth in you…” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “…[The
holy God] … dwelleth in me, he
doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Third,
HOLINESS is something you practice as you are empowered by the indwelling
Spirit. “… God … work[s] … in … [you] … what is
pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father that
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Finally, God’s HOLINESS sets, those
who BELONG to him, apart for honorable and respectful USE.
Apostle Paul was“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “….set
apart for
the gospel of God...” (Romans 1:1 NASB). “…God anointed (set apart) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and POWER…”
(Acts 10:38 NIV).
“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). YOU ARE no longer dominated by the sin nature or
unholiness. “…The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to [unholiness]. …I don’t really understand myself, for I want
to [be holy] …but I don’t [allow myself to trust in or depend upon God’s
indwelling Spirit]... Instead, I do what I hate. So
I am not the one doing wrong; it is [the impurity and unholiness]… living in me
that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that
is, in my sinful nature. I want to [be holy) … [which]… is right, BUT I CAN’T…Who
will free me from this life that is
dominated by [impurity and unholiness]?” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
“…The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). ). “If the Son therefore
shall make you free, you SHALL be free
indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV). “….Apart from [the indwelling
spirit], [you]… can do nothing…” (John 15:5
NIV).
Jesus EMPOWERS you “…to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians
3:16 KJV). “… according to the POWER that worketh IN [YOU]…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
HOLINESS is the HIGHEST
standard of human conduct and without the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT it would be
IMPOSSIBLE for mankind to achieve “…The
things which are impossible with men … [are] …POSSIBLE… [with God] …” (Luke 18:27
KJV). “…I am
the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing
too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…HE WHICH HATH
“BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN [YOU]… “WILL” “PERFORM” IT “UNTIL”
the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6 KJV).
Is there STILL a “HOLY” nation? Yes, many
of God’s “people,” however if not MOST, “quench” or suppress the expression of
the HOLY Spirit. “… Do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of
God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption…”
(Ephesians 4:30 NASB). “… do not bring
sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has
identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on
the day of redemption….” (Ephesians 4:30
NLT).
Remember SIN creates a
BARRIER and will ALWAYS cause a SEPARATION. God wants to express himself
through your life, but when you voluntarily and willfully choose a lifestyle of sinful
actions, words, or attitudes it WILL block or prevent him from doing so. Therefore, “…Do not quench the Spirit…”
(1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB). “… Do not
stifle the Holy Spirit...” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT).
“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “…God
has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in SANCTIFICATION…”
(1 Thessalonians 4:7 NASB). It is up to his “HOLY” nation to
allow God to INFLUENCE or be REVEALED through their actions, words, and
attitudes. “…Ye shall know [the HOLY nation]… by their
fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, GOODNESS, faith, Meekness, temperance…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
God’s “HOLY” nation
grieves, quenches, suppresses, or stifles the indwelling HOLY Spirit by living
like PAGANS. “…How shall we escape, if we neglect SO GREAT
SALVATION; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that
heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with
divers miracles, and GIFTS…” (Hebrews 2:3-5 KJV).
“…There is
SALVATION in no one else;
for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which
we must be SAVED…”
(Acts 4:12 NASB).
“…The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and WE ARE NOT SAVED...” (Jeremiah
8:20 KJV). “… If my people,
which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land…” (1 CHRONICLES 7:14 NASB).
“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “…be holy…”
(1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…be
holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy…”
(Leviticus 20:26 KJV).
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