For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
- Romans 8:29
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
- 2 Peter 1:3-4
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
- Matthew 12:43-45
“Of late, the Church has not done a good job of demonstrating holiness. The pedophilia scandals in the Catholic Church and accounts of evangelical ministers consorting with prostitutes, both male and female, have filled the newspapers. Often we wonder why the Church in America, which has such great resources at its disposal, has not done more to address racism, preventable diseases in the Global South, world hunger, the modern plague of AIDS, and human rights abuses.
“The hard truth is that too many see Christianity in terms of self-improvement or as a guide to successful living; the command to holiness, the impetus for such change, is too often ignored.
“What is holiness then? Most nonbelievers, and many Christians, confuse holiness with following a legalistic list of dos-and-don’ts or reduce it to piety and attentiveness to religious duties. In reality, holiness embraces piety, but it is much more; it is the heart of the Christian life and every Christian’s destiny. As one devotional writer put it, God has one eternal purpose for us, that we should be ‘conformed to the likeness of his Son’ (Romans 8:29)? We are to become holy as Christ is holy; We are to become true Christians, the root meaning of which is ‘little Christs.’ Indeed, through holy living, Christians are called to share in God’s work of redeeming creation.
“This holy life is the natural outgrowth of the exchange at the cross of our lives for Christ’s life. Once reconciled to God, we enjoy, as Peter said, ‘a share in the divine nature’ (see 2 Peter 1:3-4).’ Jesus’ relationship to the Father is one of perfect obedience in love. As we obey, God’s grace enables us to live like Jesus.”
- Charles Colson (with Harold Fickett), The Faith
Can we be fully sanctified in this life? No. So, how can we be holy and Jesus is holy? We can strive toward that goal, and God can work within us. We do not have the power on our own. But at the point of death, our new bodies will not have the stain of sin and our sanctification will be complete.
But rather than be frustrated in trying to achieve the impossible dream, Chuck Colson suggests some practical things. The Holy Spirit will, in true believers, bring a sin in our lives into focus. We must repent, turn away from that sin and turn to Jesus. Again, we do not have the power to fully repent on our own. Think of the person that gives up something that is a stumbling block in their lives during the Lenten season. Let’s say it is chocolate. His favorite chocolate is the Cadbury mini eggs, and they are only available roughly during Lent. But, he bought a bag and saved it to munch on after Easter Sunday. Those little chocolate eggs were calling him throughout the Lenten Season. Those eggs might have been crying loud enough that the poor man could not hear the pastor’s sermon. But he did it on his own, he resisted – but only for a while. True repentance is when we give it up to God and trust in God’s power to resist the temptation. Thus, in relying more on God’s power, we become more like Jesus.
Chuck Colson’s second practical step is the reform our own desires. It is like when Jesus taught about the impure spirit. It left and it did not find a home. And so, it returned and brought friends with him. If we fill that empty space where that impure spirit had been, and we fill it full of the desire to have more of Jesus, then there is no place for the impure spirit to enter.
Then Chuck Colson suggests the renewing of the mind. This goes beyond reading the Bible. It goes beyond attending church and actually listening to the sermon. I recently used a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon. Long before someone made money off the question “What would Jesus do?” Spurgeon went beyond that. “What would Jesus do? … How would Jesus think?” … What would Jesus have me to be?” When you answer those three questions honestly and do it, you are much closer to Jesus.
And the final practical step that Chuck Colson suggests is to participate in acts of charity. It is more than just giving. It is getting your hands dirty. It is what Jesus said when you have done for the least of these you did for me. This does not mean that Jesus is that needy person. But it may just mean that when you do those things without pomp and circumstance, then you became a little more like Jesus.
Chuck Colson concludes that holiness becomes a lifestyle. We do not achieve Holiness in the sense of being like God, but we show love to everyone around us.
Lord, show me what are the foundations of “the Faith.” Many people think they can accept You and then forget You, hoping that allows them to sneak in the back door of Heaven, but You promise that if our conversion was a true one, we will see the changes in our life. We will willingly repent. Our desires will change on their own. Our mind will be renewed, and our hearts will move us to action when we see people in need. Help us to welcome those changes and to desire more of the same. After all, we must be perfectly cleansed to be in Your presence, and we will be there forever. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
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