Quote:
Originally Posted by dthomas
When you are in a right relationship with God you are washed, you are cleansed, and holy before God. The spirit of God operating in your life will cause certain changes to occur in your life. They include a change in your attitudes, a love for people, a Christ-like spirit, and yes - changes in your dress and appearance. All of these changes are due to Christ living in your life. Should worldly attitudes and carnality begin to creep back in, these influences will manifest themselves, and rob your holiness. You are not automatically holy because of an experience with God. You must 'die daily', as the Apostle Paul said, to prevent carnality and self from robbing your holiness. Holiness is an active pursuit, not a concept that we are endowed with because of a single experience.
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: |
Aside from what I believe is a distortion of "I die daily" (which was actually talking about physical threats to Paul's life and not denying self by spiritually dying, since we died ONCE with Christ already), here are my thoughts on your post.
We are automatically holy because of an experience with God of new birth. New birth MAKES US HOLY. We are in that second separated from the world by a work of God, and are then His children. That is HOLINESS. Being HIS. Period. But HOLY BEHAVIOUR must occur afterwards. True holiness is present when behaviour becomes more and more holy.
I really think it is error to say we make ourselves holy. That is HOLY BEHAVIOUR, not holiness in and of itself. Does everyone realize HOLINESS simply means BELONGING TO GOD?