You not preaching holiness till you've named it!

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Esaias

This is good.

Do you see a difference between holiness as an authoritative declaration by God, and holiness as an experiential reality in the believer's life? If so, how would you explain it?

Herein lies the difference of being called and chosen. We are called unto holiness. God wants to us to be like Christ and surrender to his will. When I gave my heart to God it was a package deal. I get in trouble sometimes with my wife because I have used some of her kitchen utensils in the shop. For the convenience I recently used a whisk to stir a can of paint. Needless to say it got me in trouble. I didn't use it for its intended purpose and defiled it from its original use.

When we give our hearts to God our purpose is to serve and obey his will. Just as a wife is to submit herself and be subject to her husband, we are to God. When we are in good relationship to God we are holy. I also note that everything that belongs to me also belongs to my wife. She is supposed to be submitted to me, but also there is nothing that I possess that is not within her grasp. If we submit ourselves to holiness, then we shall also reign with God. As a bride in relation to her groom, nothing is deprived her.

Although, at the moment we are only in the betrothal period. A Jewish bride was almost the same as married at the moment of her betrothal. If a maiden was betrothed and she stepped out on her soon to be husband she was deemed not just a fornicator. She was an adulterer, and this would make her defiled and unholy. God is not coming back for a harlot, but instead for a church with out spot or wrinkle.

I understand that Christ died for our sins to be purged and that is how we obtain our purity, but after coming to God we are to no longer live in disobedience. I think there is a difference between mistakes and willfully and purposely sinning. God is faithful to forgive us of mistakes but he will not allow his bride to be unfaithful. A covenant relationship works to ways. must anxiously await the day that he should appear.

Long story short. We are holy because of who we are betrothed to, but we are to live holy also because of who we are betrothed to.