When God demands for holiness of life and conduct, it is to make man come in tune with the Almighty, and live as models here on earth. In the Old Testament, great personalities including Enoch, Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel and the three Hebrew brothers were all sanctified for godliness in this world. The same grace is available to us to be sanctified for godliness in this world. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Sanctification sets us apart purposefully for God and for good.
“Sanctify yourselves, therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.” Because God has saved and brought us to Himself, we are set apart purposefully for Him and only for good conduct and character. Therefore, those who are not set apart for God must wonder whether they are truly saved and godly. “But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.”
God actually sanctifies and purifies us so we can live in godliness. While on earth, our Lord Jesus Christ sanctified and set Himself apart so that we also might be sanctified. “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” As we also are set apart, sanctified and purified, He presents us to Himself “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle… and without blemish.” He expects us to be submissive to God and possessed of His grace at all times.
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Saved, set apart and sanctified, we become submissive to Christ and remain under the control of the God of all grace. He also possesses us with His power, grace and goodness. Submissive and possessed by Him, we must also realise that we belong to Him. “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
Like the children of Israel, we should be satisfied with the goodness of the Lord in and beyond the wilderness of this life. While on their way from Egypt, God promised the Israelites that He would heal, help, deliver, protect and make them victorious over their enemies. If only we can obey and serve Him, He will also satisfy us with provision, preservation, health, long life and all that we need in our wilderness experience and beyond. “But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.”
The promise of God’s goodness is conditional. If we must enjoy His goodness or be partakers of it, then we must be obedient to Him. “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.” However, the rebellious who refuse to obey God “shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.” If we remain obedient to the Lord, we will not perish. Instead, His blessings will multiply in our lives.
“They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, these be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”
God had given the children of Israel marvelous promises, but instead of obeying Him, they provoked the Lord continually with their grievous godlessness to their own damnation. The Lord is not happy with those who provoke Him with their continuous sinning. Therefore, we must not provoke Him so that we will enjoy His blessings continually.
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Believers are consistent and peculiar people who appropriate God’s sufficient, abundant and great grace upon their lives. This makes them remain peculiar in God’s kingdom and have His blessings upon them. Regardless of our past, we can come to God today to experience that peculiar touch and abundant grace.
• Further reading (King James Version): Exodus 19:3-6. Exodus 19:4-6; 1 Peter 2:5,9. Leviticus 20:7,8; Psalm 4:3,4. John 17:17,19; Ephesians 5:25-27. Titus 2:14; Romans 14:7,8. Exodus 23:22,25-27. Job 36:11,12. Exodus 32:8,31-33. Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9-12,21.
