Our walk with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is a walk in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8. But, wait a minute… em… can we really walk in holiness? Can we actually be holy in this world? What with so many distractions and temptations within and around us? What about the influences of family, friends and even foes? How about the exposures to all kinds of polluting images on the TV, the Internet and other forms of media, advertisements and entertainment? And, most of all, how about the vulnerability of our own flesh in its cravings for the things of the flesh and the world? Is it unrealistic to expect mere mortals as we are to live in holiness within and without?
Many, if not all Christians, believe that God is Omnipotent; He has all power; He can do all things; He created the world miraculously by His spoken word; He made the Israelites walk through the Red Sea as on dry ground; He brought out water from the rock; He rained down manna and quails specially from heaven to feed His people, etc. etc. Christians, as well as many others in the world, believe that Jesus demonstrated God’s miraculous power when He walked on earth – He opened the eyes of the blind; He made the lame to walk; He made the deaf to hear; He healed the sick; He cast out evil spirits; He raised the dead to life! Most importantly, the cornerstone of the Christian Faith is that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and He rose from the dead miraculously and ascended into heaven. Without the Resurrection, there is no Christian message; no Gospel.
Furthermore, an average Christian today believes in supernatural breakthroughs in business, career and so on. The average Christian confesses “Favour follow me.” “I’m blessed and highly favoured.” This Christian also believes that “God opens a door which no one can close and closes a door which no one can open… He makes a way where there seems to be no way …” Indeed, God does. Isaiah 22:22, Isaiah 43:16-19
Now, if we truly believe in all or any of these, then we must believe that God has awesome power to radically change anything or anyone. We must, therefore, believe that God can open the door of holiness which no devil or demon can close… God can make a way, a highway of holiness for us where there seems to be no way… God can “bless or favour us” “… to live in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.” Luke 1:74-75. We, the CEMA Lifeline Team, then propose therefore that the same God who performed all the miracles of the Bible and history has the same power available to make us holy. If He could raise the dead, He can destroy the power of sin in me. “The power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead shall also give life to our mortal bodies, so we don’t live any longer in the flesh to obey its passions but in the Spirit of God.” Romans 8: 11. Praise His holy name! This is why Paul says elsewhere, My old self-has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20
Going further in verse 21 of Galatians 2, Paul points out that he wasn’t preaching self-righteousness but a life of grace obtained through Christ. Does grace then cancel righteous and holy living? No, not at all. Let’s hear Apostle Paul again on this:
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? – Romans 6:1-2
And again, he says grace teaches us to reject sin and live right, even in contemporary times:
For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age. Titus 2:11-12 (AMP)
Jesus came to save us from sin. Matthew 1:21. He came to destroy the works of the devil, which is primarily sin. 1 John 3: 8-10. He came to set us free! John 10:10, John 8:32
Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” Mark 9:23. “All things” include victory over sin and walking in holiness.
If God says His grace is available to give you victory over sin, and, on the other hand, your flesh, the world and the devil all connive to say that’s not true, who deserves to be believed?
All things are Possible to him by Charles Wesley
| All things are possible to him That can in Jesus’ name believe; Lord, I no more Thy name blaspheme, Thy truth I lovingly receive. I can, I do believe in Thee; All things are possible to me. |
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| ’Twas most impossible of all That here sin’s reign in me should cease; Yet shall it be, I know it shall; Jesus, I trust Thy faithfulness. If nothing is too hard for Thee, All things are possible to me. |
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| Though earth and hell the Word gainsay, The Word of God shall never fail; The Lord can break sin’s iron sway; ’Tis certain, though impossible. The thing impossible shall be, All things are possible to me. |
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| All things are possible to God; To Christ, the power of God in man; To me when I am all renewed, In Christ am fully formed again, And from the reign of sin set free, All things are possible to me.When thou the work of faith hast wrought, I here shall in thine image shine, Nor sin in deed, or word, or thought; Let men exclaim, and fiends repine, They cannot break the firm decree; All things are possible to me.Thy mouth, O Lord, hath spoke, hath sworn That I shall serve thee without fear, Shall find the pearl which others spurn, Holy, and pure, and perfect here, The servant as his Lord shall be; All things are possible to me. |
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| All things are possible to God; To Christ, the power of God in me; Now shed Thy mighty Self abroad, Let me no longer live, but Thee; Give me this hour in Thee to prove The sweet omnipotence of love. |
LyricsCharles Wesley (1707-1788) bio
Music:Henri Frederick Hemy (1818-1888); Adapted by James George Walton (1821-1905)
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