Going back to the illustration of our lives being like common paper bags, we learn from Scripture that the #1 thing we need in our “life bags” is God! But some of the first lessons we learn about God in Scripture are that He is holy (morally perfect and completely separate from evil), just (insisting that people be accountable for their thoughts, words and actions), merciful (willing to give us what we need rather than only what we deserve) and forgiving.

 

There are two kinds of holiness for humans and we need them both. There is imputed holiness. The moment a sinner trusts in the perfect blood sacrifice of Christ on the cross, God imputes or imparts Christ’s perfect holiness into our lives. He credits Jesus’ perfect holiness to our spiritual bank accounts. We don’t earn it. We simply receive Christ by faith and God does it for us and we accept it by faith!

 

“God made Him (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

 

From that point on, God sees us as perfect in His Holy Son while, at the same time, He trains and disciplines us in the school of holiness to purge sin and evil out of us, that we may partake in His practical holiness. This is collaborative holiness, as we yield to the Holy Spirit and pursue living separated lives. If God, by nature, hates sin… then we, as believers and lovers of God, should evict what God hates. This kind of personal, collaborative holiness comes by degrees as we listen and respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to sensitize us to the nuances of evil and sin in our lives. The Holy Spirit leads us to confess sin quickly to God and seek His purification. This collaborative holiness helps us develop personal righteousness as we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in obediently doing what is right.

 

“I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 1 Peter 1:16)

 

 

ACTION ITEM/PRAYER TIME: Look at the list of sins mentioned in Scripture above. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify any way you have deviated from doing the will of God and chosen the way of sin (John 16:8). As the Holy Spirit brings specific sins to mind, quickly confess them to God, asking for His forgiveness and cleansing. List them out on paper and mentally nail them to the cross.

 

Once you have spent time “emptying your bag” of sin, gladly receive the forgiveness God promises you (1 John 1:9). Christ paid your sin debt on the cross. That means you should no longer punish yourself for confessed sin! (Sometimes we are our own worst enemies!).

 

The Passion of Jesus Christ is a vivid reminder that God’s perfect holiness and justice were satisfied with Christ’s self-offering, voluntary sacrifice on the cross. Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died in our place. That means the punishment that we all rightly deserve before God was shifted onto Jesus! Hallelujah!

 

Now you’re ready to move on to Station #4