Martin Luther in his sermon on Revelation says this: “A Christian, too, is hidden from himself; he does not see his holiness and virtue, but sees in himself only lack of virtue and of holiness; and you, dull wise man, would behold the Church with your blind reason and your unclean eyes! In a word, our holiness is in heaven, and not in the world, before men’s eyes, like goods in the market.” It is an observation on those who rest in their own holiness and see that all other Christians fall short of what they think Christian behavior should be. These condemn others for not leading holy and perfect lives (like themselves), and failing daily to be as obedient (as themselves). They see in themselves virtues that all others should emulate. We, the faithful, on the other hand, see only our failures thinking that our successes are artificial constructs of the mind that take away the humble spirit. The fact is that Christ is our only success. Paul says, II Cor. 10:17, “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” I read commentaries that exhort the believer to a more holy life; I applaud that. But when I see in those commentaries a shrouded condemnation of those who fail to meet that standard, then I see a “Pharisee” who sees himself holy and the model for others to follow. Romans 2. We remain in a shell of a sinful body after conversion. I guess it is God’s way of reminding us that we do not turn into angels at conversion, but remain “fault-full” humans until that day our vile bodies die, or we are changed at the coming of our Lord. I Cor. 15:51,52, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Paul’s treatise in Romans 7 deals with a flesh that remains sinful after conversion. Martin Luther says that our holiness is “in Heaven” reserved for the day of full redemption. I Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”. I therefore strive each day against my flesh, hating the sin that “so easily entangles me” (Heb. 12:1), trusting Christ for my final salvation, and holding holiness as a goal which will never be attained in this body.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 14:36:59 +0000
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