On Holiness

A Quote to Carry You

December 7, 2015

“You are my Lord, because you have no need of my goodness.”  Augustine of Hippo

On holiness – In my opinion, the above quote reflects the essence of holiness.  Described as the quality or state of being holy, holiness can only be attributed to one who is holy.  To be holy, one must be completely perfect in goodness and righteousness, in other words, he must be divine.  When examining the heart of mankind, Scripture tells us that “there is no one righteous, not even one…” Romans 3:10. Therefore, true holiness then, can only be claimed by God…and for me, that is where the beauty of holiness is.

“Who among the gods is like you, Lord?  Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”  Exodus 15:11

Given that only God is holy and holiness can only come from God, indeed he has no need for our goodness…yet we are in such desperate need of his, whether we realize it or not.  God knows our hearts, and he knows absolutely what we are in need of.  What’s more, he loves us so much that he made a way for our every need to be fulfilled.

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14

As the above Scripture states, we must be holy in order to see the Lord.  In his perfect goodness towards us and love for us, God demonstrated his holiness through his Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Even more, by coming to us by means of being born into the world and living among us, and later, by sacrificing his very life as a ransom for ours, God provided a way for each of us to experience his holiness.  For when we accept Jesus, “who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead…” Romans 1:4, we are “set free from sin and become slaves of God, the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”  Romans 6:22.

As we reflect on the magnitude of what we have been so richly given in the birth of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season, may the peace of his holiness glow brightly to illumine the world around you.

Peace and love,

Felecia