Rabbi Schneider - The Two Kinds of Holiness
Legally because of the blood of Jesus, because of the finished work of what Yeshua HaMashiach, what Yeshua of Nazareth has done for us, being pierced through for our sins, and shedding His blood and giving His life for our iniquity. Because of that, we are now simply based on the finished work of Christ. Based on that alone, we are holy and blameless before God, because the Father is not looking at our sin, because Jesus died for our sin. The Father is only looking at us through the eyes of love.
Now, Jesus has made us acceptable. But there's another element, beloved, this also important, and that is, an outworking of holiness. And I think this is what Paul is talking about here, that we would be established in our hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father. I know in my own life, even though I know scripturally and legally I'm accepted in the beloved, that I'm holy before God simply because of the blood of Jesus, even though I know that, legally, I also am aware that if my heart is not right, that I don't have peace in my heart. That I am aware of sometimes that what is in my heart, at any given moment, it may not be holy.
So there's a legal holiness that has been established for us through the blood of Jesus. But then there's a practical holiness that we're entering more and more into as we're being transformed by the word of God in the Holy Spirit, that we'd become more and more like Jesus, that we're in the process of being conformed to His image. And this is what I'm speaking about right now. That the blessing and the benediction, the power that's at work in our life is that we would be conformed to the image of Jesus in holiness before the Father, not just legally, but experientially. That we would truly be people that emanate God's holiness, through love and truth.
So Father, right now I speak over these Your beloved ones that are watching right now or listening by radio. Father, we thank You that You're the God that's at work in our life, both to will and do, Abba, for Your good pleasure. And Father, we thank You that You said that You would complete in us what You started. And Father, we desire, we crave that You would complete the work in us, that we would be truly sanctified experientially, holy before You. That when Jesus returns, we'd be like Elijah and like Enoch, Father God. That we're ready to meet You.
I think about Enoch, and how the scripture says that he had a witness in himself. That before You took him off the earth, he knew he was holy and blameless to You. So, Father, I pray that You would so transform us, even to the hearing of Your word, that we would enter into a state where we would continually be living in a way that's pleasing to You. And that living in that state day by day, hour by hour, even second by second, we would have the pleasure of experiencing Your affirmation over our life. That we would, like Enoch, have that witness within ourself, that we're pleasing and acceptable to You. In Yeshua's name.
I think about Enoch, and how the scripture says that he had a witness in himself. That before You took him off the earth, he knew he was holy and blameless to You. So, Father, I pray that You would so transform us, even to the hearing of Your word, that we would enter into a state where we would continually be living in a way that's pleasing to You. And that living in that state day by day, hour by hour, even second by second, we would have the pleasure of experiencing Your affirmation over our life. That we would, like Enoch, have that witness within ourself, that we're pleasing and acceptable to You. In Yeshua's name.
Beloved, that's God's purpose and blessing over your life. And that's what He's doing in your life. He is transforming you from glory to glory.