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WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS
OUGHT WE TO BE?

By Dimitris Pelidis

 

Everyone prepares for a special event. Whatever the occasion, it goes without saying that certain adjustments have to be made as the big day draws closer and the anticipation grows higher. Why is it then, that so many of us Christians are not preparing appropriately for THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD? Most likely, it is because we have somehow missed what the future really holds. I for one, used to believe that the day of the Lord would be a bright, sunny day and no doubt it will be. Yet, there is a dark side to it that should not be overlooked.

Amos 5:18:
Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

To what end is it for you, brother and sister? Perhaps we are too at ease with the idea that the righteous shall be saved, but not so aware that “the righteous scarcely is saved.” We JUST make it! Truly our escape will be very narrow!

1 Peter 4:17-18:
For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

In the Day of the Lord, the Lord Jesus shall baptize the world with the baptism of judgment as prophesied by John.

Matthew 3:11-12:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

This day is sneaking up like a thief in the night.

2 Peter 3:10:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

We shall be saved, yet so as by fire. It is our works that must stand the test of the flame.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15:
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

In light of the above a very poignant question arises:

2 Peter 3:11:
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT WE TO BE IN ALL HOLY CONVERSATION AND GODLINESS [emphasis added]?

We ought to be holy, for he is holy.

1 Peter 1:14-16:
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God’s will for his people is very clear!

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7-8:
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

We are not people who don’t know God. We have tasted of his goodness, mercy and grace. God has given us his holy Spirit so we, being his children could be like him. His great longing has always been to have a nation of people who would love him and portray his excellence.

1 Peter 2:9-12:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

There is nothing that corrupts the soul more than lust and nothing that restores it more than holiness. Actually if we are to win any other souls it is first by keeping our own pure from lust and sin. We should arrive at the point where we determine that we no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God (1 Pet. 4:2). Aren’t we sick and tired of wasting our lives like that? Doesn’t our heart crave for holiness? Isn’t it time for us to make the difference?

1 Peter 4:3-4:
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Awkward as it may seem, if the world is not speaking evil of us; if they do not find it strange that we don’t go down the same stream of sin that they are, then there is strong indication that we are not living a holy life and that we are not making any difference at all.

We should honestly answer for ourselves the question of whom we are yoked to. Are we yoked to the master or to the world? The Bible warns. “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” (1 Cor. 15:33) and “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jms. 4:4b).

Where I come from there is a saying that in essence reiterates this truth: “Tell me who your friend is and I’ll tell you who you are.” Are you still a friend of the world? Sooner or later you will be reduced to an unbeliever having been corrupted by evil communications. The Biblical instruction is clear and simple.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Notice that FIRST you come out from among them and THEN God receives you and is a Father to you.

2 Corinthians 7:1:
Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Holiness is perfected in the fear of God and not by taking him lightly. It is by the precious blood of his only begotten son Jesus that we have access into the heavenlies.

Ephesians 2:18:
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Let us therefore enter into his presence and fellowship with him, “with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our minds washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22). Let us choose the company of his friendship. Finally, let us, as the elect of God, be holy as he is Holy. We must follow holiness, “without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

 

 


From the September 2001 issue of The Vine & Branches