THREATS TO HOLINESS (B)

#WordForTodayDevotional

Friday July 23, 2021

THREATS TO HOLINESS (B)

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
I Corinthians 3:19 (KJV)

We began yesterday discussing the threats to holiness. Yahweh is perfect; He lacks nothing. Yahweh is holy; He is set apart and wholly separate from sin. As with many of Yahweh’s attributes, He desires to communicate perfection and holiness to His creation. So He did. Lucifer, an angel of Yahweh, did not get enough of Yahweh’s perfection and holiness. He wanted it all. He rebelled against Yahweh and lost all of what Yahweh gave him. He became Yahweh’s nemesis – renamed Satan. Ever since, Satan wishes for holiness’s ruin. He elicited the fall of Adam and Eve, depriving them of holiness. He continues on his rampage against holiness. He wants our help; he wants co-conspirators. And humanity is altogether too quick to comply, but that’s our nature because of the fall. We have discussed the threats of relativism, tolerance and liberty. Let’s continue with contextualization and legalism.

Contextualization. In Yahweh’s quest to rescue holiness, He selected Israel as a light to the nations. He made this people holy. Yahweh gave Israel a charge to be separate from other nations. By doing so, other nations would look to Israel and find Yahweh attractive. Israel failed. This rescue initiative continues with the Church. The Church is meant to be a wholly set apart people testifying to Yahweh’s holiness. This is accomplished through the church’s union to HaMashiach, who fulfilled all Israel ought to be. Contextualization is when Yahweh’s holy people relate to their context. They connect to their context in meaningful ways. Contextualization is tricky. Yahweh’s people should contextualize without jeopardizing holiness. Our enemy wishes to see contextualization abused. 1 Corinthians 9:22 says, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Unfortunately, false teachers use this text to abuse contextualization, giving license to liberty. Yahweh rescues holiness from contextualization’s ruin by what He says earlier in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 he says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” Our union with HaMashiach gifts us with the Holy Spirit making us Yahweh’s temple. False teachers abusing contextualization beware!

Legalism: The flip side of liberty is legalism. Legalism has two parts. Legalism is not attempting to keep the law of Yahweh. It’s assuming we can keep it. Furthermore, legalism says Yahweh’s acceptance is found in keeping Yahweh’s law. Impossible! If that were the case, Yahweh’s grace in HaMashiach’s death, resurrection and all the implications is nullified (see Galatians 2:19-21). Legalism is also when people make new laws, parade them as Yahweh’s law and expect others to keep those laws. Often these new laws are conceived to protect from sin’s temptation or affect. Legalism is often sown from fear. Worse, people believe that Yahweh’s acceptance depends on these fabricated laws of men. Legalism restricts faith. Legalism is a tragic ruin to holiness because it restricts other attributes of Yahweh like beauty, creativity or power. Legalism restricts love. Yahweh rescues holiness from legalism’s ruin with faith and love. This is accomplished by Yahweh’s faithfulness and Yahweh’s love through Yahushua HaMashiach (see Revelation 1:4-6; Galatians 3:11, 14).

REMEMBER: It is only Yahweh’s Word that is trustworthy.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your word to me today. Every trace of legalism and syncretism dies in me now in the name of Yahushua HaMashiach Amen!

PROPHETIC RELEASE: I decree that your heart be stabilized in the Word now in the name of Yahushua HaMashiach Amen!

FURTHER READING:
Romans 6:21; I Corinthians 4:5

ONE YEAR CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE READING PLAN: Read the events of the bible in the order that they happened.
1 Kings 9:1-11:13; Acts 21:15-36


PASTOR PRINCE CHIMAOBIM NWABUIKWU
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