The Science of Holiness

[Daily Devotional]

The Science of Holiness 

     To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness
before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with
all his saints. 1 Thess. 3:13.  

     The ethics inculcated by the gospel acknowledge no standard but the
perfection of God's mind, God's will. God requires from His creatures
conformity to His will. Imperfection of character is sin, and sin is the
transgression of the law. All righteous attributes of character dwell in
God as a perfect, harmonious whole. Every one who receives Christ as his
personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. This is the
science of holiness. . . .  

     The glory of God is His character. . . . This character was
revealed in the life of Christ. That He might by His own example condemn
sin in the flesh, He took upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh.
Constantly He beheld the character of God; constantly He revealed this
character to the world. Christ desires His followers to reveal in their
lives this same character.  

     Before the world, God is developing us as living witnesses to what
men and women may become through the grace of Christ. We are enjoined to
strive for perfection of character. The divine Teacher says, "Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"
(Matt. 5:48). Would Christ tantalize us by requiring of us an
impossibility? Never, never! What an honor He confers upon us in urging
us to be holy in our sphere, as the Father is holy in His sphere! He can
enable us to do this, for He declares, "All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). This unlimited power it is our
privilege to claim. . . .  

     God works with those who properly represent His character. Through
them His will is done on earth as it is done in heaven. . . .  

     It is our lifework to be reaching forward to the perfection of
Christian character, striving constantly for conformity to God's will.
Day by day we are to press upward, ever upward, until of us it can be
said, "Ye are complete in him" (Co. 2:10).  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 131