Chapter 4

by Praise Malinga

Holiness is the cleanliness state of your robe, and it is a state that we must pursue and maintain. As it is written, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12, NKJV). We must work to maintain our holiness, lest we lose our fellowship with God.

The Bible teaches us that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV). This means that even if we have received righteousness and salvation, if we do not pursue holiness, we will not be able to see God.

Jesus taught us a parable about the importance of garments, saying, “And when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had not been wearing a wedding garment, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:11-14, ESV). This parable teaches us that we must be clothed in clean robes, which is holiness, lest we be cast out of God's presence.

Maintaining holiness is a work, and it requires effort and dedication. As it is written, For as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness (Romans 6:19, KJV). We must keep ourselves pure and undefiled, lest we lose our fellowship with God.

The Bible describes a harlot dressing in (Proverbs 7:10, NKJV)
And behold, a woman met him, dressed as a harlot and with cunning of heart, showing us the contrast between the way of holiness and the way of the world. Sadly, many Christians are dressing like harlots in churches, but since it's now considered fashion, they're not even aware. God is not a naked God, and His children should be like Him, without any artificial additions on their bodies. As it is written, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:8, KJV). We must be mindful of our attire, lest we be found guilty of making a lie.

The Bible also warns us, Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness (Leviticus 19:29, KJV). We must teach our children to dress modestly and reverently, that they may not be led astray by the ways of the world.

The reason for the gift of righteousness is to lead us to holiness, that we may display the beauty of Christ in our lives. As it is written, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV). This means that all that God has done inside of us, we must display it outside, including dressing modestly and reverently, like our Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared in Revelation with a robe that reached down to his feet (Revelation 1:13).

Other scriptures that teach us to pursue holiness include:

• Be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16, NKJV)
• Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV)
• Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV), that we may be conformed to the image of Christ, who is the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29).
• Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

Let us pursue holiness, and maintain the clean state of our robe, that we may see God and be in His presence forever.

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