Without Holiness No One Will See the Lord!

Without holiness no one will see the Lord. -Hebrews 12:14
God's grace truly is amazing. God demands righteousness from us. In fact, the Bible says that a day is coming in which He will judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:31) Now the bad news is that no amount of human effort can make us righteous.

All our righteous acts are as filthy rags. -Isaiah 64:6

Not only that, but no amount of religion can make us righteous either.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous by observing the law. Rather through the law we become conscious of sin. -Romans 3:20

It is only by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross that we are saved and made righteous before God.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
-Ephesians 2:8-9

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe...
-Romans 3:22

This is great news! God demands righteousness from us, but He has given us that righteousness as a FREE gift! The only thing it cost, was the blood of God’s only begotten Son… So now our righteousness depends not on our own works but on His finished work on the cross!

But what about holiness...? Yeah the Bible says, "Without holiness no one will see the Lord" but our holiness is not based on our own efforts but on the sacrifice of Jesus right? Wrong... There is a difference between righteousness and holiness.
Righteous is something we cannot be because of our sinful nature. 

We are naturally from birth, instinctively prone to wickedness, disobedience, and rebellion towards God. We receive righteousness as a free gift of God's grace. Holiness is something that God expects from us after we receive that salvation and are born again. 

Now what does it mean to be “holy”? Let me explain with an illustration. I make a lot of sweet tea in my home as I am sure many of you do. Now after I have brewed the tea and added the sugar to it, I don't stir it with just any spoon in my kitchen. There is one particular spoon that I use to stir my tea. 

It is my special sweet tea spoon. I only use that spoon to mix sweet tea, and I do not use that spoon for anything else except for making sweet tea. I have set it apart for the sole purpose of making sweet tea. That is what it means to be “holy”. It means to have been set apart for the sole purpose of honoring God; nothing else.

You see, after God makes us righteous by His grace through His Son, we are born again, given a new heart, with a new nature, and new desires. Then He expects us to live the rest of our new lives in holiness to Him.

Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship –Romans 12:1

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. -2nd Corinthians 7:1

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable not in passionate lust like the heathen who do not know God.  -1st Thessalonians 4:3-5

Before our salvation, we could not help but to live like the world and commit its many sins. We couldn't have lived holy if we wanted to. But thanks to new birth, we can. We have been born again! Now we have a NEW nature, a NEW heart, with NEW desires! And you better believe, now that we can live in holiness, God expects us to. And He will hold us guilty of squandering and abusing His grace if we don't.

Now perhaps you say, “How can I do this? How can I possibly live a ‘holy’ life?” By the power of the Holy Spirit. God promises that He will move you by the Holy Spirit to walk in holiness.

I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep all my laws. –Ezekiel36:26

So I say live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. –Galatians 5:16

That is why it is so important to seek and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is a separate work of grace that takes place after salvation (Acts 1:5, Acts 2:4, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 10:44-45, Acts 19:1-7) if you have not done so already. The Spirit Baptism will empower you to live a life holy and pleasing to God. Return to holiness saints... For your soul's sake.