The Nugget:
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
My Comment:
It is about time that everyone who claims to be a Christian sit up and take notice what Hebrews 12:14 teaches. It is a direct matter of salvation. Perhaps because so many are mistaken about the subject of holiness they are among the many that suppose they are saved but in actuality are on the broad way that leads to destruction, not the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13, 14). Jesus Himself said “few there be that find it,” speaking of the “narrow way.”
Back to Hebrews 12:14. Here is my note for holiness that I placed in my newest Bible reference book, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
and holiness. Gr. hagiasmos (S# G38, Rom_6:19). Note that holiness is an absolute requirement for salvation in this life. Holiness is a matter of our present state. It is not merely imputed or forensic, a so-called matter of standing that does not reflect our state. While the verb underlying holy has a future tense form in the Greek language, the future tense never occurs in the Greek New Testament. “This fact deals a deadly blow to the false doctrine that complete sanctification or holiness awaits the believer on the other side of the grave… Clearly there is no salvation or sanctification after death” (Malcolm L. Lavender, The Fallacy of the ‘Sinning Christian’, p. 95).
Now, what must one do to be counted holy? The best and most practical instruction about that which I have found is contained in the words to the hymn, “Take Time to Be Holy.”
Last time I covered the clauses:
(1) Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
(2) Abide in Him always,
Today, I continue with the following clause:
(3) And feed on His Word
You cannot succeed in the Christian life if you fail to “feed on His Word.” His Word is found only in the Bible. You need to read it as often as you can. I suggest start first with the New Testament. Just like you need physical food for your body every day, you need the spiritual food provided in the Bible every day. You surely take time to eat your meals–if you didn’t, you would soon starve to death. If you fail to take in spiritual food by reading and studying the Bible, you are inviting spiritual death to take place.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Psa 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
The ONLY source of information we have about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the New Testament. I encourage you to read the New Testament carefully and repeatedly in order that you may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is a most essential way to “pursue holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.”