STANDARD OF HOLINESS
“These are the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.” Leviticus 27: 34 (ESV)
Today’s reading wraps up the book of Leviticus, which, if we were honest, is no small task to read through! However, several scholars regard Leviticus as one of the most important Old Testament books as it outlines in detail the standards of a Holy God and how He is to be praised and worshiped. 87 times throughout Leviticus, Moses writes of “holiness” as he outlines how people were to approach God. In His law, God commands us to “be holy; for I the LORD your God am holy” (Lev 19:2; 11:44-45; 20:26). God’s standard is extremely high -- holy perfection!
Jesus will summarize these high standards in two simple commands (Matt. 22:35-40): Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. I don’t know about you, but sometimes even following Jesus’ two commandments is difficult!
God’s holiness provides his people with a high standard to imitate. In Galatians 4, Paul reminds us that because the law’s standards are so high, we can not live up to them. We need Jesus, who lived perfectly under the law, to redeem us sinners who were cursed under the law (Gal. 4:1-7). Because of Jesus, believers now have an incredible title of “son”. We are no longer a slave, but an adoptive son and heir through God (Gal. 4:7).
As the old hymn sings, “My sin, not in part, but the whole, / Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more”. Our inability to measure up to the holy standards of God was nailed to the cross and the entire weight of our sin was placed on Jesus. We can rejoice as we look to Jesus to run our daily race with endurance (Heb. 12: 1-2). We can rejoice that Jesus, with great joy, will present us blameless before the presence of a Holy and glorious God (Jude 24).
Further study
•1 Peter 1:14-16 •Psalm 99•Romans 12:1-2
by Eric Adams, Deacon
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A FRESH STARTPOSTURE OF FAITHHEAVENLY BODIESTHE BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSI AM WILLINGGOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES MAN'S DYSFUNCTIONJESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATHLIVE OUT WELL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUSHOLD IT CLOSEOPEN MY EYESWHO DO PEOPLE SAY WE ARE?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GODWHAT IS YOUR IDOL?GOD'S CHOOSING
February
March
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISES
No Comments