Our study from Scripture concerns the subject of holiness. This month, we conclude this series with the biblical instruction taken from Hebrews 12:14.
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
As is the case with every text of Scripture, the interpreter seeks to answer three fundamental questions. They are (1) What does the text say; (2) What does the text mean; and (3) How may the text be applied in my life?
Hebrews 12:14 is in the larger context of 12:12-29. It is the fifth warning passage contained in this epistle preceded by 2:1-4; 3:7-4:13; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-39. Today’s text parallels other portions of Scripture concerning the importance of holiness in the believer’s life.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:11–12 (ESV).
The Apostle John stated, “5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.,” (1 John 1:5–7 (ESV).
There is also James’ extensive treatment concerning personal holiness in James 2:14-26. It is here he argues faith without works of holiness is a dead faith.
Strive (διώκετε; diokete) is a present, active, imperative, plural verb. It means believers in Christ are to presently, actively, obediently, and collectively pursue or “to do something with intense effort and with a definite purpose or goal.”[1] The purpose or goal believers strive for is peace and holiness.
Peace (Εἰρήνην; eirenen) is tranquility, harmony and a freedom from worry with everyone; any and all kinds of people. This refers to people we know and love, people we know and like, people we do not know, and people we know but do not love or like. Honestly, we encounter individuals from all four categories in any given day or week.
Holiness (ἁγιασμόν; hagiasmon) is consecration, sanctification and dedication of one’s life to God. It means to be separate from sin because we are in union with Christ (I Cor. 1:1-2).
Th writer of Hebrews placed great importance on the pursuit of peace and personal holiness. Notice, he did not command believers to pursue personal peace and affluence, but to pursue peace coupled with holiness before the Lord and other people. Without holiness in particular, the writer warns no one will see the Lord.
To pursue, in the case of holiness, means to chase, hunt and track the separation of sin in one’s walk with Christ. Holiness is an elusive, but valuable, prey. When found and acquired the believer in Christ is to continually feast and seek the nourishment of holiness. Believers are to practice what has been learned and understood and to no longer lapse into bad habits and past sinful behaviors. The believer in Christ also understands holiness in one part of life awakens a desire for the same in all aspects of life and living.
The reason for this pursuit was, and is, “not” because personal peace and holiness, are the means of salvation. Rather, the continual pursuit of personal peace and holiness gives evidence of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. It is because we have peace with God through the person and work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1), we can pursue peace with all kinds of people. It is because God has called to be holy and blameless before Him (Eph. 1:4), we can also be holy as He is holy in our relationships with other individuals, I Peter 1:13-16).
Do we and will we perfectly pursue holiness during our brief time here on earth? Unfortunately, no. Believers in Christ lapse into sin. When this happens, we repent and confess our sin and receive restored intimacy with God by His fatherly forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-5; 51:1-12; I John 1:8-10). Consequences for sinful behavior may remain (2 Samuel 12), but our relationship with the Lord remains secure.
The believer in Christ is not to just pursue peace and holiness in isolation, but rather in the believing, and unbelieving, community. This is in essence the meaning of the biblical metaphors of believers in Christ being salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16). God created human beings in His image (Gen. 1:26-27) and to display the holiness of God in our daily lives before saints and sinners. This is God’s divine call for all of life.
Dr John MacArthur stated, ” It’s a very simple thing to go down the path of sanctification. Through prayer, cry out to the Lord, confess your sins, repent of your sins, and turn from your sins so that you’re constantly cleansing your heart in an honest way. That goes back to what Paul said to Timothy, If A man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel fit for the master’s use (2 Tim. 2:20-21).”
“That says it all. If you’re not cleansed from the things that corrupt your life, you’re not a vessel fit for the Master’s use. You may be able to get a crowd, you may be able to entertain some people and keep their attention, but it’s not great talent God blesses; it’s great holiness.”
May we pursue peace holiness with a singular passion of obedience to the Lord our God, while relying upon the Holy Spirit’s work in, and through us (Phil. 2:12-13). Press on (Phil. 3:12-16)!
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 662.
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