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The Science of Holiness, May 5
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness
before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:13
.
The ethics inculcated by the gospel acknowledge no standard but the
perfection of God’s mind, God’s will. God requires from His creatures
conformity to His will. Imperfection of character is sin, and sin is the
transgression of the law. All righteous attributes of character dwell in
God as a perfect, harmonious whole. Every one who receives Christ as
his personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. This is the
science of holiness....
The glory of God is His character.... This character was revealed in the
life of Christ. That He might by His own example condemn sin in the flesh,
He took upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. Constantly He beheld
the character of God; constantly He revealed this character to the world.
Christ desires His followers to reveal in their lives this same character
Before the world, God is developing us as living witnesses to what men
and women may become through the grace of Christ. We are enjoined to
strive for perfection of character. The divine Teacher says, “Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (
Matthew 5:48
).
Would Christ tantalize us by requiring of us an impossibility? Never, never!
What an honor He confers upon us in urging us to be holy in our sphere, as
the Father is holy in His sphere! He can enable us to do this, for He declares,
“
All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (
Matthew 28:18
). This
unlimited power it is our privilege to claim....
God works with those who properly represent His character. Through
them His will is done on earth as it is done in heaven....
It is our lifework to be reaching forward to the perfection of Christian
character, striving constantly for conformity to God’s will. Day by day
we are to press upward, ever upward, until of us it can be said, “Ye are
complete in him” (
Colossians 2:10
)
[132]
5
Signs of the Times, September 3, 1902
.
6
Ibid
.
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