Daily Bread - 6/15/07
Luke 1 :75 - In holiness and righteousness in His sight all the days of our lives.
The Greek word for holiness (hosiotes), that is used here and in Ephesians 4:24 has a special meaning. In classical Greek the word 'hosia' denotes the everlasting principles of right (Word Study in the New Testament). It is therefore correct to assume then that the Greek word used here for holiness concerns the eternal laws of God. The meaning of "this proper behavior" concerning the eternal laws of God would extend beyond what would be acceptable for a period of time such as the Law of Moses or another covenant to facilitate yet another step towards the ultimate desire of God, but would be the very expression of that behavior. There are some who argue that this word (hosiotes) should be translated 'purity' or 'perfection' (A Handbook of the Gospel of Luke Reiling, J., & Swellengrebel, J. L. (1993], c1971).
Could it be that there exist in everyone who has been born of the Spirit an untapped divine ability to be everything that God intended men to be when He first created them in His likeness and image? Is it possible that because we have not be willing to believe that we can live in this blessed realm, that we have been deceived into accepting a lifestyle far less than what God purposed for us in redemption?
By the Holy Spirit Zacharias prophesied concerning the age of the Messiah, an age which has no end. The age of the Kingdom and reign of the Messiah began 2000 years ago and of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7; Colossians 1:14). Zacharias announced to all mankind what God would do for us through our Savior Jesus Christ. He was introducing the new birth and the new self, created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Through this awesome work of grace God has given to us an unspeakable gift. He has delivered us from the fear that had caused us to live in bondage all of our lifetime (Hebrews 2:15; Luke 1:74; Genesis 3:10). God has filled us with His Spirit and given us the Spirit of adoption so that we can call God or Father and serve Him as He before ordained, in holiness without blame before Him in love (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:4-5). There is absolutely no question about God's desire for us to be holy for He tells us in no uncertain terms to be Holy even as He is Holy and that without holiness we will not see Him (1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
About Me
- Carol L
- San Diego area, California, United States
- I started this blog back in 2005, but in 2006 began dedicating it solely for the purpose of posting email messages called, Daily Bread, sent out Monday through Saturday by my pastor, Mark Spitsbergen. These daily emails contain fresh revelation that Mark gets from the Word of God by the Holy Spirit for that day for the church that God has called him to pastor, Abiding Place. 1 Peter 4:11 says, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God gives that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6), and He says, "The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are Life." (John 6:63). For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
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