Peace and Holiness

Hebrews 12:14 – “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Much can be said about peace and holiness, but even a brief look reveals that all who name the name of Christ are called to pursue peace with all people—even with our enemies, as much as lies within us. We are to seek peace eagerly and strive after it. Why? Because peace is agreeable to all three Persons of the Godhead. God is the God of peace; Jesus is the Prince of Peace; and peace is a fruit of the Spirit.

Therefore, we must not harbor bitterness, hatred, resentment, indignation, or spite toward others. Instead, we should always be ready to forgive and make peace, for we ourselves have been forgiven and God has made peace with us through the blood of His cross. If we have been forgiven, shall we not forgive? If we realized how small and sinful we truly are—that none of us are worth “fifteen cents”—we would not be so hard on others.

“And holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” This is a perfect holiness. Is the “holiness” you think you attain by the deeds of the flesh truly perfect? It must be perfect, and it can be nothing less. Why? Because God is holy; Christ is holy; the Spirit is holy; Heaven is holy; the angels in Heaven are holy; and any soul that enters into that holy realm must be holy as well. If you are to enter, you must be perfectly holy.

Sinners, then, face an insurmountable problem, do we not? Seeking acceptance with God by a “holiness” produced by our own religious performances—a holiness generated by sinful flesh—is nothing but the pretended holiness of hypocrites. Believers are indeed called to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; and, by God’s grace, we do. But not perfectly. Too often we fail miserably in thought, word, and deed.

Without holiness—a perfect holiness—no man shall see the Lord. Only God is eternally and intrinsically holy. Therefore, if anything else is to be holy, it must be because God Himself has made it so. God makes His people holy on the just and righteous ground of the finished work of Christ, the Substitute, Surety, and Redeemer of His people. Our acceptable righteousness and perfect holiness are found in Christ alone.

He is our Peace. He is our Holiness before our thrice-holy God. Because of Him we are perfectly righteous and perfectly holy. It is all of grace, and because of Him we may enter into God’s holy abode.

Jesus is the Friend of sinners—sinners who know they are sinners, sinners who have no hope in themselves, sinners who understand that if anything depends on them, all hope is lost. Look not to yourselves, for you will be found wanting. Rest in the Savior for all righteousness and holiness.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Greg Flannery is a Bible Teacher at Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio.