#7 Christianity is Holiness in Action

Holiness in Action is Love in Action

As I have progressed in writing this Bible Study on Holiness, I have become convinced that it could be retitled, “What it means to be a Christian.” Afterall, a Christian, by definition, should be Christ-like. Jesus Christ, was the holy God incarnate, revealed in flesh. He was the ultimate example of what holiness looks like. Just as the Bible declares that we should be holy because God is holy in 1 Peter 1:16, it also tells us that we should love because God is love. 1 John 4:8 says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Thus, the holiness in action is the love of God in action.

In the last holiness post I laid out the foundational actions of someone pursuing a life of holiness. In this post I want to focus on what holiness in action looks like, first toward other Christians and also toward everyone else. Galatians 6:10 says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Thus, perhaps the number one sign of holiness in action is our demonstration of love toward other believers. After all, Jesus said in John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” In other words, the love you show other Christians will be the sign to non-Christians that you are a disciple or follower of Christ.

Holiness in Action Through Loving Service

Because Jesus is the ultimate example of love, we can ask ourselves these questions. Do we treat other believers – new and old, near and far, whether similar to us or different – like Jesus treated his disciples? Are we patient and understanding with them? Do we give to them of our time, talent, and money as needed? Do we serve them as Jesus did when he washed his disciples’ feet at the last supper before his crucifixion. In fact, in John 13:13, Jesus instructed them lovingly, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” This is a beautiful practice I have participated in, in churches. Further, washing someone’s feet is the ultimate symbolic act of humility and service.

When we love someone, we will freely serve them or help them in any way we can. Love in action often translates to loving service, helpfulness even when difficult or inconvenient. When we see a way in which we can be of help, we should not hesitate, but rather jump at the chance.

Holiness in Action Through Loving Words

Love in action also may be seen in giving words of encouragement to someone who has stumbled or is discouraged. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” When we give comfort, we encourage. To edify someone is to help them grow spiritually, usually with words. Romans 15:1-2 states plainly, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.” When we place the needs of others before our own needs and desires, we become more like Jesus. Just as he patiently and lovingly helped his disciples grow, we, as the body of Christ, must also help each other grow.

Holiness in Action Through Loving Forgiveness

Sometimes the most difficult act of love we can demonstrate is that of forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus taught, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” We must forgive both believers and non-believers if we want God’s forgiveness in our lives. Showing mercy and forgiveness toward those who should “know better” because they go to church may, at times, prove more difficult. However, it remains a command. Ephesians 4:31-32 directs Christians to “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Thus, both our words to one another as well as about one another, must be loving.

Holiness in Action Through Loving Assembly

In order to love and serve our fellow Christians, we must necessarily follow another call to action given to us in God’s Word. We must spend time in fellowship with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This is one of my husband’s favorite passages to teach on. He points out that verse 24 gives us the purpose of why we need to come together regularly as instructed in verse 25. We can’t consider someone, their needs, etc., if we don’t spend time with them and listen to them. If I see a fellow Christian in need, I will then know how to help them or pray for them. We cannot provoke someone to love and to do good works if we don’t spend time with them. If I do something loving for a fellow Christian, they will be encouraged to do something loving for me and others. Going to church is not only about hearing the exhortation of the preacher, which is important, but it is just as much about our necessary interactions with other believers.

Holiness in Action Through Loving Generosity

Giving to Believers in Need

Assembling with other believers will allow us to see those with material or financial needs that we should then meet if we are able. This generosity is the next area of action a holy person of God should display. In fact, 1 John 2:17 was “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Right after the birth of the New Testament church in Acts 2:44-45 the Bible records, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as as every man had need.” Acts 6 records that men of God were appointed to make sure the widows were properly cared for, most likely from the money and possessions donated in Acts 4:34-35. “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Romans 12:13 says a Christian should be, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

Giving Between Groups Of Believer

Shortly after the birth of the church, believers were scattered away from Jerusalem to other lands. Small groups gathered and grew in the towns to which they fled. Some encountered greater material need than others. As a result, a few Biblical passages record the collection and transfer of monetary or material help from one congregation to another. In Acts 11:29 we read, “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.” In 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 Paul instructs the church to pick up offerings ahead of his arrival so someone could be sent to take them to the Jerusalem church after he got there.

Giving To The Ministry

Other examples of giving amongst Christians in the New Testament include providing for those who evangelized (traveled to spread the Gospel) and those who minister the Word in general. 1 Timothy 5:17 instructs,” Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” In Paul’s letters he praises those that gave to him while he evangelized and while he was in prison. One example occurred in Philippians 4:15-17. “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

Giving To All with Selfless Cheerfulness

Of course our giving is not to be restricted only to other Christians. One indication of this is what Jesus said in Luke 3:11 “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”

Most importantly, however, seems to be the attitude with which we give. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:1 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” And in 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul writes, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” We must give cheerfully with love, never intending to bring praise or attention to ourselves.

The Demonstrated Love of Jesus is Holiness in Action

As the Bible teaches, holiness in action involves demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ in our daily lives. This love may be seen in our service toward others, our words to uplift them, and our giving to sustain them. The New Testament provides numerous commands and examples of these aspects required of a Christian, first toward other believers, and then also toward the world beyond.

In Matthew 25, while Jesus told parables about who the King would welcome into the kingdom of heaven, he related in verses 34-36, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” The righteous then asked him when these actions occurred and he responded in verse 40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” In truth, as Hebrews 12:14 declares, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” If people don’t see this type of holiness in action in us, they will not see Jesus in us, nor will we make it into the kingdom of heaven to see Jesus.

I hope this post has encouraged you to put the holy love of God into action in your life. If it has, I would truly appreciate it if you would comment and subscribe to receive notifications of future posts. Thanks so much for reading.