The Holiness of Christ

          Earlier, we reflected on the holiness of God the Father, and that all Christians are
     holy and are expected by God to live holy lives.

          Today, chapter four of The Pursuit of Holiness - The Holiness of Christ.

          Here are some the important truths found in this chapter.


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          The Scriptures testify that Jesus lived a perfectly holy life during His time on
     earth.
          He is described as "without sin";


                                          "For we do not have a high priest who is unable
                                            to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who
                                            in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
                                            without sin." 
                                                                                                Hebrews 4:15


          as One who "committed no sin";


                                         "He commmitted no sin, neither was deceit
                                          found in his mouth."
                                                                                                1 Peter 2:22


          as "Him who had no sin".


                                        "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
                                          so that in Him we might become the righteous-
                                          ness of God."
                                                                                         2 Corinthians 5:21


          The apostle John stated,


                                         "In Him is no sin."
                                                                    1 John 3:5


          The Old Testament describes Jesus prophetically as;


                                        "the righteous servant ..."
                                                                    Isaiah 53:11


          and as One who,


                                      "... loved righteousness and hated wickedness."
                                                                   Psalm 45:7


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          Even more compelling, however is Jesus, own testimony concerning Himself.
     On one occasion He looked the Pharisees squarely in the eye and asked,

                           
                             "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?"
                                                                     John 8:46

         
          Of course, they couldn't.


          But the holiness of Jesus was more than simply the absence of actual sin.
     It was also a perfect conformity to the will of His Father.

          He stated that he came down from heaven,
                                     

                                     "... not to do my will but to do the will of Him
                                      who sent me."
                                                                         John 6:38


          On another occasion, He said,


                                   "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me."
                                                                         John 4:34


          Perhaps His highest testimony to His positive holiness was His statement,


                                   "I always do what pleases Him."
                                                                       John 8:29


          Such a positive declaration must include not only His actions but also His
     attitudes and motives.  Jesus Christ perfectly met the standard for holiness and
     He did it for us.

          He was born into this world subject to the law of God that He might fulfill
     it on our behalf.


                               "But when the fulness of time had come, God
                                sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under
                                the law, to redeem those who were under the law
                                so that we might receive adoption as sons."
                                                                        Galatians 4:4-5


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          God told Isaiah that his sins were atoned for.


                             "See ... your guilt is taken away and your sin
                               atoned for."
                                                                  Isaiah 6:7


          It is not only at the initial point of salvation that we need this assurance.
     In fact, the more we grow in holiness, the more we need assurance that the
     perfect righteousness of Christ is credited to us. 

          This is true because a part of growing in holiness is the Holy Spirit's making
     us aware of our need of holiness.  As we see this need, it is well for us to al-
     ways keep in mind the righteousness of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and the fact
     that,


                           "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
                            so that in Him we might become the righteousness
                            of God."
                                                               2 Corinthians 5:21


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          Jesus' life is meant to be an example of holiness for us.


                          "For to this you have been called, because Christ
                           also suffered for you, leaving you an example,
                           so that you might follow in His steps."
                                                              1 Peter 2:21


          Paul urged us to be imitators of God.


                          "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."
                                                             Ephesians 5:1


          He also said,
  

                           "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
                                                               1 Corinthians 11:1


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          When Jesus came into the world, He said,
            

                           "I have come to do your will, O God."
                                                                Hebrews 10:7


          This is the example we are to follow.  In all our thoughts, all of our
     actions, in every part of our character, the ruling principle that motivates
     and guides us should be the desire to follow Christ in doing the will of the
     Father.

          This is the high road we must follow in the pursuit of holiness.