JesusWalk Bible Study Forum: Q3. Holiness without Legalism - JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q3. (Ephesians 5:26) What constitutes "holiness" of a church? Is the church holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her, or because of her own actions, or both? How can we be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another? Exposition

"...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (5:25b-27)

Sacrifice (paid the cost), Covering ( by His blood), Washing (through His word)... to purify His own. Radiance in His Light... His glory. Purity is in the mind, the eyes, in the Heart... when we are consumed by Him. None have done anything to deserve it... He just loves us too much not to give it to us.

But comes the price to pay. Sacrifice began it... His blood covered it... through His Word He renews us, changes us, transforms us , strengthens us; through prayer reveals to us, perfects that which is in us... provides escape for that which Tempts us... looses and brings down the Pride within us... breaks us and calls us to Repentance. Without Stain, or wrinkle, or any other blemish, but holy and blameless... He has a Wedding Gown of His own making. I pray we submit to Him dressing us in it.

Lv in Christ, Sunshine

Holy means consecrated, dedicated and sanctified. Holiness was established by what Christ did but it must be maintained by the members through them being in close contact with the Lord. If we use the agape love of Christ to govern our actions we will not be judgemental or legalistic.

We are made holy by Christ alone. All of our actions as individuals or as church are merely a response to that justifying, sanctifying gift of grace. How wonderful to discuss this on Pentecost week...wait for the power from on high to come upon you and lick you like a tongue of fire in your soul. It is that holy fire (the Holy Spirit) that will enlighten the world. We are kind of like the burning bush of Moses' time, on fire but not destroyed by it...the fire simply displays the presence of God.

Jesus Christ purifies the church through the work of the Holy Spirit, who draws us to Christ. The water of baptism use here by Paul means the washing away of sin. We are making a commitment to be a part of the purification process. Then the Spirit work through His people in order to build up the church. Christ draws His church to Him and build her up.

We can be holy without being legalistic and judgemental toward one another by showing LOVE. We need to be accountable to each other in love. If we show love and build up each other spiritual the church will grow. Let us all be responsible and exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit.

(Ephesians 5:26) What constitutes "holiness" of a church?

A glorious church, one without spot or wrinkle or blemish.

Is the church holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her, or because of her own actions, or both?

I tend to believe it is because of both. 2 Corinth. 11:2&3.. as Paul is desiring to present a church to Christ but they have been listening to false teachings and Paul admonishes them. So, therefore, before Paul can present this church as holy, to Christ, he must set the church straight on some things.

How can we be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another?

Being in love. Love does not mean to tolerate bad behavior. Those that admonish without love are being legalistic and judgemental. Those that admonish in love are simply, loving. (This is also covered in 2Corinthians 11)

I believe our holiness only results from unity with God/Christ/Holy Spirit. This is not an individualistic or legalistic thing...it is the unity of the Body.

Over and over again we learn that God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We must rely on the union and the unity. With the perfect love that is the fruit of the Spirit we can be holy as a church, not judgemental, humble and of service, willing to sacrifice ourselves for the good of each other (the church) and to the glory of God.

What constitutes 'holiness' of a church?
I notice you ask: of a church, not of the Church. A church which has recognised that it is somehow in the world, but not of the world; a church which has seen itself as dedicated to God, set apart, part of the Body of Christ.
Is the church holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her, because of her own actions, or both?
According to this passage, all the action is from Christ, and none from the Church. Christ loved, gave, makes holy, cleanses, presents.
How can we be holy without being legalitic and judgmental towards one another?
We, meaning the church and one another meaning our non-christian friends?
When we realise that the Church has been made holy in a corporate sense, in the same way that individuals who make up the Church have - that is by the pure grace of God - then we don't have any right to be legalistic and judgmental towards others. Rather, we want to tell them that we understand because once we were lost too, but the good news is that now we have found peace and our true home, and we would love to show them the way to find these things for themselves.

What constitutes "holiness" of a church? A church is made up of individual believers,the key word being "individual", so as far as a church being holy, it is only as holy as the believers who attend it. We as believers are to strive for holiness, realizing that it is only through Christ that we become holy.! Rom.13:14, tells us to "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh....." Through our daily walk with Jesus, walking in the Spirit, and not the flesh, are we walking in holiness; Before the coming of Jesus, and His supreme sacrifice for us, we were not able to enter in to the "Holy of Holy's", to enter boldly into the throne room of grace; This was a privilege granted to the priest's.....and they had to be "ceremonialy" cleansed before entering; But now, through the blood of Christ, are WE able to come "boldly" to the throne room!! The way to "nip" legalism and "Judgmentalism" in the "bud", is to remember that it is not through works we are saved (nor made holy!) but by grace and faith in our Lord Jesus. Holiness to me is an inward work, not just an outward one. What does it do for the cause of Christ and the gospel, to look the part, but inwardly, be carrying around an "un-holy" heart?

Pastor Ralph, on May 29 2003, 04:24 PM, said:

>Taken from NKJV>In these verses,Paul briefly outlines what Jesus has done for the church so much that he was willing to suffer and die for it.His actions not only saved the church ,they also sanctified it,in other words Jesus wanted to develop the church into what it should be,the Holy Temple of God.
We can not be holy and be legalistic and judgmental.We are to speak honestly and purely.To find out what is acceptable to the Lord.To make the most of our time.To submit to one another.To have marriages that honor God.To honor God in our families.To demonstrate integrity in the work place.To stand strong against the forces of evil. We are to imitate God,walk in love.To keep the unity of the Spirit.To keep growing and maturing.To put away old sinful ways.To do what the Spirit leads us to do.

Q3aChristlikeness!

Q3bIt is holy because Christ sacrificed for her and is manifested to the world because of its actions that are seen.

Q3cObeying the Word of God! Everything is covered in the Word! And in particular, loving others as Christ Loved Us. We should be willing to minister love and not be judgmental towards. We need to pray for them and show them the way by our actions.

Also, who are we to judge another man's servant? God alone is able to keep us from falling and present us faultless before the presence of his Glory!

"Holiness" of a Church constitutes of cleansing her by the washing with the water through the word.

The Church is holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her and also because of her own actions - submitting herself to the Headship of Jesus Christ therefore obeying the command to be separate and be sanctified and to be holy for God is holy.

We can be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another only by the word of God as our basis - living through God's standard not ours. Checking ourselves before we try to see and judge what others are doing or not doing, saying or not saying. We should always have the right and godly motive in everything we do - that is to give glory to His name.

Pastor Ralph, on May 29 2003, 06:24 PM, said:

The dictionary definition of holiness - Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly: a holy person. As compared to the Easton Bible dictionary definition of holiness - in the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See SANCTIFICATION.) What a difference between the world view as religious bondage and a Godly view as consecrated unto Him.

I think the holiness of the church is constituted both by the members working towards personal holiness and by the spiritual act of already being holy through Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us. Holiness is not just following the rules as laid out in the Bible or as laid out by the church. Holiness is being totally submissive and set apart unto God, the rules will get fulfilled as an aside by one who is holy. Romans 8:6 "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace"

What constitutes Holiness of a Church? The sanctified and Christ

Christ gave himself up for her to make her Holy, so, yes, we could not be holy without Christ and we are Holy through our own actions. Holy is dedication to God and His purpose and doing what is best which includes shunning sin.

By respecting one another for we are one in Christ we wont be legalistic and judgemental and by submitting wilingly would be what pleases God.

Holiness of a Church invoves being washed from all sins and wickedness being sanctifed and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the Church is holy only because she is united to Christ. There is nothing that the Church can claim for her holiness. Therefore, we can be holy without being legalistic nor judgemental if we realised that holiness does not come through our own works but it is by grace we are sanctified through faith in Christ' blood.

The Church is holy because it is set apart for God. No matter what the members do or don't do, the Church of Christ is holy, set apart for Him, for God's purposes.

The Church is holy because it is made up of people who present themselves to Christ and accept His gift of grace and sacrifice for our wrong doings as well as our lack of action. He took upon himself each of our sins and cleansed us for all time. He died that we might have everlasting life with God the Father. Christ was already holy - set apart for God. The Church is holy because it is set apart for God through Christ.

We are holy because we are set apart for God to do His will. If we are fulfilling our role we will be nurturing each other, NOT being legalistic or judgemental. Sadly we are all human and fall short of the glory of God so we need Christ to wash away our sin and make us worthy to even contemplate life forever with God!

What constitutes "holiness" in the church?

Holiness is constituted in the church by Christ. I Thessalonians 4:7, and 8 says "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness and He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy spirit. In other words we have to be consecrated and dedicated to the work of the Lord. We must also sanctify ourselves in order for the spirit of God to dwell in us.

Is the church holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her, or because of her own actions, or both?

The church is holy because of the sacrifice Christ made for us. St. John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". Jesus called us his friends if we do whatsoever He commanded us to do. Once we (as the church) hear the word of God, then we begin to act on it and do as the Lord asked us to do. The answer to this question is "both". Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service".

How can we be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another?

The word of God says in Romans 12:16a, " Be of the same mind one toward another". In other words we are many members, but there is only one body. In order for us to be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another we need to stay in the word and do what the word of God says, not man. Romans 12:10 says "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.

The holiness of the Church signifies separation, dedication and consecration. This cannot be achieved by individual members of the church, but the church is the Body of Christ and it is sanctified through the blood of Christ alone.

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We can be holy as we recognise it is not of ourselves but of Christ and we are in Him. Our fellowship in the Body of Christ should always be governed by love.

The Church is first made holy by Christ's death, then in daliy living, the Word cleanses and directs the Church in her walk. It is an ongoing process.

We are called to be holy, and this is only through the power of the Holy Spirit, who is with us, till the time we become the bride. We can be holy by searching ourselves daily and living in obedience to the word and we should also remember our previous state at all times to remain humble and gracious to the weaker ones and the lost.

The amount of cleansing through the word of God constitutes the "holiness" of a church. The church is holy because of God's sacrfice for her and because of her own actions to subit and be thankful for that sacrifice. We can be holy without being legalistic and judgemental toward one another by acknowleding we are all sinners and are all just as deserving as the other of forgiveness and salvation through the Lord, Jesus Christ.