Without Holiness no one will see the Lord

Following a rather encouraging email from someone I am pondering the
subject of Holiness.

Re a discussion in another thread, where not telling the truth was
considered acceptable.

But is that right? Christians are called to be a beacon to the world
around them. Salt and light to a needy world.

If Christians are behaving in ways where it is difficult to tell them
apart from everyone else (a frequent complaint from atheists) is that
right?

The subject title comes from Hebrews 12 and makes interesting reading.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that
so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" NIV

Is salvation these days simply a free ticket to Heaven, no matter what
the behaviour of the person, or is that person set apart by God to be
holy as He is holy, resisting the sin that so easily entangles?

A changed life should bring changed behaviour, enabled of course by
the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. All too often that doesn't
appear to be the case.

I would be interested to hear other peoples views on this.





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