To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi…
Summary: God’s people are special because they are family.
If you had to pick one person to act as the key spokesman for introducing Christianity to the Gentile world, it is hard to imagine someone better suited to the job than Paul.
Paul’s expertise as a Pharisee gives him extensive knowledge, not only of the history of Jewish traditions and laws, but the theology, or academic underpinnings, behind those laws. Paul understands the heart of Judaism.
When Paul eventually focuses his ministry on the Gentiles (Acts 18:6), he is perfectly positioned to explain faith in Jesus to people who have never heard of Jesus.
Take today’s passage, for example.
Paul addresses his letter to God’s “holy” people “in Christ Jesus.”
What does that mean? Why are they considered “holy?” What does it mean to be “in” Christ Jesus?
Let’s begin with Jesus. What does it mean to be “in” Christ Jesus?
The Bible records that Jesus was without sin (1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 2:22). In general terms, that means that Jesus loved God, the Father, above all else and loved his neighbors as himself (Matthew 22:37-40). When it came to loving God and caring for God’s people, he never faltered.
When he allowed himself to be sacrificed on the cross, his perfect love became the perfect sacrifice. His sacrifice purifies the believer who has confessed their sin (1 John 1:9). Once we are made pure, we can be joined to God as he originally intended (Genesis 2).
Paul was “in” Christ just as a branch is “in” a grapevine (John 15:4-5). A branch connected to the vine is “in” the vine because it is where the branch receives its life. Everything needed for life flows through the vine and is shared with the branch. Without the branch, the vine cannot bear fruit. The same thing is true for all believers.
The Greek word for “holy,” “hagios,” is also translated as “saints.” To be a “saint” is to be consecrated to God. God’s people are his family (Hebrews 2:11). To be consecrated is to be set apart. We are both in the world and, at the same time, apart from the world.
The people in Philippi, as are all believers today, are those people who are in Christ Jesus as the branch is in the vine. Because Jesus is sinless, we who are in Christ are called holy, part of God’s family, and set apart for God’s work.
Application: Accept the forgiveness God offers through Jesus and cling to the vine.
Food for Thought: How is being “holy” different than being “perfect?”
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How is being “holy” different than being “perfect?”
One would be something like swiss cheese and the other would be my wife….
They both have different standards. Perfect can differ from person to person by what they consider to be Perfect to them .” holy” has a standard that is more than I can explain. “holy” has more depth and meaning behind it , it’s something that is for the kingdom something that is “holy” isnt normal but something about it crosses into the spiritual realm and has an impact there in some way.
Maybe my mind wandered a little off on that one. Trying to get back on track.
Tim,
Thank you! Well said. I hear you drawing a distinction between God’s standards and man’s.
It is a very good question.
My understanding of Holy is “set apart.” Holy is used to describe the persona of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, as well as certain instruments, ground, and the people of God. God is almighty and “set apart” from His creation (this is just one example, not intended to be an all-inclusive statement). Christ is “set apart” by God to sit on the mercy seat through His sinlessness and sacrifice (this is just one way He is set apart; not intended to be an all-inclusive statement). Whereas God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are both Holy and Perfect, nothing about the instruments that God has set apart on Earth is perfect. Those things are set apart for His service, and are used in reverence to Him and for Him. They are a reminder that He is Holy and Perfect.
When we accept that, as His children, we too are Holy (set apart) we are reminded that we are not perfect, but are redeemed and adopted into His family (again set apart), and live our life in His service and His good works (again set apart). We are Holy in His grace, live in His grace, and are set apart to receive His Spirit.
Exodus 3:1-7 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
The Lord told Moses that “the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” God set the ground apart and then He set Moses apart. Neither the ground nor Moses were perfect, but they both were set apart by God to serve God’s purpose. They were made Holy for His service.
Thank you, Chris!
Interesting point about the “dirt.” 🙂
Kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?!
I like the other comments. Thanks brothers.
I think, simplistically put, being holy is something Christ has done for me, being perfect is what Christ did as my representative to make me holy. He is perfect, I am not. I will never be perfect. He will always be perfect. I am seen as holy in His eyes because of what He did for me. Now I imperfectly strive to live a holy life (a life set apart for Him) because His love has transformed me. I will never be perfect, but thanks to Him I will never not be holy (forgive the double negative).
Thank you, Rich!
I feel obligated to point out that your “double negative” was a perfect double negative! 🙂
Great responses as always!
How is being “holy” different than being “perfect?”
The word holiness means “set apart or purposefully different.” It doesn’t mean “perfect.” Holy in this lost world, refers to being specially different in a way that draws people to God through Jesus Christ in us.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:4-5
Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1 Peter 1:2
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5, 2 Timothy 1:9
Perfection is a process beginning on earth to be completed believers are taken from these bodies and become present with our Lord.
In Matthew 5:46-48 we are told to strive for the same perfection that is seen in our heavenly Father. However, in this life, God’s goal for us is holiness, while we are on our way to perfection fully reflecting Jesus.
God in His Omnipotent, Omniscience power, has and does know everything. Every detail in every life of every person to ever become a living being on this earth, is known by God. And one day we will in His power become perfect beings serving our perfect Lord.
Thank you, Ron!
I like how you point us to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Eventually, as you point out, we will be perfected, in Christ.