Let’s define how and why we, who believe in Jesus Christ, receive holiness and righteousness. The access to God’s holiness (not ours, I’d like to make a stress on it) we get not through our way of life or our behavior in faith. The New Covenant gives these clothes exceptionally free of charge, just because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Other ways, such as repentance, super holy way of life etc. are not actual. And your frequent repentances during your life in faith testify about your unbelief in the mercy, which came to your life through Golgotha sacrifice of Christ, but not through the sacrifice of calfs, as it was under the times of the Old Covenant. Only in case of your falling apart from faith, or in case of a deliberate sin, it’s necessary to renew repentance. In other cases grace is working, and there is no need to practice the endless repentances as it was in times of Job — they are not actual and are even humiliating for God’s grace! Tell me, do we receive holiness and righteousness for our holy and righteous life? Or does it happen because of our faith? Evidently, it’s easier to tell Jesus a couple of words (I repent, I repent — and to think that you have received a drop of holiness — according to the technology of the Old Covenant), than to live every day by your faith, doing the will of God. But I’m going to discourage you. Such repentances don’t return holiness and righteousness, but rather testify about your unbelief in God’s grace, because this is not the way of the New Covenant. In the eyes of God we are dressed in His clothes, which are tried on us only through the sacrificial offering of His Son. Your sacrifice, — either it is praising of your lips, or something else, is absolutely nothing before Him — I am sorry.
Faith consists of very many components. It’s not enough to stay in the Word and prayer only. We also have to add our fulfilling of the Word of God, our ministry to Him and still many, many other things. The speech is not about what many people do, who just think: «For all my life long I simply believe, that Jesus died for me, and that is enough». No, it’s not enough, because faith is dead without works of faith! And you will not be justified by faith only. We must do the works of faith, and as the result — we must move in fulfilling and in knowledge of His will for us.
Now, as far is grace is concerned. People keep asking me: «If I make an involuntary sin, do I still remain holy and righteous before Him without repentance?» I tell you — «yes». Holiness is not like socks, which are clean in the beginning, when you put them on. But then, in the process of wearing, they become dirty and need periodical cleaning. Christ puts holiness on you through your faith, and He doesn’t take it away (from time to time). He takes it away only in case you discard your faith in Him. Grace gives us an inseparable right for holiness and righteousness, independently of mistakes (involuntary sins). Grace is irrevocable. Only in case we deliberately continue sinning, then there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins» (Hebrews 10:26).
For example, if I came out from the gathering and went to a strip-club, declaring that I am under the grace. In this case grace stops acting and holiness is lost. And you must come to Christ again. Try to understand, we receive salvation not because of our merits, but due to God’s grace. We all understand it. Grace comes not due to our behavior, but due to our faith. But then, in the process of our life in faith, it continues to act the same way. And each repentance is the acceptance of the fact you are still a sinner. And it turns out, you are an eternal sinner, like in Orthodox faith. Paul never repented for yesterday, or just to be on the safe side. I think, he understood better than us that he was sinning (Rom.9:3). But he well understood how the grace was acting for believers. And he didn’t tempt God by his unbelief. John in 1John 1:8-10 talked about the unbelieving jews, but not about those who believed in Christ. Those who believed, have discarded sin, and are not sinners in the eyes of God, even if they make an unintentional sin. And if they claim they are still sinners, then they have to explore in detail, what they have inherited through the Cross. And the truth will set them free from sin through understanding of the word. According to such logic, you came out of the gathering, stumbled (said a bad word), and you are a sinner again. If you thought bad about the life of the pastor — you are cursed. Is it funny? Of course! Endless repentances testify about the absence of knowledge or unbelief in the truth of the Gospel and the power of grace. This is not freedom, but religion. That’s why Paul, not knowing the life of this particular believer, called him holy in the beginning of his epistles: 1Cor.1:1, 2Cor.1:1, Phill.1:1, Col.1:2, Eph.1:1 etc. Paul doesn’t specify here that those who had managed to repent before Paul called them holy — are really holy, because holiness is given by God to all who have believed. He even calls us perfect Hebr.10:14 exceptionally by faith. Do you really think it’s a mistake?
And if you ask the question — what do I have to do, in order to become holy? You will not find a single answer to this question in the whole Old Covenant. And the thought about the fact that «I am a man with unclean lips» (as a prophet said) squeezes you out of the New Testament grace, and makes you inadequate in the eyes of God. AMEN!
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