The Holiness of the Son, Jesus Christ, part 2

Hebrews 7:26 tells us, “For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” CSB. In Jesus, we find all of the qualities of the Father’s divine holiness and these qualities are part of the Person of our Great High Priest (Jesus), whose duty was to go into the Presence of God and come to mankind and to mediate between God and us. He is, “Immanuel, God with us,” and because of this, holiness draws near to us. 

It is important for us to understand that Jesus lived His life using the same resources you and I have for holy living. Listen! This next piece is vital for us to know: Jesus never used His deity to help Him live a holy life. He never performed a miracle to overcome temptation. When He was being tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4), the Devil continually tried to get Jesus to use a miracle in the midst of temptation but Jesus refused. Why? If Jesus would have used a miracle for Himself, He would not and could not be our example when we are tempted.
 

How did Jesus remain holy? What resources did He use?

• By the Word of God
• By a life of prayer
• By the fullness of the Spirit.
   
  

What is my point? The point is this: when we read of Jesus’ life, we read of a life which is a perfect example for us. He lived a holy life – and, friends, we too can live a holy life because of and through Him.
 

He showed us the same life of faith we are called to live. The faith of Jesus was shown by the fact that He never acted in self-interest. His perfect knowledge was submitted to the guidance of His Father. His individual will was submitted voluntarily to the perfect will of the Father.

If we want to live a holy life, we must follow His example. Whenever we deny our own self-will to do the will of the Father, we are bearing the cross of Jesus. God’s will must be first in our life. In this, Jesus was our perfect example. Jesus’ life was the perfect example of holiness for us. 

Secondly notice with me that 

Jesus’ death makes Holiness possible for us.
If Jesus had even once yielded to temptation, answered with an angry or impulsive words, or shown a carnal spirit He could not have been our Deliverer. However, He was able to say at the end of His physical life here on earth, “…the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me.” John 14:30 CSB.
 

Let’s look at Romans 6:10, “For the death He died, He died to sin once for all time; but the life He lives, He lives to God” CSB. When Jesus died, He dealt with the issue, of sin, once and for all and He settled it. Jesus met sin where all of humankind faces sin, and He faced the strongest of temptations; yet He remained without sin. He died to sin! 

His was an encounter with sin – inner sin, outer sin, modern sin, ancient sin, enticing sin, sin in its beginnings, horrid sin in its finish, sin of the mind. of the body, of the soul, sin at the judgment bar – all of sin. He encountered it for you, for me, for all of humankind. And He defeated it, living a perfect sinless life. Because Jesus met the issue of sin and settled it with His death, we can be freed from sin and be made holy.

Continued tomorrow