Some years ago, a painting was brought to Sotheby’s Auction house in London. The gentleman who owned the painting was unsure of who had painted the obvious masterpiece as Rembrandt signed his earlier works with the Latin monogram RHL. A Sotheby’s employee took one brief look at the painting and exclaimed excitedly, “Sir, your painting is a Rembrandt original. It is a masterpiece and is worth a fortune!”
The apostle Paul says of the redeemed that we are God’s workmanship and just as the Sotheby’s employee instantly recognized a Rembrandt masterpiece, folks ought to quickly realize that we, who are the redeemed, are the workmanship of God. If they see us as no different than themselves, then we need to examine ourselves to discern whether we are truly converted sons and daughters of God or just religious folk.
Paul says it is God working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (See Philippians 2:13). By faith, the righteousness of God ought to be apparent in our daily lives. (See Philippians 3:9). The apostle Peter agrees with Paul, saying “we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (See I Peter 2:24). John concurs with these two fellow apostles, writing, “whosoever abides in him sins not!” (See I John 3:6). “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil, whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother” (See I John 3:10).
Living lives of purity and holiness does not become second nature to us now. It IS our nature. Our new nature. “For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them….And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God” (See 2 Corinthians 6:16, 18 and 7:1).
And on those ever more rarer occasions when we slip and fail and commit some manner of sin, we have an Advocate with the Father and will find that our walk of holiness and purity can instantly be regained when we confess and forsake our sin. God help you to understand.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley