Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

1Pet.1:14 as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, 1:15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 1:16 because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."{Leviticus 11:44-45}

What is holiness? Should that not be the starting point, the primary doctrine of Christ? Should we not understand the subject of holiness as a Christian? Do we understand that many of those Peter was writing to here had converted from the Jewish faith into Christianity?

Zephaniah 3:11 In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

Haggai 2:12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The priests answered, "No."

Was the Jewish faith holy, was it not under God's holy and righteous law? Yes, it was a holy nation, before Christ, why? Simply, because the blood sacrifices were then authorized by God. But once Christ came replacing those temporary blood sacrifices with his own blood the nation was no longer accounted righteous, that is, holy, the two righteousness, and holiness, are one in the same, without one the other does not exist!

Hebrews 9:12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

Hebrews 9:25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own.

1Pet.1:18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, 1:19 but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ;

These Jewish converts were not be to ignorant of their former lust in their flesh even under the law of God, how can that be? Well, the law did not remove sin, that is, the lust of their flesh, no! It did not make them holy, or righteous, but how can that be? Here is what many Christian's and most Jews fail to understand, that is, the word obedience.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

The whole nation of Israel was formed by one simple act, do you remember? Israel had witness the destruction of world empire by outpouring of the ten plagues upon Egypt. All that Egypt practices was corrupted to God so he plagued their gods than delivered his people, but the last plague was the key to Israel complete deliverance.

Exodus 12:27 that you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of Yahweh's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.'" The people bowed their heads and worshiped.

God YHWH made a provision to save the nation, a preview of the coming Christ to save us, in the blood of the passover lamb, a simply act of faith in putting the blood of a pass-over lamb would save the first born of each family, being delivered to serve God freely as a holy righteous nation in their near future. The obedience was found in faith in the blood it was not found in some self-goodness each one had done in their life, no, but why? They were all tainted with their lust of their own flesh while living and associating with Egypt they must face the awful truth that God could have plagued them as well for their own disobedience, but point being, and the facts the first plagued fell also upon Israel so they would have no illusion that they were any better by their own righteousness than their neighbors of Egypt.

John 1:29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 8:7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."

Romans 2:13 For it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

This obedience to faith in the blood God's supplies to wash them clean in his eyes making them holy individuals and as a nation must always be called to mind. The laws obedience is confused and water down by false religion, and later by Israel, obedient could not be obtained by trying to keep the perfect law of God, the blood allowed them holiness, and righteousness by blotting out their sins, not the other way around.

Romans 5:2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

Romans 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Without the blood, that is, being in Christ righteousness, making us righteous and holy before God there is no other work, or thing we can do to maintain our righteousness accept being in Christ, we cannot put away the filth of our own flesh by works of law. Our going back into righteousness by obeying the law after Christ was unrighteous because Christ freed us from the curse of the law, by his righteous blood.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 7:16 who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

How do we stay in Christ, his life? By an act of faith, not works, not thinking we ourselves our doing righteous works, no! We are in Christ because we put faith in Christ works, his complete working in us delivering us from this body under going death of sin. This is holy behavior in God's eyes, his son righteousness indwelling us by our faith in his love, and sacrifice for us.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"{Deuteronomy 21:23}

When our flesh acts up as it does constantly, because it cannot be in subjection to God's law, we are reminded that our former lust was ignorance because we honestly believed and were taught we could make ourselves obedient to God's laws by our own efforts. Now we have come to know that nothing good dwells in our fallen flesh to meet God's standards of sinlessness which is holiness, and righteousness, so we are totally depended upon one person goodness that blots out our deserved judgment. Just as the Israel should have stayed humble instead of thinking they were more deserving than Egyptian's because of God's mercy and kindness.

Luke 18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
18:12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

They should have been moved to humility just as when a person survives a terrible crash and most are killed and they were not instead of boasting of how much more blessed we are, we should be humble realizing we too could have lost our lives. Unholy behavior is when we think we are better than grace, or we have obtain to some degree of righteousness other than the gift of Christ righteousness, obedience is when we teach the truth of Christ, not the justification of ourselves in self-righteousness.

Rom.12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,
12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

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