Second mark of revival: A love for holiness
COMMENTARY
REV. STEVE DAVIS
Jonathan Edwards in his book, "Religious Affections," lays out the marks of a true revival. Last week we saw that revival results in a greater love for Jesus. Revival also produces a greater love for holiness. To be holy is to be set apart.
When we say God is holy, we mean that he is holy in who He is. He is separate from all creation; He is morally pure; and He is exalted in majesty. As Christians, our holiness means that we are living distinctly from the world, by living according to God's standards.
Our holiness comes from who we are in Christ. We are united to Christ; therefore, our sins are forgiven, and His righteousness is counted as our own. But our holiness is also practical as we continue to live out who we are in Christ.
An increasing love for holiness comes in revival because we love Jesus more. When we love Jesus more then we will hate sin more. When we love Jesus more, we want to be more pleasing to Him.
Our holiness is never the grounds of our salvation but comes from our love for Jesus because of what he has done to save us. This week above all is a reminder of why we love Jesus.
This week we remember that Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem. He was determined to go to Jerusalem to die in our place. In the garden, Jesus recommitted himself to His father's will to die in our place. While on the cross he endured his last temptation to come down from the cross so that the people will believe but instead chose to bear in His body the chastisement that would bring us peace with God.
His body was laid in the ground, buried and on the third day He rose again, so that he defeated death not only for Himself but for all who believe.
We remember these facts during Easter week, but they need to captivate our hearts throughout the year. We should never get over what Jesus has done for us.
If we are truly amazed by grace, our prayer every day would be what Robert Murray M'Cheyne prayed, "Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be."
