Topic: Holiness Pursued (II Corinthians 7:1)

We turn our attention to a profound verse that calls us to live lives that reflect the holiness of God. Our key verse for this writing is Second Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." This verse is a call to action, urging us to live in light of God’s promises and to pursue holiness in every aspect of our lives.

Holiness is not an outdated concept, nor is it something that only the super-spiritual are called to pursue. Holiness is the natural response of a heart transformed by the grace of God. It is the reflection of God’s character in our lives.

There are three key aspects of this verse that will encourage you in the pursuit of holiness:

The Motivation for Holiness: God’s Promises

Second Corinthians 7:1 begins with, "having these promises…" The motivation for our pursuit of holiness is rooted in the promises of God. What are these promises? Paul is referring to the promises mentioned in the previous chapter, specifically in Second Corinthians 6:16-18 (NLT), where God says: " “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people… I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,
Says the Lord Almighty.” These promises speak of intimacy with God, of being His people, and of Him being our Father. They are promises of relationship, identity, and belonging. Because of these incredible promises, we are motivated to live lives that reflect our new identity in Christ.

The Process of Holiness: Cleansing Ourselves

The second part of Second Corinthians 7:1 calls us to “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This is the process of holiness—removing from our lives anything that is impure or dishonoring to God.

The word used for "cleanse" here means to purify or to make clean. This cleansing is both an inward and outward process. It involves removing sinful thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and replacing them with godly ones. It is a continual process of sanctification, where we are being transformed into the image of Christ.

The Goal of Holiness: Reverence for God

The final part of Second Corinthians 7:1 states, "… perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

The goal of holiness is to reflect the character of God and to live in reverence for Him. The word "fear" in this context does not refer to being afraid of God, but to having a deep respect, awe, and reverence for Him. Holiness is not about following a set of rules; it is about having a heart that is in awe of God and desires to please Him. It is about living in a way that honors Him in every aspect of our lives. In First Peter 1:15, we are reminded that our goal is to reflect the holiness of God in everything we do.

A.W. Tozer once said, "We must hide our unholiness in the wounds of Christ, as Moses hid himself in the cleft of the rock while the glory of God passed by.” Our pursuit of holiness is ultimately about hiding ourselves in Christ, allowing His holiness to be reflected in our lives.

See you Sunday!

Dr. Scott Kallem