In the Eyes of the Father

When I speak of total trust in Christ, I mean not only in his saving power but also in his keeping power. We have to trust his Spirit to keep us and conform us to the likeness of Christ.

At one time you were alienated, cut off from God by wicked works. What good work did you do to make things right with him? None! Nobody has ever been able to make or keep himself holy. We are brought into Christ's holiness by faith alone, as we trust in what God's Word says: "If you are in Christ, you are holy as he is holy."

"You, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in his sight — if indeed you continue in the faith" (Colossians 1:21–23).

Note the phrase, "If you continue in faith." Jesus is saying, "Continue trusting in me, living by faith. I will present you as clean, faultless, holy before the Father."

Beloved, this is all the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost. As the Spirit empowers you to mortify the deeds of the flesh, he will lead you by his conviction.

There are no degrees of holiness, only degrees of maturity in Christ. You can be a new Christian and still be absolutely holy in Jesus. So do not compare! It is foolish to measure yourself against someone you picture as being "holy." We are all measured by one standard, the holiness of Christ. And if we are in him, his holiness is ours in equal measure.

Never again look at another Christian leader and say, "Oh, I wish I were as holy as he is!" You may not have that person's discipline or his prayer life and you may struggle more often than he does. But he is no more accepted by the Father than you.