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The Lord does not waste words. Every word which He has spoken whether by prophet or apostle has deep and very intense meaning. Every child of the Lord should be in quick pursuit of the establishment and maintenance of His promises so graciously proffered us. The rewards, the benefits are eternal and out of this world. The ultimate of “perfecting holiness” is to fully bear His image and likeness. Jesus is the prime example of a Son of man who while in human form faced and conquered every sin common to man. As a man, He was tempted, but came out of that momentous season of temptation, without having sinned. Until the very end He remained sinless.
Heb. 4:15 His example was that of perfect holiness. Do not lose sight of the fact that He too was a man, born of a woman who by the power of the Lord lived a perfect life. That same power and ability is available to all who are in Christ Jesus. Remember the invitation of the Lord to be holy because He is holy. “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” Lev. 20:7 1 Peter 1:16.
What really happens when one is born again, born of the Spirit. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ becomes our Father too. We are born of the same Word and Spirit which brought Jesus into this world. In the order of things in this world, like begets like. In the initial creation the Lord made man in His own image and likeness. Gen. 1:26 The Lord, in His foreknowledge, knowing all from before creation. Foreseeing, the whole future of all things which He would bring into existence, had a special plan for mankind. He purposed to predestinate, to determine before hand that He /uld prepare an opportunity for mankind to be conformed to the image of His Son. Predestination is not the Lord making some people special while rejecting others. Predestination is not to salvation but to conformation, that is, to be fashioned after the likeness of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a life, a new life, a new beginning which is manifest by the revelation of the disposition, the character of the Lord Jesus in the life style and personality of the individual. The new person is enveloped, has clothed themselves with the same qualities as found in the Lord Jesus. The righteousness, the holiness of Christ is now evidenced in them. Eph. 4:24.
That there is a moment of cleansing and sanctification to be wrought in the church in the end of the age. We turn to a command which will be given by the Son of man. Prior to His second coming He will command His angels to sweep through His kingdom, His church and thoroughly remove all who are offensive to Him and all sinners. Mt. 13:41.