The Path to Holiness
The path to holiness is through faith in Christ, not through human ability or striving.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that through faith, believers are united as one body in Christ, transcending all racial and cultural barriers. He explains that holiness cannot be achieved through human efforts or good works, but is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, who abolished enmity and made peace. The sermon highlights that true holiness is not about outward actions but about resting in the holiness of Christ, who presents believers as holy to the Father. Wilkerson encourages Christians to declare their identity in Christ and to rely on the Holy Spirit for their holiness.
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"We, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" (Romans 12:5). By faith, we are the very members of Christ's body, adopted into one family. There is no longer black, white, yellow, brown, Jew or Gentile. We are all of one blood -- one new man -- in Christ Jesus! And because of Christ's work on the cross, man couldn't become holy by good works, righteous deeds, human effort or strivings of the flesh.
"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace" (Ephesians 2:15). Only one man would be accepted by the Father: the new, resurrected man. And when this new man presented to his Father all who had faith in him, the Father responded, "I receive you all as holy, because you are in my holy son!"
We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. "That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ ... In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:10, 13). So you see, holiness is not something we do, or attain, or work up. Rather, it is something we believe! The path to holiness is not through human ability but through faith.
God's message about holiness isn't about outward things. It is about faith--and he makes it very clear and simple. This is his wonderful answer to the anxious cries of multitudes of Christians who thirst for the understanding of how to be holy. We are holy as we rest in his holiness!
Beloved, put off all reliance on the flesh and make this your declaration: "I claim my holiness that is in Christ Jesus. I'm a part of his body and my Father sees me as holy -- because I am in Christ!"
Sermon Outline
- The Unity of the Body of Christ
- The Basis of Holiness
- The Path to Holiness
- The Message of Holiness
- Not about outward things, but about faith
- Resting in God's holiness, not striving for it
Key Quotes
“We are all of one blood -- one new man -- in Christ Jesus!” — David Wilkerson
“I receive you all as holy, because you are in my holy son!” — David Wilkerson
“I claim my holiness that is in Christ Jesus. I'm a part of his body and my Father sees me as holy -- because I am in Christ!” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Believe in Christ's holiness and rest in it, rather than striving for it through human effort.
- Recognize that holiness is not something we achieve, but something we are in Christ.
- Put off reliance on the flesh and claim your holiness in Christ Jesus.