The Holiness Of Christ

by F. McCormick | Category: The Glories And Excellencies Of Christ | Mar 1958

The holiness of Christ is an eternal fact witnessed to by God, angelic beings, demons and men. Holiness is essentially inherent in His Being by reason of who lie is, equally one with the Father, whom He addressed as "Holy Father " (John 17. 11), and with the Holy Spirit. Of Himself it is witnessed, " Neither wilt Thou give Thy Holy One to see corruption," and again, "Ye denied the Holy and Righteous One," and again, "Thy holy Servant Jesus"(Acts 2.27; 3. 14; 4.27).

Christ is therefore inherently holy in His Deity and humanity, in Being and nature. He dwelt in the unsullied glory of " eternity with the Father and the Spirit. Heavenly beings describe to each other, and in unison, as they adore and serve in the presence of the triune God, His threefold equality of holiness " Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty which was and which is and which is to come " (Revelation 4. 8). Before the throne " there were seven Lamps of fire burning... which are the seven Spirits of God". In the midst of the throne there was "a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain." Though there was divinity in manifestation, there ever remained equality of Being and attributes, and to each is ascribed that original, unimputed, and eternal holiness which belongs exclusively to the triune God.

In the outworking of the divine purposes in redemption the eternal Son assumed the form of perfect humanity, which in no wise affected the inherent holiness of His Person. Even though He laid aside His glory (see John 17. 5), He was the same holy Being manifested in human form, revealing, and manifesting the moral glories which belong to Deity. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit:

"Wherefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy, the Son of God " (Luke 1.85).

He was called "holy, the Son of God"; He was that before He became incarnate. The changing of His environment from heaven to earth did not alter His identity or character. The attributes of the incarnate Christ are the same as those which He possessed upon the throne when Isaiah saw Him, before whom seraphim with covered faces and feet cried, " Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts " (Isaiah 6.3). He is no less holy as veiled in perfect humanity.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and for ever"

(Hebrews 13.8).

As Man in this world lie was unique, in that He possessed a purity of nature and holiness which belonged to heaven, and this was a witness to His identity as the Son of God, and to the Father who sent Him. He lived a perfect life which could be lived by no one of the human race, for all were defiled by sin in the flesh.

God gave to Israel His law which was to be lived by them as a testimony to the Name of the LORD) who gave it. Alas, by reason of abject failure, the name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles (Romans 2.24). The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good." It was a reflection of the divine character, but how unlike God man is. That law could only find its perfect answer in One who Himself was holy, and righteous, and good ; that Person was Christ. He not only answered to the outward commandments of that holy moral law, but also to the inward requirements of the heart. It was his love to God and man which was the motive power of fulfilment, for He loved the Lord His God with all His heart, His soul, His strength and mind, and His neighbour as Himself. He never needed to pray like David " Clear Thou me from hidden faults," for He never thought a wrong thought, never contemplated a wrong action; in Him was no sin ; He knew no sin, either in mind or heart, walk or ways. No wonder He received the approbation of heaven

Behold, My Sevant whom I have chosen

My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased " (Matthew 12. 18).

He was " holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners." He lived in the solitude of that holy life in which none of the human race could fully share. Whilst He was loved by God and all in heaven, He was hated by men, hated without a cause. The Holy One in their midst was a standing condemnation to the unholy and sinful, for they

"Loved darkness rather than light ; for their works were evil."

The path He trod was ever in communion with the Father, and never a shadow came in between. The Father gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him, and every inward movement of that Spirit found its perfect expression in the holy humanity of Christ. He lived, He walked, He wrought in the power of the Holy Spirit, doing those things lie saw the Father doing (John 5.19), and finally, through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish unto God (Hebrews 9.14).

Sinful man cannot know the abhorrent heinousness of sin because of the numbing effect of a defiled heart and mind, but He whose purity and holiness were as unsullied as when He dwelt on the throne of heaven recoiled ill pain and sorrow in the presence of sin and its consequences. Is not this the lesson written across the poignant story of Gethsemane ? His utter abhorrence of sin is seen in His blood-like sweat, in the agony of soul-conflict in anticipation of the cross. It is reflected in those heart-touching words of the Saviour,

"My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death."

"0 My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from Me nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou will " (Matthew 26. 30-45).

In anticipation, the holy prostrate Saviour felt in all its intensity the pangs and pains of that dark moment when His holy Being would come into contact with sin as the Sin-Bearer. In that conflict of soul He triumphed, and, bowing to the will of His Father, became obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

The holiness of Christ was an absolute necessity to the perfection and acceptability of His sacrifice. The holiness and righteousness of God's throne were vindicated in judgement by the perfection of the holy Victim which answered every claim required by God.

"Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish unto God" (Hebrews 9.14).

God's pleasure in Him is expressed in the words of the hymn-writer

"Thou findest in that Spotless One,

Where all perfections dwell,

All that Thy heart could wish for us,

All that Thou e'er could'st tell."

God has shown His approval and acceptance of the work and sacrifice of Christ in that He has raised Him from the dead. Of that precious body in which He wrought, it is written:

"Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption."

"He whom God raised up saw no corruption" (Acts 13.35, 37).

"This is He which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead " (Acts 10.42).

"The Judge of all is the One who in nature and character is absolutely holy, and no sin will escape His notice and judgement; the Holy One is the Son of Man" (John 5.27).

"Even unclean spirits in terror-stricken apprehension asked-"Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time? " "I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God " (Matthew 8.29; Mark 1.24).

To us who believe, the pattern and example of His holy life should be our objective. Let us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that one day we shall stand at the judgement-seat of Christ, before the holy, piercing gaze of the Holy One of God.

Before the holy judgement throne

We'll see, as we in awe bow down,

Our works in fire be tried;

In view of that devouring flame,

Be this our prayer, and this our aim

'In Him may we abide.'"

F. McCormick | Mar 1958
The Glories And Excellencies Of Christ