If you’ve looked at the lists of Bible passages on the prior post you might now be thinking, “Okay, but why is this a big deal?” Or, “Isn’t this too obscure to talk about?”
DeYoung devotes a section of chapter 5 to this issue saying he thinks it is an important matter to get right. I agree with him. Having only a surface understanding of the issue could have the effect of short-circuiting the believer’s pursuit of holiness. It could be a contributing factor in there being a “hole in our holiness” in the following ways.
The urgency and meaning of “You shall be holy, for I am holy” in 1 Peter 1:16 becomes lost if really we all are just as holy as everyone else. If the sinner plunging forward in sin without restraint is just as holy as the one striving to leave sin, then why bother to obey this command?
The reward of “joy” (Hebrews 12:1-2) for those who strive after holiness becomes meaningless if everyone is getting the same amount of joy regardless of their progress in their fight against sin.
There are other ways that could be pointed out but I hope the point is coming through. In our pursuit to follow Jesus there are points at which we are less holy and we must hunger and work toward being more holy. This brings glory to God.
