InstaStudy

Without Holiness No Man Shall See the Lord: A New Testament Study on Sanctification and the Vision of God

An in-depth New Testament study exploring the absolute necessity of holiness, both inward and outward, as the essential condition for seeing the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the one true God manifested in the flesh.

1. The Identity of the Lord We Shall See

1.1 Jesus Christ is the Visible Image of the Invisible God

Verses: Colossians 1:15; Colossians 2:9; John 14:9
  • God in His absolute deity is invisible spirit, but He has revealed Himself fully in the person of Jesus Christ.
  • To see Jesus is to see the Father, for the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily.
  • The ultimate hope of the believer is to see Him as He is in His glorified state.

1.2 The Revelation of the One True God in the Last Days

Verses: 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 5:20; Titus 2:13
  • God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and received up into glory.
  • Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life, leaving no room for a plurality of divine persons.
  • We look for the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

2. The New Birth as the Foundation for Holiness

2.1 Cleansing Through Water Baptism in Jesus' Name

Verses: Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 6:11
  • Repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ are essential for the remission of sins.
  • Baptism buries the old man of sin, initiating a walk in newness of life.
  • We are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.

2.2 Regeneration by the Infilling of the Holy Ghost

Verses: John 3:5; Titus 3:5; Acts 10:44-46
  • Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
  • The Holy Ghost is the active agent of regeneration, renewing the believer from within.
  • The reception of the Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical evidence of speaking in other tongues.

3. Inward Holiness: The Purification of the Heart

3.1 The Circumcision of the Heart by the Spirit

Verses: Romans 2:29; Philippians 3:3; 1 Peter 1:22
  • True circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.
  • The Spirit purifies our souls through obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love.
  • Inward holiness involves casting down imaginations and bringing every thought into captivity.

3.2 Walking in the Spirit to Overcome the Flesh

Verses: Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:22-23
  • Walking in the Spirit prevents the fulfillment of the lusts of the flesh.
  • Mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit is necessary for eternal life.
  • The fruit of the Spirit naturally manifests in a life dedicated to righteousness.

4. Outward Holiness: Separation and Bodily Sanctification

4.1 Presenting the Body as a Living Sacrifice

Verses: Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 7:1
  • Our physical bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost and must be kept holy.
  • We must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
  • Believers must not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of their minds.

4.2 Separation from Worldly Lusts and Practices

Verses: 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 John 2:15-16; James 4:4
  • God commands His people to come out from among the world and be separate.
  • Loving the world or the things in the world constitutes spiritual enmity with God.
  • Outward modesty, sobriety, and distinction in appearance reflect an inward dedication to God.

5. The Ultimate Reward: Seeing the Lord in Glory

5.1 The Beatific Vision Reserved for the Pure in Heart

Verses: Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 22:14
  • Only the pure in heart are given the promise that they shall see God.
  • Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord, making sanctification a non-negotiable requirement.
  • Those who do His commandments have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city.

5.2 Being Conformed to His Image at His Coming

Verses: 1 John 3:2-3; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:52
  • When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
  • Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
  • Our vile bodies will be changed and fashioned like unto His glorious body at the last trump.