“For we are the temple of the living God…”
2 Corinthians 6:16

Such incredible care was taken in the preparation, ordination and consecration of Aaron, his sons, and the altar for their use in the sacrificial ministry. These processes included washing procedures, proper clothes, the acceptable characteristics of the animals used, and how each of the animal’s inner parts were to be offered. These procedures and processes had to be followed perfectly when ministering in the tent of meeting. Once consecrated, the altar was most holy. Anything used in connection with the altar, whatever touched the altar, was holy and consecrated for use only on the altar. Consecrated holy things must not be used in common ways. They must be handled with reverence and care. The knife used to cut apart the ram must not be used to prepare a meal. The knife of the altar may only be used at the altar. Treating holy things as common or despising the procedures given for the altar were met with swift judgment without mercy–as Aaron’s sons discovered.

That was then. But what now–what of myself under the new and better covenant which has now been established through the superior sacrifice of Christ Himself, made once for all by His own blood? By Christ’s blood I have been made holy. Just as the implements of the altar were, I have been set apart for Christ alone–no longer given for common use. So by what process, by which procedures am I to keep myself for use only at the altar of Christ, and not defile myself by common use?

For Aaron it was clear what he was to do, and not to do. Implements used in the sacrifices were left with the altar. He did not tuck the sacrificial knife into his belt and pull it out later to cut into a roast. I, however, have no physical altar to respect. Rather, by the Holy Spirit my whole heart, even my entire body has been made the altar, and the offering includes every facet of my life–not just my religious activities. Yet maintaining holiness, separateness, and devotion to the Lord is no less necessary now than it was then. Respecting the holiness of God and upholding the sanctification of His possessions (in this case myself) is no less sobering then it was for Aaron. However, a new way of being holy, being separate, and being devoted is required.

For example, if I attempt to be holy by trying to define which things may be handled and which things may not, or which things may be eaten and which things may not, or which activities may be participated in and which may not I will surely miss the way of holiness in Christ. No doubt pursuing holiness does often include such decisions and restrictions but it does not consist in them. A massive change takes place in the new covenant. The Holy Spirit changed me from sinner to set apart one (saint). But this does not mean that I have suddenly become segregated from a list of common things. Rather, by this inward change, all outward things changed too. Not only have I been made new, but all things, to me, have been made new as well. What I once may have considered common–eating and drinking, working, hanging out with friends, reading, entertainment–all these things have been made new to me in Christ. In all things I am engaged in spiritual, holy work as unto the Lord. When I am with friends, I am an emissary, an ambassador of Christ. When I eat, I am delighting in God’s good care. When I sleep, I rest in Christ. There is nothing common for the Christian. All is made holy and I am called to glorify Christ in all. I must rid myself of illusionary distinctions and false dichotomies. There is no activity under the sun that has not been appointed for me as a holy activity, a ministry at the altar, an offering made out from the overflowing grace of God.

Lord, forgive me when I consider my days mundane. There is no day, no activity, no toil, and no task exempt from the spiritual service of worship you’ve called me to in Christ. All are ordained by your hand and I am bound to honor you in and delight myself in all things for your sake. Help me to be holy, to treat all things with reverence and awe because all things are made by your hand and exist for your great glory. Amen.

Paul confronted Peter in Antioch for standing aloof from the Gentiles when his fellow Jews arrived from Jerusalem. Paul recalls this story in his letter to the Galatians as a means of defending the gospel. The issues at hand were not small but the truth of the gospel was at stake—and not just the facts of the gospel, but how the gospel is lived out.

Walking in the gospel involves a considerable amount of effort. I want my life to reflect well on my Savior and so I try to please him by avoiding evil as I represent Christ. A good measure of my motivation for holiness is that I would adorn the gospel by my good behavior. But imagine if by my very consistency with such gospel living—by faithfully reflecting Christ—that the result was to make some people think of Christ as a minister of sin. Imagine that!

This is what was happening in Antioch. To a Jew, merely being a Gentile meant being a “sinner.” One might be a very upright, honorable, noble individual, but if a Gentile, he’s a sinner. To the Jews then, what was the net result of the gospel of Christ? It meant that Gentile sinners were being included among the people of God—and that without becoming “Jew-like;” no circumcision, no Law keeping, not kosher. As if this weren’t enough, good Jews (like Peter) were even starting to act less Jewish and more like Gentile sinners. To a Jewish mind this just could not be. If Christ was the messiah and the gospel was true, how could His church be so non-Jewish, so Gentile—so, so sinful!

But Paul would not water down the gospel. Surely, it would have been easier, more politically correct, and more diplomatic to just make some concessions regarding Christian practice so that the reputation of Christ would not be besmirched in the eyes of the Jews. After all we are His representatives and we want to reflect well on Him—if our behavior in the gospel makes some think of Christ as minister of sin—how could that be good?

But no. The gospel of Christ crucified is a gospel of grace. It is of grace and not by works of the Law. The gospel which brings justification by faith may not be entered into, or lived out as if it were by works of the Law. There can be no compromise, even if it means that some, many, or even most look on and think that such a gospel cannot be right. And such is the case even today. For the Western mind is just as opposed to gospel truth as is the Jewish mind. We just substitute a different kind of law. Salvation in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone—without any basis in my worthiness or effort is inconceivable to the natural human mind. Yet entirely free and solely by grace it is—so that no man may never boast before God.

What does this mean for me today? It means that I should not underestimate how counterintuitive and God-centered is the truth of the gospel. If the effect of the gospel was so perplexing to the Jews and is so foolish to the modern mind I should not assume that my mind has been fully oriented to the radical truth of the gospel of grace. Paul rebuked the Galatians because they started off with the true gospel which was, and only could be, received in and through the power of the Spirit—and quickly departed to another gospel that tried to combine grace with works of the Law. If those Christians could so easily tip toward a version of the gospel that was no gospel at all, I am also susceptible to this kind of error.

The gospel causes me to die with Christ to the Law in such a thorough and complete way that the mere attempt to rebuild even part of the Law becomes itself the height of transgression. For I died to the Law with Christ and if I try to now live by the Law Paul says to me, “you fool, you are cursed if you go back under the law. Having been justified by faith do you now seek to be justified by your own efforts?”

And so I must dwell on the radical, Christ-centered gospel of grace and seek to root out all works oriented motives and efforts from my life. Only grace oriented efforts, gospel worthy motives, and Spirit empowered works are pleasing to God. And if the gospel life is a stench to some—the solution is not to change the gospel, but to pray that the noses that smell it that way would be changed.

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the ways, both overt and subtle that my life and my heart move not by grace but as though I related to you by works. I have died to such “dead-living.” Reveal the areas of my life that have not been saturated by the gospel of grace and cause me to love only the true gospel of grace of Christ. Amen.

I may not justify unholy means because they bring about what I might consider to be God’s ultimate ends. Even when God’s ordained ends are accomplished, it may be through, and by the hands of wicked men (Acts 2:23). Judas fulfilled God’s end for the Son of Man and it would have been better for him had he never been born.

I must make sure that my means and efforts, even if they are oriented toward God’s ends, are holy in themselves. Revenge falls into this category. Should I ever be terribly grieved as the result of another’s sin I expect I would desire to see that person punished. And God will always vindicate justice; the punishment of sinners is a part of His ultimate righteousness. But woe to me, if I were to take matters into my own hands. God says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). God will vindicate, but that vindication very well may be the vindication that was purchased by the blood of Christ. God’s wrath may result in the punishment of the wicked or it may have been expunged in Christ’s death. Either way it is for God to determine. Those vessels through which God may choose to punish the wicked (such as governments) may very well be themselves the objects of wrath for their own sins.

To make this truth more practical for my daily life I should consider the means I employ as I pursue God’s purposes. Parenting comes to mind. I am called to teach, correct, and discipline my children to bring about their obedience, resulting in their true love for God. When I respond to them with correction, rebuke or punishment I must always remember that though I may be acting with the right goal in mind – my actual means (words, demeanor, attitude, actions, etc.) must also be holy in themselves. They must be self-controlled, loving, peaceable, patient, humble, and Christ-centered. A harsh word, a quick rebuke, an outburst of anger is never justified because it has the end of bringing about obedience as its defense.

Lord Jesus, make me careful in all my ways. Help me to pursue holiness in my ways and in my ends. Teach me God-centered Christ exalting means while deepening a God oriented desire to accomplish your ends. I need you Jesus. Amen.

Jonah 2:2-4

Listen carefully my soul. What do you say when God, in his inscrutable ways, casts you into the deep? What happens in your heart when you feel expelled from the Lord’s presence? Whether you are engulfed as the result of your own sin, fleeing from the Lord like Jonah, or whether your trial is for no apparent cause, such as Joseph’s experience in prison, listen carefully to what your heart says in that day. O that you would say “Nevertheless I will look again toward thy Holy Temple!” Trials, whether self-inflicted from sinning, or purely from your heavenly Father’s perfect design for your holiness and purity, will come. Such times of affliction are appointed to you. What will you say when you are in such distress? Will you look toward the one who afflicts you, the one who casts you into the deep, and cry out to Him for help? Will you set your face steadfast toward His Holy Temple? Will you remember the Lord and look to Him to bring you up from the depths?

Listen soul; in the day of trouble do not make your struggle worse by turning away from the one who saves. Do not raise a complaint against Him. Cry out to Him, call to Him, look to Him and He will raise you up out of the pit. O that my soul would look to God, even though He strike me. Such fruit of faith, such steadfastness, will produce confidence and strengthen my assurance in God, the God who holds me in His hands. That my heart would look to God in the midst of affliction is in itself a blessing from God, a blessing that demonstrates the preserving power of the God I trust.

But what if I do raise a complaint like Job? What if I turn my face away and declare God unjust in what He has done to me? Beware soul, such a response is deadly; such a response in your heart maybe the very thing God is raising to the surface in casting you under the waves. Perhaps such poisonous thoughts of God were killing your faith quietly, until His afflictions came. So if your find your heart turning away from His Holy Temple in affliction, tremble and repent. Turn your complaint into deeply felt gratitude that your heavenly father is willing to go to any lengths to purify out all dross and faith-killing poison from your heart. Confess your weakness, your faithlessness, your discontent, and turn your gaze toward His Holy Temple. Cry out to Him and hear His answer to you. Know that all His purposes for you are for your good and your eternal happiness. Trust Him in the day of trouble and let your roots grow deep in Him.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”

Jer. 17:7-8