Sermon Note: Holiness a Path to Ultimate, Not Necessarily Immediate, Reward

Sometimes, I get frustrated with the Bible. I imagine that I’m not alone in that, either. Some of you read the Scriptures and get demoralized. You read the stories of men like Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah and arguably never see them screw up. From a casual reading of the Bible, it seems that perfection is a possibility – that truly religious people eventually get it together, and eventually journey on a plateau of perfection. And since your life is an absolute mess by comparison, and every effort to attain perfection falls short, you must not be as acceptable or endearing to God. Be careful. These are ideas with the stench of sulfur.

Let me encourage you with two things. First, these biblical “heroes” weren’t as heroic or as perfect as you might think. They were fallen, broken, and sinful just like us. They thought sinful thoughts; said wicked words; and did dreadful things. Admittedly, they gradually grew into relatively mature believers in God’s promises, evidencing their commitment in increasingly godly character. However, they were never perfect on earth and didn’t do everything right: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even the Apostle Paul, a paramount example of holiness through God’s grace, lamented his significant and lingering struggles with sin in old age (Romans 7:7ff). Please don’t be intimidated by these dear saints. They were just like you. Perhaps for that reason, they are rooting for you even now (Hebrews 12:1).

Secondly, and please get this through your head and into your heart: God doesn’t love you any more for your obedience or any less for your disobedience. He never did; he never will. God loves you because of Christ, not because of you. In pure grace, God nailed your sinful imperfections to the cross of Christ; crucified them by the just wrath of God; and thereby removed them forever, as far as the east is from the west. He will never remember them again - never. They are gone.

In their place, he graciously transferred the righteousness of his eternal Son, Jesus Christ. In the eyes of God the Father, you are as righteous, acceptable, and lovely as Jesus himself! This is an objective fact. If you’re in Christ, it’s done – incidentally, whether you feel it or not. Thankfully, this very hour, the Holy Spirit is cleansing you from all unrighteousness, helping you to realize and subjectively enjoy the holiness that is your inheritance in Christ.

May I suggest that one of the reasons for including these seemingly perfect (and, let’s be honest, maybe slightly annoying) individuals is to show us that holiness is a path to ultimate, not immediate, reward.

Consider Joseph, a young Hebrew of such exemplary character that he enjoyed a meteoric rise within Potiphar’s household. His faith-born solemnity, trustworthiness, work ethic, and more all combined to form a leader among leaders. Amazingly, he gained a privileged position in a seat of global power. Yes, from a human perspective, he did it right. If anyone should receive immediate and ample blessing, his “best life now,” shouldn’t it have been Joseph?

And what was the reward for his holiness? Ease? Comfort? Peace? No, no, and no. The reward for his holiness was the ire of the flesh, the world, and the devil. And omitting mention of Joseph’s sin proves that his suffering was for the sake of righteousness, not a consequence of wickedness. That is one reason why Scripture presents him as a pinnacle of holiness.

If your view of God’s commandments is that of a path to your “best life now;” if your motivation for holiness is the perception that it is a means to earthly reward; if you flee to God in an attempt to flee from suffering – well, I’ve got some very, very bad news for you today.

Why? Because holiness is an evidence of the Spirit’s work (Galatians 5:22-26). The Spirit’s work is the fruit and evidence of Christ’s saving work. Christ’s saving work is the fruit and evidence of the Father’s love. And if the Father loves you, Satan hates you. And if Satan hates you, the world deceived by him will despise you, too. Bend your knee to Christ in holiness; get prepared for the world, the flesh, and the devil to oppose you.

However, remember that whatever you lose, you will receive – yes, sometimes in this life, but most assuredly and most importantly in the one to come:

28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" 29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." - Luke 18:28:30

Holiness is, indeed, a path to ultimate if not immediate reward.