UNLEARNING THE LIES ABOUT HEAVEN - 5

WITHOUT HOLINESS, NO MAN SHALL SEE GOD – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Hebrews 12:14 is one of the most misinterpreted verse of the bible that has caused a major havoc to the body than the kingdom of darkness. Many have used this particular verse to chase people away from the true faith. Many have scared the life out the people who were supposed to be fruitful for the Kingdom. They see the Christian faith has a burden of laws. They live with fear of hell every day, because of what they have been told that this verse mean

Today is judgment day, we shall uncover the mask that is laid upon this verse and we all shall see how we could have been useful for the kingdom as a body, rather than spending all of one’s life chasing an ambition of Holiness that is not needed.

Dear reader, salvation is not achieved by works but received by faith in Christ Jesus and by FAITH ONLY!

No works is required for salvation! Not a single work is required!

God does all the saving! Believing the Gospel of this saving is entering into the Kingdom of God. 

You cannot enter into the kingdom by YOUR RIGHTEOUS WORKS OR HOLY LIVING!

It is unfortunate how many have used Hebrews 12:14 to scare believers into thinking that what Christ did ALONE is not enough to save a man and keep him saved— you have to pursue peace with all men and holiness if you want to "see the Lord" Very few have tried to find out what the writer was REALLY saying?

Let’s settle this quickly…

Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”

A problem arises when we attempt to read a text, especially from the Bible, and conclude for the writer. This is extremely dangerous. An honest exegesis will let us understand better.

Now before this particular chapter, see what the writer said earlier…

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified”

So he's not asking believers TO BE holy in order to "see" God. He ALREADY tells you that you are!

We are not in the PROCESS of becoming holy, we ALREADY are. Under the Old covenant, they strive to be holy, under the new covenant, we have been made Holy! You remember how that Peter said we are royal priesthood and a HOLY NATION? Good!

The passive tense in Heb 10:14 means that we did not make ourselves holy, the action was performed ON us. How? By the offering of the body of Jesus Christ! His offering made us holy! We are holy once for all!

Remember that the book of Hebrews is an ENTIRE letter and the SAME pattern of thoughts permeates the entire letter. It wasn't chapterized and versed at the writing. Chapterizing and versing the Bible was a human conjecture. It was originally a WHOLE letter. So, the writer CANNOT begin by saying we are holy and then later say that we should try to be holy again.

Now when you read the whole chapter or read contextually, you will find out that the passage is not related to going to heaven at all…

Before this, the writer talks about the discipline of God, that is, persecution which believers face because of their faith. He encourages them to stand strong in vs. 12-13. It speaks of the CONDUCT or THE LIFESTYLE of the believer and not his STATE.

After writing about the STATE of the Man in Christ in previous passages, the writer goes on to talk about our conduct with one another and with the world (which persecutes us). The whole context speaks of CONDUCT.

That is, there is a way we as believers should live when we are been persecuted that will draw people to God. They will be surprised at how we respond to every persecution we face and therefore SEE GOD IN US! That is what the verse means!

In other words, the verse can be paraphrased as: In your CONDUCT, live peaceably with all men for if you don't, men CANNOT experience God in your life. You are the means by which men PERCEIVE Christ. That is, let others see Jesus in you.

This is not a SALVATION verse but a CONDUCT verse!

No heaven in this verse at all!

Rather it means live peaceably with all men, this is holy conduct. For if you don't, men cannot experience God, whom you profess, in your life. You are the only means by which men can perceive the invisible God. Make Him evident and visible in your conduct.

This is not talking about HOW HOLINESS MUST BE ACHIEVED

IT NOT ASKING YOU TO ATTAIN A LEVEL OF HOLINESS TO BE SAVED OR TO MAKE HEAVEN

SALVATION IS BY FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORKS OF THE CROSS ALONE

So it is foolishness to start putting up some self holiness to make heaven, it is a slap to the finished works of the cross of Christ. It is saying that what Jesus did was not enough!

The verse in Hebrews is not about making heaven! Wake up!

It is about your lifestyle, in bringing souls to God!

Without Holiness, no man (unbelievers) can see God in you (a believer)!

I hope this bless you!