One thing that the apostles commonly wrong about is the hope of glory
for all who have believed in Christ as their Saviour. The grandiose
bliss of heaven was a theme that ran through their epistles. This hope
is founded on the promise made by Jesus in John 14, where He told the
disciples that in His Father's house were many mansions, and that He was
going to prepare a place for them, and that He will come and take them,
so that where He is, they will be too.
The author of the book of Hebrews said of the glory of God, that without holiness, no one can see the Lord. Immediately one reads this, his mind goes to conduct and obedience, as true as these are elements of holiness, they don't in themselves imply holiness. If they did, then, we must conclude that salvation is subsequent to obedience, which it is not. What, then, is holiness? Holiness is a partaking in the life of Jesus Christ which is possible only through faith in the finished work on the cross. Someone rightly said of holiness, that it is "conformity to God’s image." Very true!
Hope that is genuine is one that springs from union with Christ. To have hope for heaven apart from this vital union with Christ is to hope in vain. Sadly, many people have a hope for heaven based on the good works that they do, hoping that on the last day, their good works will cancel out their bad works. They fail to recognise that nothing good can come from a person who has been touched by sin. Absolutely nothing!
Toni
The author of the book of Hebrews said of the glory of God, that without holiness, no one can see the Lord. Immediately one reads this, his mind goes to conduct and obedience, as true as these are elements of holiness, they don't in themselves imply holiness. If they did, then, we must conclude that salvation is subsequent to obedience, which it is not. What, then, is holiness? Holiness is a partaking in the life of Jesus Christ which is possible only through faith in the finished work on the cross. Someone rightly said of holiness, that it is "conformity to God’s image." Very true!
Hope that is genuine is one that springs from union with Christ. To have hope for heaven apart from this vital union with Christ is to hope in vain. Sadly, many people have a hope for heaven based on the good works that they do, hoping that on the last day, their good works will cancel out their bad works. They fail to recognise that nothing good can come from a person who has been touched by sin. Absolutely nothing!
Toni
