The Holy City is Saturated with the Holy God
New Jerusalem is named “the holy city” in Revelation 21:2, 10.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Paul prays that our whole being—spirit and soul and body—may be sanctified wholly. This is dispositional sanctification where the very holy God is saturating us with His holy nature. In positional sanctification there is only a change of position, but in dispositional sanctification there is the transformation in nature and in element….Based upon this principle, we can see that the holy city, the New Jerusalem, could never be a physical city, since a physical city could never be saturated with God. This city is composed with living persons who can be and who are saturated with God.*
First Peter 1:15 exhorts us, “be holy in all your manner of life.” This does not refer to a manner of life governed by a set of rules. Verses 14 to 23 include the words “children,” “Father,” “believe into God,” and “having been regenerated.”
We have been born of God with God’s life and nature which grows in us and brings forth His holy living. This is dispositional sanctification.
First Thessalonians 5:23 says, “the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly.” God does this by saturating our entire being with His holy nature. We cooperate by calling on Him, praying, confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness, singing, and taking His word as our spiritual nourishment.
New Jerusalem as the holy city, is the eternal result of all God’s people being saturated by His holy nature.
* From chapter 27, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.
Photo courtesy of Burningwell.org.
Posted by Don on November 9, 2022
