HOLINESS IS A DERIVATIVE

One thing that humans forget when they exalt man to imagined autonomy is that human life is derivative. To derive is to get something from something else. Even on the temporal, material level, man derives his life from sunlight, plants, animals, and air. Man does not have self-generated or self sustained life. He has derivative life. The grass cannot take credit for its green and growth. That green and grow is derived from sun, water, and soil. The bright flower cannot boast of its brilliance. Its brilliance is a derivative. Man may have grandiose illusions of his importance, knowledge, accomplishments, etc., but he still derives his physical life from chewing the grass (wheat made bread) that derives its life from the sun, water, soil. God is the only One with un-derived life. His life is inherent in who He is, self-contained and self-sustained. This is why a self-righteous spirit is as nauseating as it is illogical. One who is self-righteous sees his righteousness as a personal achievement. One who proudly boasts, acclaims, spotlights his own holiness has failed to realize and acknowledge that man cannot produce holiness. Holiness in not inherent in man. Holiness is a derivative. That is why the mark of true holiness is humility. If one is truly holy, he realizes that his holiness is derived and not self-produced. He has received his holiness from God. His holiness is both imputed and imparted by God. It is a derivative. By way of illustration, many excellent singers have great pride in their talent. They fail to realize that their talent is a derivative. They had nothing to do with the length and thickness and flexibility of their vocal chords, the unique design of their nasal cavities, the special wiring of their brains. All of that which results in the singing talent has been derived from their ancestors' shared DNA. To say that holiness is derived does not exclude any responsibility or action on our part. A singer has a derived talent; yet, that singer can choose whether or not to practice, learn, exercise, the ability he has derived. Holiness is derived. We choose whether or not to believe, to come to the place of impartation, to co-operate in obedience to God's work. We cannot take credit. We can only gratefully appropriate. Paul puts this about derivatives well in 1Co 4:7 " ... what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" He is the Vine. We are branches. We derive our life from the Vine. That is both cause for humility and rejoicing. There is something we don't have that we can receive. We are alive by what we have derived