Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Holiness of Christ
Earlier, we reflected on the holiness of God the Father, and that all Christians are
holy and are expected by God to live holy lives.
Today, chapter four of The Pursuit of Holiness - The Holiness of Christ.
Here are some the important truths found in this chapter.
**********
The Scriptures testify that Jesus lived a perfectly holy life during His time on
earth.
He is described as "without sin";
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable
to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who
in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin."
Hebrews 4:15
as One who "committed no sin";
"He commmitted no sin, neither was deceit
found in his mouth."
1 Peter 2:22
as "Him who had no sin".
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteous-
ness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21
The apostle John stated,
"In Him is no sin."
1 John 3:5
The Old Testament describes Jesus prophetically as;
"the righteous servant ..."
Isaiah 53:11
and as One who,
"... loved righteousness and hated wickedness."
Psalm 45:7
**********
Even more compelling, however is Jesus, own testimony concerning Himself.
On one occasion He looked the Pharisees squarely in the eye and asked,
"Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?"
John 8:46
Of course, they couldn't.
But the holiness of Jesus was more than simply the absence of actual sin.
It was also a perfect conformity to the will of His Father.
He stated that he came down from heaven,
"... not to do my will but to do the will of Him
who sent me."
John 6:38
On another occasion, He said,
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent me."
John 4:34
Perhaps His highest testimony to His positive holiness was His statement,
"I always do what pleases Him."
John 8:29
Such a positive declaration must include not only His actions but also His
attitudes and motives. Jesus Christ perfectly met the standard for holiness and
He did it for us.
He was born into this world subject to the law of God that He might fulfill
it on our behalf.
"But when the fulness of time had come, God
sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under
the law, to redeem those who were under the law
so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Galatians 4:4-5
**********
God told Isaiah that his sins were atoned for.
"See ... your guilt is taken away and your sin
atoned for."
Isaiah 6:7
It is not only at the initial point of salvation that we need this assurance.
In fact, the more we grow in holiness, the more we need assurance that the
perfect righteousness of Christ is credited to us.
This is true because a part of growing in holiness is the Holy Spirit's making
us aware of our need of holiness. As we see this need, it is well for us to al-
ways keep in mind the righteousness of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and the fact
that,
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness
of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21
**********
Jesus' life is meant to be an example of holiness for us.
"For to this you have been called, because Christ
also suffered for you, leaving you an example,
so that you might follow in His steps."
1 Peter 2:21
Paul urged us to be imitators of God.
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."
Ephesians 5:1
He also said,
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
1 Corinthians 11:1
*********
When Jesus came into the world, He said,
"I have come to do your will, O God."
Hebrews 10:7
This is the example we are to follow. In all our thoughts, all of our
actions, in every part of our character, the ruling principle that motivates
and guides us should be the desire to follow Christ in doing the will of the
Father.
This is the high road we must follow in the pursuit of holiness.
Friday, June 29, 2012
John Roberts - A Liberal Hero?
So NOW Chief Justice John Roberts is a hero to liberals everywhere,
because, while he found the mandate in Obamacare to be unconstitutional
under the commerce clause, he found it constitutional as a tax.
Of course if he'd decided the other way they would still consider him
to be a "partisan hack."
According to the liberal media, Roberts "saved the institution" by
joining the four liberals on the court who (of course) agreed with the
chief justice.
Roberts, the liberal media tell us, has given the people confidence in
the Court again by not making a "partisan" decision, but try to imagine
what the media would say if two of the liberals had decided against the
mandate and the decision had gone against Obama.
I know this would never happen, but just play along. Would they have
been applauded for their lack of partisanship? Of course not! They would
be viewed as villains because they dared to go against Obama, which is
unthinkable in Liberalville. No one is allowed to stray from the liberal
reservation.
**********
Apparently, liberals believe that anyone who opposes Obamacare is
opposed to "health care" period, as if there are no better and cheaper
alternatives. It's Obamacare or nothing, even though the polls show
there are many more people who oppose it than support it. Maybe they
don't support it because it raises the debt and deficit at a time when we
simply can't afford such a program, and they don't want their taxes raised,
which is now going to happen.
Doctors and the "all important" Independents also oppose it by a large margin.
**********
I think this decision may light a fire under the opponents of Obamacare.
Romney raised over $4 million yesterday after the decision was announced.
He has said he will do all he can to repeal the law if he is elected president.
Obama may have won the battle over Obamacare, but he may have lost
the war -- the election!!
We'll see in November.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Salvation Takes a Miracle of God!
"A lost man is enslaved by his sin. So even if he knows better, even if he
knows that God is wrathful against sin, he's going to keep on doing what he's
doing, because he's depraved, and he has no power to stop himself."
"The essence of being lost is to know the wrath of God, to know that you
are a sinner, and yet to continue on in sin."
Tom Chantry
Thirsty Theologian Blog
June 28, 2012
**********
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions
and sins, in which you used to live when you fol-
lowed the ways of this world and of the ruler of
the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at
work in those who are disobedient."
"All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and
following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest,
we were by nature objects of wrath."
Ephesians 2:1-3
**********
The lost person can never change himself enough to come to God on his own.
"For those who live according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit
set their minds on the things of the Spirit."
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and
peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh
is hostile to God, for it does not submit to
God's law; indeed it cannot. Those who
are in the flesh cannot please God."
Romans 8:5-8
**********
In fact, the lost person cannot come to God unless the Father draws him.
"No one can come to me unless the father who
sent me draws him."
John 6:44a
**********
Only the power of God, through Jesus Christ, can take a person who is dead
in sin and raise him to new life!
"No one can come to me unless the father who
sent me draws him. And I will raise him up
on the last day."
John 6:44a&b
**********
Because God loves His people, and is gracious and merciful, even though
we were dead in our sins, He makes us alive with Christ.
"But because of His great love for us, God, who
is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even
when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by
grace you have been saved."
Ephesians 2:4-5
**********
God gives His people a new heart and puts His Spirit in us, so that we can
believe in Him and follow Him. What the lost man is unable to do on his own,
becomes possible through God's regenerating and saving power.
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you
will be clean; I will cleanse you from all
your impurities and from all your idols."
"I will give you a new heart and put a new
spirit in you; I will remove from you your
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
"And I will put my Spirit in you and move
you to follow my decrees and be careful
to keep my laws. You will live in the land
I gave your forefathers; you will be my
people, and I will be your God."
"I will save you from all your uncleanness."
Ezekiel 36:25-29a
**********
Salvation is a miracle from God!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Saved and Called To Be Holy
Charles Spurgeon, "The Prince of Preachers," wrote about the effectual call to
salvation by grace, and the call to be holy, in the book of devotions, Morning and
Evening.
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us
and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of His own
purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began ..."
2 Timothy 1:8-9
**********
"The Christian is perfectly saved in God's purpose; God has ordained him unto
salvation, and that purpose is complete ..."
"This complete salvation is accomplished by a holy calling. Those whom the
Savior saved upon the cross are in due time effectually called by the power of God
the Holy Spirit unto holiness: they leave their sins, they endeavor to be like Christ;
they choose holiness, not out of any compulsion, but from the stress of a new
nature, which leads them to rejoice in holiness just as naturally as aforetime they
delighted in sin."
"God neither chose them nor called them because they were holy, but He called
them that they might be holy, and holiness is the beauty produced by His workman-
ship in them.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus,
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for
us to do."
Ephesians 2:10
"The excellencies which we see in a believer are as much the work of God as
the atonement itself. Thus is brought out very sweetly the fulness of the grace of
God. Thus is brought out very sweetly the fulness of the grace of God."
"Salvation must be of grace, because the Lord is the author of it,"
("Salvation is of the Lord."
Jonah 2:9b)
"and what motive but grace could move Him to save the guilty?"
"Salvation must be of grace, because the Lord works in such a manner
that our righteousness is forever excluded."
"Such is the believer's privilege -- a present salvation; such is the evidence
that he is called to it -- a holy life."
Charles Spurgeon
**********
God's people are called to salvation and holiness, not because of our good works,
but by His grace.
Next time -- The Holiness of Christ.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Holiness Is Not An Option
We continue looking at the book, The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges.
Here are some of the important truths found in chapter three.
Holiness is not an option.
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to
be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
Hebrews 12:14
The best Christians can never in themselves merit salvation through their
personal holiness. Our righteous deeds are like filthy garments in the light of
God's holy law (Isaiah 64:6). Our best works are stained and polluted with
imperfection and sin.
Scripture repeatedly refers to the obedience and righteousness of Christ on
our behalf.
"For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam)
the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience
of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous."
Romans 5:19
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the
unrighteous, to bring you to God."
1 Peter 3:18
These two passages teach a two-fold aspect of Christ's work on our (believers)
behalf. They are often referred to as His active and passive obedience.
Active obedience means Christ's sinless life here on earth, His perfect obedience
and absolute holiness. This perfect life is credited to those who trust in Him for
their salvation.
His passive obedience refers to His death on the cross through which He fully paid
the penalty for our (believers) sins and placated the wrath of God toward us.
In Hebrews 10:5-10, we read that Christ came to do the will of the Father. Then
the writer said, "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
So we see that our holiness before God depends entirely on the work of Jesus
Christ for us, by God's will.
Scripture speaks of both a holiness which we have in Christ before God, and a
holiness which we are to strive after. These two aspects of holiness compliment one
another, for our salvation is a salvation to holiness.
"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live
a holy life."
1 Thessalonians 4:7
To the Corinthians Paul wrote,
"To the church of God in Corinth, to those sancitfied in
Christ Jesus and called to be holy."
1 Corinthians 1:2
The word "sanctified" here means "made holy." That is, we are through
Christ made holy in our standing before God, and called to be holy in our
daily lives.
When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives at our salvation, He comes to
make us holy in practice.
True salvation brings with it a desire to be made holy.
The whole purpose of our salvation is that we be "holy and blameless in His
sight" (Ephesians 1:4).
We might say that no one can trust in Jesus Christ for true salvation unless
he trusts in Him for holiness. This does not mean the desire for holiness must
be a conscious desire at the time a person comes to Christ, but rather it means
that the Holy Spirit who creates within us saving faith also creates within us the
desire for holiness. He simply does not create one without the other.
God's nature demands holiness in the life of a Christian. When he calls us to
salvation, He calls us to fellowship with Himself and His Son Jesus Christ
(1 John 1:3). But God is light; in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).
How then can we have fellowship with Him if we continue to walk in darkness?
Holiness then is required for fellowship with God.
When we are holding on to some sin, we are not pursuing holiness and we
cannot have fellowship with God.
***********
Holiness is also required for our own well-being. Scripture says, "The
Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son"
(Hebrews 12:6).
To persist in disobedience is to increase our necessity for discipline. Some of
the Corinthian Christians persisted in disobedience to the point where God had to
take their lives (1 Corinthians 11:30).
************
Holiness is also necessary for effective service to God. Paul wrote to Timothy,
"If a man cleanses himself from [ignoble purposes], he will be an instrument for
noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any work"
(2 Timothy 2:21). Holiness and usefulness are linked together. We cannot
bring our service to God in an unclean vessel.
*************
Holiness also is necessary for our assurance of salvation -- not at the moment of
salvation, but over the course of our lives. True faith will always show itself by its
fruits.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation."
2 Corinthians 5:17
***************
The only safe evidence that we are in Christ is a holy life. John said everyone
who has with him the hope of eternal life purifies himself just as Christ is pure
(1 John 3:3).
Paul said, "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
If we know nothing of holiness, we may flatter ourselves that we are Christians, but
we do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
*****************
It is not those who profess to know Christ who will enter heaven, but those whose
lives are holy. Even those who do "great Christian works" will not enter heaven un-
less they also do the will of God. Jesus said,
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven"
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name, and in your
name drive out demons, and perform many
miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never
knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "
Matthew 7:21-23
Holiness is not an option!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The Holiness of God
I'm re-reading the book, The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges.
Here are some of the important truths found in chapter two.
The Holiness of God.
God has called every Christian to a holy life.
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be
holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy,
because I am holy."
1 Peter 1:15-16
This call to a holy life is based on the fact that God Himself is holy.
Because God is holy, He requires that we be holy.
God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us
to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the
character of God.
As used in Scripture, holiness describes both the majesty of God
and the purity and moral perfection of His nature. Holiness is one of
His attributes, that is, holiness is an essential part of the nature of God.
God's holiness is as necessary as His wisdom or omniscience.
Just as He cannot but know what is right, so He cannot but do what is
right.
***********
God's holiness is perfect freedom from all evil.
John said,
"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all."
1 John 1:5
Light and darkness, when used this way in Scripture, have moral
signifance. John is telling us that God is absolutely free from any
moral evil and that He is Himself the essence of moral purity.
God always acts consistently with His holy character, and is it this
standard of holiness that God has called us to when He says, "Be holy,
because I am holy."
The absolute holiness of God should be of great comfort and
assurance to us. If God is perfectly holy, then we can be confident
that His actions toward us are always perfect and just.
It is impossible in the very nature of God that He should ever be
unfair. Because He is holy, all His actions are holy.
*************
Acknowledging His holines is one of the ways we are to praise God.
The four living creatures around God's throne never stop saying:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty;
who was, and is, and is to come."
Revelation 4:8
When Moses was prasing God for the deliverance of the Israelites from
Pharaoh's army, he also sang of God's holiness.
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?
Who is like you -- majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory, working wonders?"
Exodus 15:11
God is often called in Scripture by such names as the Holy One, or
the Holy one of Israel.
Holiness is the perfection of all His other attributes: His power is
holy power; His mercy is holy mercy; His wisdom is holy wisdom.
It is His holiness more than any other attribute that makes Him worthy
of our praise.
**************
However, God demands more than that we acknowledge His holi-
ness. He says to us, "Be holy, because I am holy." God rightfully
demands perfect holiness in all of His moral creatures. It cannot be
otherwise.
He cannot possibly ignore or approve of any evil committed.
He cannot for one moment relax His perfect standard of holiness.
The prophet Habakkuk declared:
"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you
cannot tolerate wrong."
Habakkuk 1:13
Because God is holy, He can never excuse or overlook any sin
we commit, however small it may be.
Well might we Christians, though justified solely through the
righteousness of Christ, ponder carefully the words of the writer to
the Hebrews:
"Make every effort to live in peace with all
men and to be holy; without holiness no
one will see the Lord."
Hebrews 12:14
***************
Because God is holy, He hates sin.
Speaking of various sins in Israel, God says, "For all these
things are what I hate." Zechariah 8:17
The more we ourselves grow in holiness, the more we hate sin.
David said, "I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I
hate every wrong path." Psalm 119:104
Now if that is true of a man, think of God. As we grow in holi-
ness, we grow in hatred of sin; and God, being infinitely holy, has
an infinite hatred of sin.
We need to cultivate in our own hearts the same hatred of sin God
has.
God hates sin, wherever he finds it, in saint and sinner alike.
He does not hate sin in one person and overlook it in another. He
judges each man's works impartially (1 Peter 1:17).
***************
The holiness of God is an exceedingly high standard, a perfect
standard, but it is nevertheless one that he holds us to. He cannot
do less.
While it is true that He accepts us solely through the merit of
Christ, God's standard for our character, attitudes, affections, and
actions is, "Be holy, because I am holy."
We must take this seriously if we are to grow in holiness.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Pursuit of Holiness
"Holiness is not a series of do's and don'ts, but conformity to the character
of God and obedience to the will of God."
From The Pursuit of Holiness
By Jerry Bridges
"I believe this is a modern classic. Few books have had the influence on me
that this one has."
(The late) Charles Colson, Prison Fellowship Ministries
**********
I'm re-reading a book, The Pursuit of Holiness, that I first read years ago.
It has a simple message -- that God expects every Christian to pursue holiness
and with His help, to be holy.
If every Christian followed the many profound truths found in this book, this
would be a much better world.
Here are some of those truths.
Chapter one --- Holiness Is For You
"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not
under the law, but under grace."
Romans 6:14
God expects every Christian to live a holy life. But holiness is not only
expected; it is the promised birthright of every Christian. Paul's statement
is true. Sin shall not be our master.
God specifically commands us to be holy.
The book of Leviticus is devoted to the subject of holiness.
"I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and
be holy, because I am holy."
Leviticus 11:44
To be holy is to be morally blameless. It is to be separated from sin and,
therefore, consecrated to God. The word signifies "separation to God, and
the conduct befitting those so separated."
W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Paul used the term 'holy' in contrast to a life of immorality and impurity.
"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy
life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not
reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
Peter used it in contrast to living according to the evil desires we had when
we lived outside of Christ.
"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires
you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who
called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
1 Peter 1:14-15
John contrasted one who is holy with those who do wrong and are vile.
"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him
who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right
continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue
to be holy."
Revelation 22:11
To live a holy life, then, is to live a life in conformity to the moral precepts of
the Bible and in contrast to the sinful ways of the world.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put
off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to
put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness
and holiness."
Ephesians 4:22-24
*************
Sin can keep us from being holy and pursuing holiness.
There are three basic problems that cause us to struggle with sin.
1. Our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered.
We are more concerned about our own "victory" over sin than we are about
the fact that our sins grieve the heart of God.
God wants us to walk in obedience -- not victory. Obedience is oriented
toward God; victory is oriented toward self. As we concentrate on living
an obedient, holy life, we will certainly experience the joy of victory over sin.
2. We have misunderstood "living by faith" to mean that no effort at holiness is
required on our part.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
But surely the Scriptures teach us that in following holiness the true Christian
needs personal exertion and work as well as faith. We must face the fact that
we have a personal responsibility for our walk of holiness.
" ... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James 2:17
3. We do not take some sin seriously.
We have mentally categorized sins into that which is unacceptable and that
which may be tolerated a bit.
Are we willing to call sin "sin" not because it is big or little, but because God's
law forbids it? We cannot categorize sin if we are to live a life of holiness.
God will not let us get away with that kind of attitude.
****************
Holiness begins with God, not with ourselves.
It is only as we see His holiness, His absolute purity and moral hatred of sin, that
we will be gripped by the awfulness of sin against the Holy God.
To be gripped by that fact is the first step in our pursuit of holiness.
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