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

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          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


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          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.


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          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.