Holiness in Body

          More highlights from The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges, but first
     a verse from Paul and comment from John MacArthur.


                                "No, I beat (or discipline) my body and make it my slave so
                                 that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be dis-
                                 qualified for the prize."
                                                                          1 Corinthians 9:27


          " 'Discipline' is from a term literally meaning to "hit under the eye."  Paul knocked
     out the bodily impulses to keep them from preventing him from his mission of win-
     ning souls to Christ."

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          Chapter eleven - Holiness in Body

          True holiness includes control over our physical bodies and appetites.  If we are to
     pursue holiness we must recognize that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and
     that we are to glorify God with them.

          Our physical bodies and natural appetites were created by God and are not sinful in
     themselves.  Nevertheless, if left uncontrolled, we will find our bodies becoming "in-
     struments of wickedness" rather than "instruments of righteousness."


                                 "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for
                                  unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those
                                  who have been brought from death to life, and your mem-
                                  bers to God as instruments for righteousness,"
                                                                                           Romans 6:13


          We will be pursuing the "cravings of sinful man" instead of holiness.


                                 "For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and
                                  the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -- is not
                                  from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is
                                  passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the
                                  will of God abides forever."
                                                                                       1 John 2:16-17

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          Paul urged us to "present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
     and to not be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:1-2).  Quite possibly there is no
     greater conformity to the world among evangelical Christians today than the way in
     which we, instead of presenting our bodies as holy sacrifices, pamper and indulge
     them in defiance of our better judgment and our Christian purpose in life.

          We should all examine ourselves as to whether we eat and drink to the glory of God,
    recognizing that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit.  The habit of always giv-
    ing in to the desire for food or drink will extend to other areas.

           There must be an attitude of dilegent obedience in every area if we are to succeed
    in mortifying any one expression of sin.  Thomas Boston wrote, "They that would keep
    themselves pure must have their bodies in subjection, and that may require, in some
    cases, a holy violence."


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          The place to start controlling the cravings of our physical appetites is to reduce our
    exposure to temptation.  Our sinful cravings are strengthened by temptation.
          Paul told us, "Flee the evil desires of youth" (2 Timothy 2:22).  He also said, "Do
    not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature" (Romans 13:14).

          DO NOT PLAN AHEAD OR MAKE PROVISION FOR WAYS TO INDULGE
     YOUR BODILY APPETITES.

         
          We are to flee temptation and take positive steps to avoid it, and we are to avoid
    thinking how to gratify our sinful desires.

                                        
                                          "The prudent see danger and take refuge,
                                            but the simple keep going and suffer for
                                            it."
                                                                               Proverbs 27:12


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          God expects us to assume our responsibilities for keeping the sinful desires of the
    body under control.  It is true we cannot do this in our own strength.  Our sinful de-
    sires, stimulated by all the temptations around us, are too strong for us.  But though
    we cannot do it by ourselves, we can do it.

          As we set ourselves to the task in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, we will see
    Him at work in us.  We will fail many times, but as we persevere, we will be able to
    say with Paul,

                               "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."
                                                                                           Philippians 4:13