Do you think the King of kings and Lord of lords is going to come into a place where He is not given due honor and reverence?
- John Bevere
By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified. (Lev 10:3)
"It seems that millions of people who accept Jesus as their Savior never really accept Him as their Lord - that is, they gladly accept His offer of eternal salvation and confess their sins and profess Him to be their Savior in order to gain God's acceptance and escape the wrath of His judgment for our sins. But their spiritual development does not go much beyond the acceptance of the offer of salvation: They do not continually invest in life transformation to become a more viable reflection of who Jesus is as He lives in their heart and seeks to influence who they become and how they manifest their commitment to God.
The consequence is that millions of -- the data even suggests most -- born-again Christians have not surrendered their life fully, and thus they keep one foot firmly planted in this world and one foot gingerly lodged in the next. That causes many people who call Jesus their Savior to live in ways that are not distinguishable from the ways of people who do not name Jesus as their Savior...
It seems that Christians are more affected by society than society is affected by Christians. They think like the rest of the world, so they naturally behave like citizens of this world too. They are not the salt and light that Jesus commands us to be because they lack the personal commitment and depth of faith that makes them truly changed, God-driven beings."
- George Barna in "Think Like Jesus"
"Maintaining a love affair with the world is akin to having a mistress. The modern-day Church has its own mistress, having fallen head- over-heels in love with the world. The average believer can talk for hours about ‘the things of the world’ but then try asking about their relationship with the Lord and they quickly run out of words. The Bible says ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.’
When a person is in love, they will enthusiastically tell you all about their lover. Paul warned us that in the last days, men would be lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, lovers of self more than lovers of God. There are some of the ‘lovers’ that creep into our lives and gradually erode our relationship with God. Jesus said in the last days the ‘love of many would wax cold’. How well this describes the condition of the present day Church. Over time, the Church’s passion for Christ has cooled from its former fervency and fire to what is now only a smoldering ember.
James refers to those who love the world as adulterers. Tragically, the vast majority of Christians are even now pursuing an ongoing love affair with the world.
Imagine what it would be like on your wedding day to hear your spouse say these words: "I ________ take you _________ to be my lawfully wedded ________. I promise to remain faithful to you on Sundays only. I refuse to forsake all former lovers, choosing rather to cling to them and meet with them throughout the week."
- David Ravenhill
The peril (of Satan's schemes) lies in the subtlety of the powers at work within the Church and within our individual lives. Like a cancer, the spirit of the world quietly, steadily, and methodically attacks one cell at a time, infiltrating our churches, our families and our lives and largely supplanting God's value system with a new hybrid.
Paul worried that, "as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (I Cor 10:21)
It is the simple and the pure devotion to Christ that believers are called to live. People are only vulnerable to being deceived when they want what is being offered to them.
As man's day draws to a close and we approach the great Day of the Lord, this unseen war rages like never before. Satan's wrath is being poured out against believers. (Rev 12:12) The spirit of Antichrist is wearing down the holy resolve of the saints. (Dan 7:25) Now, at this crucial hour, God's people have corporately approved of a powerless form of religion that tolerates an impotent blend of Christianity and heathenism."
- Steve Gallagher
Living in Holiness
He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15,16)
There are two aspects of salvation that should be manifest in a Christian’s life: the first is the forgiveness of sin; the second is his deliverance from sinning. Anyone who is not experience both of these aspects in his life is living beneath the privileges that God has accomplished for us in Christ.
God’s way of deliverance is altogether different from man’s way. Man’s way is to try to suppress sin by seeking to overcome it; God’s way is to remove the sinner. Many Christians mourn over their weakness, thinking that if only they were stronger all would be well. God sets us free from the dominion of sin, not by strengthening our old man, but by crucifying him; not by helping him to do anything, but my entirely removing him from the scene of action.
It is the death of Christ working in a man’s life that produces purity of spirit. And it is this purity of spirit that brings further light or revelation from God.
– Watchman Nee
We Christians greatly enjoy talking about the provision of God, how Christ defeated sin on the cross and gave us His Holy Spirit to empower us to victory over sin. But we do not as readily talk about our own responsibility to walk in holiness for two primary reasons.
First, we are simply reluctant to face up to our responsibility. We prefer to leave that to God. We pray for victory when we know we should be acting in obedience.
The second reason is that we do not understand the proper distinction between God's provision and our own responsibility for holiness... 'Pursue holiness, for wihtou holiness no one will see the Lord' (Heb 12:14).
The world pursue suggests two thoughts: first, that diligence and effort are required; and second, that it is a lifelong task. God expects every Christian to live a holy life. It is to live a life characterized by the ‘putting off of your old self… and putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22,24).
If holiness, then, is so basic to the Christian life, why do we not experience it more in daily living? Why do so many Christians feel constantly defeated in their struggle with sin? Why does the Church of Jesus Christ so often seem to be more conformed to the world around it than to God? At risk of oversimplification, the answers can be grouped into three basic problem areas:
1) Our first problem is that 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. We cannot tolerate failure in our struggle with sin chiefly because we are success-oriented, not because we know it is offensive to 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) Our second problem is that we have misunderstood “living by faith” (Gal 2:20) to mean that no effort at holiness is required on our part. In fact, sometimes we have even suggested that any effort on our part is “of the flesh.” We must face the fact that we have a personal responsibility for our walk of holiness. We can put away our sinful habits if we truly desire to do so.
3) Our third problem is that we do not take some sin seriously. Scriptures say it is “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Songs 2:15). Andrew Bonar said, “It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the Lawgiver, that is to be the standard of obedience.”
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. Will you being to look at sin as an offense against a holy God, instead of as a personal defeat only? Will you begin to take personal responsibility for your sin, realizing that as you do, you must depend on the grace of God? And will you decide to obey God in all areas of life, however insignificant the issue may be?
This is where holiness begins – not with ourselves but with God. 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 is our first step in our pursuit of holiness.
– Jerry Bridges in “The Pursuit of Holiness”
Christians are called to war against sin. This means they are called to learn the art of battle, which includes understanding the nature of sin, the complexity of the human heart, and the goodness and provision of God. Humility is crucial to growth in the Christian life, and proper humility comes from a due consideration both of God and oneself. Only from this perspective can one be in a right position to approach the call to holiness.
After believers are redeemed by God they will continue to struggle with the abiding vestiges of sin that disorient the faculties, a condition that remains throughout their earthly life. Sin moves by drawing the mind away from God, enticing the affections and twisting desires and paralyzing the will, thus stunting any real Christian growth. One of the most frightening truths is that “Your enemy is not only upon you but is in you also.
Part of understanding the battle against sin is seeing that the enemy, so to speak, is not only external, but internal, which is why Christians often have conflicting desires within them. Most Christians seem unaware of or apathetic to about the sin that remains in them.
To respond to the distorting nature of sin you must set your affections on the beauty and glory of God, the loveliness of Christ, and the wonder of the gospel. Resisting sin comes not by deadening your affections but by awakening them to God himself. Do not seek to empty your cup as a way to avoid sin, but rather seek to fill it up with the Spirit of life, so there is no longer room for sin…
You must consistently work to understand your own temperaments because this will help you better appreciate how sin and temptation arise in your own life. He who does nto watch this thoroughly, who is not exactly skilled in the knowledge of himself, will never be disentangled from one temptation or another all his days…
A persistent danger among Christians is that we confuse certain personalities with sanctification, creating an inaccurate hierarchy within the kingdom of God. It is very hard to discern the most faithful Christians, since looks can be deceiving. Remember that of many of the best Christians, the worst in known and seen. Many who keep up precious communion with God do yet oftentimes, by their natural tempers of freedom or passion, not carry so glorious appearances as others who perhaps come short of them in grace and the power of godliness.
Not only can appearances be misleading, but people in positions of leadership in the church often suffer greater falls than the average congregation member. Past faithfulness is not a protection against present dangers.
In this life there is no escaping the challenges of temptation, and thus all – young and old, pastor and parishioner, poor and rich, wise and simple—must commit themselves to battle against sin. Be acquainted, then, with thine own heart: though it be deep, search it; though it be dark, inquire into it; though it give all its distempers other names than what are their due, believe it not. Do not justify your own particular sin, but seek to recognize it so that you might fight against it with all your strength. Be killing sin or it will be killing you.
Embrace the love and provision of God. Affirming the importance of honest introspection does not blind us to the fact that this exercise will lead us to despair if not also paralleled with a study of the grace and mercy of God.
Since sin entered this world, it has become challenging for people to rightly view themselves, God, and His work. We are prone to have hard thoughts of God that tend to keep us from turning to him.
Our primary focus should not be on our sin, but rather embrace the redemption accomplished in Christ. The aim is not despair but freedom in the gospel of obedience. Obedience rightly understood is always a response to God’s love.
One of the great promises of God is that he will preserve his people. In fact, the idea of the perseverance of the saints is frequently misunderstood for so often discussion about remaining in the faith focuses on human efforts, as if it is up to us to avoid losing our salvation. In truth, the Christian hope rests not ultimately upon our own diligence, but on God’s faithfulness. It is God, not us, who will ultimately persevere, and that is why he is able to promise us eternal life. The Father will allow none to be snatched from his hand, the Son incarnate is a truly sympathetic high priest who is the lover of our souls, and the Spirit applies the atoning work of Christ to us.
Keep these truths in mind as we face temptation. Let us bring our lusts to the gospel, lest we lose sight of the sufficient sacrifice and restorative grace found in God’s work. We are not to work to secure these realities, but seek to live in the light of them.
How should the Christian understand the work of sanctification? Is the call of believers to holiness God’s work or our own? There are two extremes often found in the church when dealing with these questions.
On the one hand, there are those who seem to believe that we are saved by grace and sanctified by works: here grace is problematically reduced to the initial work of salvation. On the other hand, in an effort to avoid “works righteousness”, others tend to collapse justification and sanctification; the danger here is that the biblical call to active, faithful obedience by the believer can be nullified, and inappropriate passivity can set in. Rather than these two extremes, a balance must be found.
True and lasting resistance to sin comes not through willpower and self-improvement but through the Spirit who empowers believers with a knowledge and love of God. The Holy Spirit has a continued work in the believer. Not only does the Spirit of God bring life to those who are dead in sin, thus causing a new birth, but he also continues the work of God in the renewing of that person in the image of Christ. Only as the Spirit communicates the grace and love of the Father to us can we experience genuine relief.
Mortification of sin is the gift of Christ to believers, and this is given by the Spirit of the Son. Efforts apart from the Spirit do not bring sanctification, even if they do produce changed behavior. Although the Spirit often uses beneficial actives such as fasting and watching, rituals and human effort without the Spirit cannot ultimately bring liberation from sin and temptation.
Consider a man who is struggling with inappropriate sexual thoughts about one of his female coworkers. What does holiness look like in this case? Very often Christians have a truncated view of sanctification, which stops far too short of true righteousness. Although it would be a good thing for this man to get to the point that he no longer looks at this woman as an object of lust, that is not all that is hoped for in sanctification. Rather, in the power of the Spirit the goal is to move to a life-affirming position.
Thus, the objective is not the absence of thoughts about this woman but the presence of a godly appreciation for her. Under normal circumstances this man should not simply try to deny her existence by avoiding her, but rather begin treating her with dignity, offering words that build her up instead of dehumanizing her with his thoughts. Ultimately lust will be replaced by genuine and appropriate respect and love. Thus sanctification involved both putting sin to death and becoming free to love and obey.
– Kelly M. Kapic, from the introduction of “Overcoming Sin and Temptation”, with select quotes from John Owen.
God’s working in us [in sanctification] is not suspended because we work, nor our working suspended because God works. Neither is the relation strictly one of co-operation as if God did his part and we did ours so that the conjunction or coordination of both produced the required result. God works in us and we also work. But the relation is that because God works, we work.
– John Murray
The Church and the World – They Don’t Mix
"I want to be a more serious-minded Christian man, more detached from this world, more ready for heaven than I have ever been in my whole life."
- A.W. Tozer
Show the world the fruits of Christianity, and it will applaud; but show the world Christianity, and it will oppose it vigorously.
Religious people attempt to overcome the world by removing themselves from it. Christians overcome the world by being other-worldly.
There was a time when the church rejected the world’s ways. Now she not only uses these ways, but she also abuses them.
The Christian way to solve the problem of loving the world is not by removing worldly things, but by delivering the heart from the grip of worldly things.
- Watchman Nee
Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the spirit of the world; for the spirit of the world has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the spirit of the world. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the spirit of the world are obvious; anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (I John 3:7-10)
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever. (I John 2:15-17)
They (Israel) paid homage to the Lord while at the same time they served their own gods, according to the custom of the nations from which they had been carried into exile. (2 Kings 17:33)
I (God) cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. (Isa 1:13)
He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. (John 12:25)
The love of money is the root of all evil things, and there are some who in reaching for it have wandered from the faith and spiked themselves on many thorny griefs. (1 Tim 6:10)
You cannot serve both God and mammon. (Matt 6:24)
You must face the fact: the final age of this world is to be a time of troubles. Men will love nothing but money and self; they will be arrogant, boastful, and abusive; with no respect for parents, no gratitude, no piety, no natural affection; they will be implacable in their hatreds, scandal-mongers, intemperate and fierce, strangers to all goodness, traitors, adverturers, swollen with self-importance. They will be men who put pleasure in the place of God, men who preserve the outward form of religion, but are a standing denial of its reality. Keep clear of men like these. (2 Tim 3:1-5)
Submit therefore to God. Resist the spirit of the world and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities (Rev 18:4,5)
"I cannot read the Bible without desiring to see many believers more spiritual, more holy, more single-eyed, more heavenly-minded, more whole-hearted than they (presently) are. I want to see among believers more of a pilgrim spirit, a more decided separation from the world, a conversation more evidently in heaven, a closer walk with God..."
- J.C. Ryle
"The heart of man is narrow, and cannot contain both loves. The world draws down the heart from God; and so the omre the love of the world prevails the more the love of God dwindles and decays... The Spirit of God in true Christians is opposed to the spirit of the world."
- Matthew Henry
And now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. (I John 2:28)
My Kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36)
The world has been crucified to me. (Gal 6:14)
You formerly walked according tot he course of this world. (Eph 2:2)
Do not be bound together with unbelievers (II Cor 6:14)
Keep yourself unstained by the world (James 1:27)
Do not be conformed to this world (Rom 12:2)
Come out from their midst and be separate (II Cor 6:17)
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. (I John 2:15)
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15)
Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me (Paul). (II Tim 4:10)
A friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
Gain the whole world and forfeit your soul. (Mark 8:36)
He who loves his life loses it (John 12:25)
Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. (I John 5:4)
They have escaped the defilements of the world. (II Peter 2:20)
The world has hated them (John 17:14)
Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. (I John 3:13)
Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (Rom 12:2)
We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and teach them to obey Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5)
Here is my final conclusiong: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. (Ecc 12:13-14)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. (Prov 3:5-7)
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons... Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness... Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. (I Tim 4:1,7,11)
The Road to Holiness - Suffering
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
Remembering that Christ endured bodily suffering, you must arm y ourselves with a temper of mind like his. When a man has thus endured bodily suffering he has finished with sin, and for the rest of his days on earth he may live, not for the things that men desire, but for what God wills. (1Pe 4:1)
But the God of all grace, He calling us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, He will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1Pe 5:10)
For you were not called to this? For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Pe 2:21)
We also rejoice in our sufferings… (Rom 5:3)
For I will show him what great things he must suffer for My name's sake. (Acts 9:16)
And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:17)
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. (1Co 12:26)
For to you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. (Php 1:29)
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Php 4:12)
If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (2Ti 2:12)
(Moses) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, (Heb 11:25)
But if you also suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, nor be troubled, (1Pe 3:14)
Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev 2:10)
(Jesus) who when He was reviled did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself up to Him who judges righteously. (1Pe 2:23)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Rom 8:35)
Keywords: holiness, purity, suffering
