Habit of Holiness

Posted on February 6, 2017 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

disgusted young child

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.” ~ J.C. Ryle

Imagine it being a hot day and you purchased an ice cold refreshing drink. Imagine opening the cap and seeing that clear liquid that’s about to cool your thirst … but then you notice ‘pieces’ floating in the liquid… they look like something that dead!

Do you drink it? It’s not pure… so has the drink lost its effectiveness to quench your thirst? Oh, your still thirsty, but the drink, because it’s ‘impure’, has become diminished in its appeal to assist you… and is tossed in the trash.

This is John’s argument for personal holiness. It is a mistaken belief that ‘the freedom found in Christ allows us to indulge in pleasures’ because we are saved. That’s like dropping ‘pieces’ into a refreshing beverage. John writes that, ‘the one who practices sin (drops the pieces in the drink) is of the ‘deceiver’; for the devil has sinned (operated against God’s design) from the beginning.’ He goes on to point out that, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil’ (1 Jn 3:8)

To put it another way, Jesus came to destroy all efforts that would corrupt you, keeping you from living at the level God created you for.

The one who understands the achievement and cost Christ paid for this purpose, also desires to be like Him in His Holiness. (vs. 3) The lifestyle of the Believer is of obedience to God’s Word or, as John says, ‘abiding in Him.’ This lifestyle will not be defined by ‘habitually sinning’ but in a reliance on God’s Spirit to assist in becoming holy as God is Holy. And if the Believer does sin, he knows he has an advocate with the Father (Jesus), and turns in repentance to seek forgiveness. (1 Jan 2:1-2)

Personal holiness is important to the effective life of the Believer, for it determines their ability to ‘abide’ or rest in a relationship with Christ. You know what having any kind of corruption (pieces) does to your relationships.. it makes them useless. It is no different when abiding in Christ… practicing sin weakens the relationship, making it ineffectual.

Jesus came and paved the way for your redemption and the giving of His Spirit so you could effectively ‘abide’ in Him. You have only to humble yourself and give up your willful pride, allowing Him to lead and guide you home to where you were always intended to be … abiding in Our Heavenly Fathers presence forever.

Choose wisely…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

(John 3:16, 18)

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 16-19 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

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Daily Quote: “A true Christian desires to be free from sin, not to sin freely.” – PureFlix

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

 

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