Friendship: A Help to Holiness

Strong friendships allow us to have tough conversations and also challenge us in our walk with God.

John 15:12-15 12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. Of all that God created, one thing did not meet with His approval. With regard to Adam, He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). The Creator designed people for emotional, mental, and physical intimacy—to share their innermost selves with one another. Jesus taught His disciples that they should love each other as He had loved them. (John 15:12 above). In a God-honoring friendship, two people build each other up and spur one another toward Christlikeness. Many people, however, don’t have relationships that sharpen their faith (As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another. Prov. 27:17). They instead settle for the trivial talk of casual acquaintances, about things like the weather or world news. But the best relationships don’t shy away from vulnerable conversations. Fruitful friendships can begin when men and women risk their pride and comfort to discuss accountability, biblical living, or anything meant to motivate one another in holiness. When there’s trust and submission, two people can confess sin, offer gentle reproof, and share burdens. The walls we build to keep people at a distance are often defenses against God as well—to keep Him out of our dearest personal business. But if we share openly with a brother or sister in Christ, we will learn to be more honest with God too.

Holy, Holy, Holy

A Broadcast with R.C. Sproul

The Bible doesn’t just describe God as holy. It says He is “holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3). Today, R.C. Sproul examines this attribute of God that is elevated to the highest degree.

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Called to a Holy Life

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality […]

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The Holiness of God

A Broadcast with R.C. Sproul

What we need more than anything today is to know who God is. Today, R.C. Sproul turns to Isaiah’s vision of the Lord to meditate on the transcendent majesty and sublime holiness of our Creator.

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Holiness

• John Angell James, “The True Christian” 1846)

“You ought to live holy and godly lives.” 2 Peter 3:11

Holiness is a very comprehensive word, and expresses a state of mind and conduct that includes many things.

Holiness is the work of the Spirit in our sanctification.

Holiness is the fruit of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Holiness is the operation of the new nature, which we receive in regeneration.

Holiness may be viewed in various aspects, according to the different objects to which it relates.

Toward God, holiness is . . .
supreme love;
delight in His moral character;
submission to His will;
obedience to His commands;
zeal for His cause;
seeking of His glory.

Toward Christ, holiness is . . .
a conformity to His example,
imbibing His spirit.

Toward man, holiness is . . .
charity,
integrity,
truth,
mercy.

Toward sin, holiness is a hatred of all iniquity, a tender conscience easily wounded by little sins, and scrupulously avoiding them; together with a laborious, painful, self-denying, mortification of all the known corruptions of our heart.

Toward self, holiness is . . .
the control of our fleshly appetites;
the eradication of our pride;
the mortification of our selfishness.

Toward divine things in general, holiness is . . .
spirituality of mind,
the habitual current of godly thought,
godly affections flowing through the soul.

And, toward the objects of the unseen world, holiness is heavenly-mindedness, a turning away from things seen and temporal, to things unseen and eternal.

Oh, what a word is holiness!
How much does it comprehend!
How little is it understood, and how much less is it practiced!

A Call to Holiness

Matthew 28:18–20

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

These are uneasy times. The unrest is hitting all-time highs it seems. Today’s presenting scripture has been called the the Great Commission. It is often seen as the marching orders for the Christian church. We are called to go and make disciples of or for Jesus Christ (whichever makes the most sense to you – lol). We are called to do this in good times and in not so good times. It might even be more needed during tough times.

In the early years of the Methodist movement – making disciples – followers of Christ – seemed to be the main focus. Revivals and Camp Meetings were all the rage and altar calls were common place in Methodist worship – as pastors challenged parishioners to be transformed after the likeness of Christ. I typically have an altar call each week to challenge those in attendance to faith – or to a deeper faith – or simply to pray about something that has been a challenge for them. Does your pastor invite you to the altar to pray? If not – you might ask them why not.

Early Methodists were called to holiness – they were part of the holiness movement in the United States for instance. We were taught to study the Word of God (the Bible) and to strive to live our lives after what it taught. We were even encouraged to avoid some of the ills of our society. The way it was explained to me (as a third generation Methodist pastor) – Methodists were encouraged to abstain from alcohol – from playing cards – from dancing – even from playing pool. The reason – again as it was explained to me – was because these social activities were often associated with bars and night clubs – with gambling and behavior and places that were not appropriate for folks striving to follow after Christ. We were encouraged to avoid even the appearance of evil or sin (we actually called behavior contrary to God’s will – sin – some don’t like to even say that word).  We were encouraged to keep Sunday set aside for the Lord. In my home growing up – Sunday was a day for worship and Sunday School in the morning – a family lunch – a nap time – youth group – and worship in the evening. Sunday was a day set aside for being with God and with other Christians. How do you spend your Sunday?

What Has Happened to the Evangelical Christianity of Not Long Ago?

Not sure how much I agree with, but do with some. Good to review and re-think.

 

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2019/02/what-has-happened-to-the-evangelical-christianity-of-not-long-ago/

Holiness: An Unpopular Topic

https://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2019/07/25/holiness-an-unpopular-topic/

Be Holy as I am Holy – podcast

https://renewingyourmind.org/2018/09/19/be-holy-as-i-am-holy-awakening-personal-holiness#play

The Contagious Holiness Of God

~ Adriel Sanchez

In the Old Testament, the place where God chose to meet with his people was a place of contagious holiness. It was so supercharged with holiness that merely touching the very instruments of worship in the tabernacle would make a person holy.

God spoke to Moses about the consecrated altar. “The altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy” (Exod. 29:37b). Concerning the table in the tabernacle, the altar of incense, the lampstand, and utensils, God said, “You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will become holy.” (Exod. 30:29). God’s holy place was filled with holy things that existed to make a holy people. In fact, after giving Moses the instructions regarding the tabernacle, God identified himself as, “the LORD who sanctifies you” (i.e. makes you holy, Exod. 31:13b).

This infectious holiness also extended to the garments of God’s priests:

And when they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall put off the garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers. And they shall put on other garments, lest they transmit holiness to the people with their garments. (Ezek. 44:19; emphasis mine)

The holy people of God could transmit the holiness of God to those outside merely through touch! These realities shed light on a familiar story in the gospels.

Laying Hold of Jesus

Continue: https://corechristianity.com/resource-library/articles/the-contagious-holiness-of-god