“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post in this series, we looked at the issue of holiness and faith.  In this post, we will wrap-up this series by exploring the joy of holiness.

The Joy of Holiness

“For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, shalom and joy in the Ruach HaKodesh.” ~ Romans 14:17

God intends the Messianic life to be a life of joy – not drudgery.  The idea that holiness is associated with a dour disposition is a terrible caricature.  In fact, just the opposite is true.  Only those who walk in holiness experience true joy.

Yeshua said, “If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love – just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.” (John 15:10-11)  In this statement Yeshua links obedience and joy in a cause and effect manner; that is, joy results from obedience.  Only those who are obedient – who are pursuing holiness as a way of life – will know the joy that comes from God.  [In my next series, we will take an in-depth look at the commands of Yeshua.] Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 28” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post in this series, we looked at the issue of holiness and faith.  In this post, we are going to explore the concept of holiness in an unholy world.

Holiness in an Unholy World

“I don’t ask you to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the Evil One.” ~ John 17:15

All Believers must live their lives in the context of an unholy world.  Some face extraordinary temptation as they live in the midst of a flagrantly sinful atmosphere.  Ever where we turn in our day-to-day life, we are bombarded with the assaults of the enemy.  Unless the Believer is prepared for such evil assaults on his mind and heart, he will have great difficulty maintaining personal holiness.

James said that part of true religion consists in keeping ourselves “from being contaminated by the world” (James 1:27), and Sha’ul urged us to “go out from their midst, separate yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)  How should we respond when we find ourselves surrounded on every hand by the unrelenting pressures of a sinful world? Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 27” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God.  Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post, we focused on some practical habits to develop in our pursuit of holiness.  In this post, we will look at the issue of holiness and faith.

Holiness and Faith

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 ^HCSB)

In the pursuit of holiness Believers are often called on to perform duties that appear unreasonable and even absurd to an unbelieving world.  We often think of holiness in a narrow sense of separation from impurity and moral evil; however, in its broader sense holiness is obedience to the will of God in whatever God directs.  It is saying with Yeshua, “I have come to do Your will.” (Hebrews 10:7)  No one can pursue holiness who is not prepared to obey God in every area of his life.  The holiness described in the Bible calls us to do more than separate ourselves from the moral pollution of the world around us.  It calls us to obey God even when that obedience is costly, when it requires deliberate sacrifice and even exposure to danger.

Obedience to the revealed will of God is often just as much a step of faith as claiming a promise from God.  In fact, one of the more intriguing thoughts from the book of Hebrews is the way the writer appears to use obedience and faith interchangeably.  For example, He speaks of the wandering Israeli who would never enter God’s rest because they were “disobedient” (Hebrews 3:18).  Yet they were not able to enter because of their “lack of trust (faith)” (Hebrews 3:19).  This interchange of lack of trust and disobedience also occurs later in the book (see Hebrews 4:2, 6).

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 26” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post, we focused on holiness in our wills.  In this post we will look at some practical habits to develop in our pursuit of holiness.

Practical Habits in Pursuit of Holiness

Every sin we commit reinforces the habit of sinning and makes it easier to sin.  In the previous post we examined the importance of guarding our minds and emotions, since these faculties are the channels through which the various compelling forces reach our wills.  But it is also important that we understand how our habits influence our wills.  Sha’ul wrote, “For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.” (Romans 6:19 ^HCSB)

Habit is defined as the “prevailing disposition or character of a person’s thoughts and feelings.”  Habits are the thought and emotional patterns engraved on our minds.  These internal habit patterns play just as forceful a role as external influences on our actions – in fact, perhaps more so.

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 25” →

 

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post, we focused on holiness in our physical bodies.  In this post we will look at holiness in our spirit.

Holiness in Our Spirit

“Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Yeshua taught us in the Sermon on the Mount that God’s commands are intended not only to regulate outward conduct, but inner disposition as well.  It is not enough that we do not kill; we must also not hate.  It is not enough that we do not commit adultery; we must not even entertain lustful looks and thoughts.  Our thoughts are just as important to God as our actions, and are known to God as clearly as our actions (see Psalm 139:1-4; 1 Samuel 16:7).

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 23” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post, we focused on the Biblical discipline of meditating on the Word and perseverance in pursuing holiness.  In this post, I want to focus on holiness in our physical bodies.

Holiness in Our Bodies

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 Ruach HaKodesh and that we are to glorify God with them.

Modern Believers, especially those in the Western world, have generally been found wanting in the area of holiness of body.  Gluttony and laziness, for example, were regarded by earlier Believers as sin.  Today we may look on these as weaknesses of the will but certainly not sin.  We even joke about our overeating and other indulgences instead of crying out to God in confession and repentance.

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 22” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post, we began to look at the place of personal discipline in our journey to pursue holiness.  We learned that discipline is not punishment, but rather learning the ways of God by hearing the Word, reading the Word, studying the Word and memorizing the Word.  In this post I what to focus on the Biblical discipline of meditating on the Word and perseverance in pursuing holiness.

Discipline … Really?? ~ Part B

If we are to pursue holiness with discipline, we must do more than hear, read, study, or memorize Scripture.  We must meditate on it.  God said to Joshua, as he was assuming leadership over Israel, “Keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed.” (Joshua 1:8)  To meditate on the Scriptures is to think about them, turning them over in our minds, and applying them to our life’s situations.  Meditation is analogous to contemplate and ruminate.  For some reason, I prefer ruminate.  That’s what a cow will do when they chew their food.  They chew it up, swallow and bring it back up and chew it again to get the last once of nutrition out of it.  Kind of gross, but it helps to visualize the import of meditating on God’s Word which provides much more than just physical nourishment.

Few of us practice meditation on the Scriptures.  Somehow the idea of meditation sounds like something medieval monks or New-Agers do.

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 21” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

 “Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post in this series, we looked at how we determine God’s will and develop conviction in those areas where God’s Word is not specific.  In this post, we will begin to look at the place of personal discipline in our journey to becoming holy.

Discipline … Really?? ~ Part A

If you’re anything like me, the word discipline meant punishment.  From swats with a metal fly-swatter to loss of privileges or my allowance, my grandmother and mother would discipline me with what I perceived to be an assortment of punishments.  It was until I became a parent myself that I began to understand the oft repeated phrase that “this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.”  Fortunately, I have learned that discipline in the Scriptural context is not punishment at all.

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 20” →

“I am Adonai, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.” ~ Leviticus 11:45

“Following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says, ‘You are to be holy because I am holy.’” ~ 1 Kefa 1:15-16

In my last post, we looked at several passages of Scripture that clearly look at what sin is.  We left off by asking: what about issues that are not specifically mentioned in the Scriptures – how do we determine God’s will and develop conviction in those areas?  I’ll attempt to answer this question in this post.

Putting Sin to Death ~ Part B

“Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature – sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry).” ~ Colossians 3:5

I am indebted to Jerry Bridges for introducing me to the following in his book, “The Pursuit of Holiness.”  He writes:

“Years ago a friend gave me what he called his ‘Formula: How to Know Right from Wrong.’ The formula asks four questions based on three verses in I Corinthians:

• Question 1: Is it helpful – physically, spiritually, and mentally?  “Everything is permitted. Maybe, but not everything is helpful.” (I Corinthians 6:12)

• Question 2: Does it bring me under its power? “Everything is permitted. Maybe, but I am not going to let anything gain control over me.” (I Corinthians 6:12)

• Question 3: Does it hurt others?  “To sum up, if food will be a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat again, lest I cause my brother to sin.” (I Corinthians 8:13)

• Question 4: Does it glorify God?   “Well, whatever you do, whether it’s eating or drinking or anything else, do it all so as to bring glory to God.” (I Corinthians 10:31)

Continue reading “Holiness: A Gift of God’s Grace ~ Part 19” →