The Pursuit of Holiness

The Christian life is all paradox!!!  Think about it.  The goal of the Christian life is death, not success.  The first will be last, death is in return for life, as life for death, and we are encouraged to offer praise and thanksgiving to God to overcome any spirit of heaviness or depression!

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims (Romans 6:6-7). I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me (Romans 7:21). I have to [keep remembering and thinking of] myself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, to not let sin reign in my mortal body, to obey its desires… but as those who are alive from the dead, I offer to God all the parts of my body as weapons for Him to use (Romans 6:11-13).

It does take time to be holy.  It takes time to cultivate a walk with the Lord that will begin to flow naturally – because the enemy is so much more assertive and powerful than we are…  And so creative, so full of new ideas on how to derail us and demoralize us.  We need to look to the power that comes from God’s presence and invite Him to make us holy vessels (Jeff Bridges).

If we live according to the flesh, we are going to die. But if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, we will live (Romans 8:13). God’s promise.

The pursuit of holiness deals largely with putting off the old self -– dealing with sinful patterns in our lives.  To put on the new self is to develop Christ-like character traits.  It is just as important to put on the new self as it is to put off the old.  The practice of godliness would then be our next endeavor.

So put to death whatever in you is worldly (Colossians 3:5). Train yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).

We are seeking to grow in our devotion to the most wonderful Person in all the universe, the infinitely glorious and loving God.  Nothing can compare with the privilege of knowing Him in whose presence is fullness of joy and in whose hand there are pleasures forever more!

Since we have such promises [from God], we should wash ourselves clean from every impurity of flesh and spirit, making our sanctification complete in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves the Messiah in this way is acceptable to God (Romans 14:17-18).