Towards Personal Holiness

"Holiness is not a series of do's and don'ts, but conformity to the character of God and obedience to the will of God." - The Pursuit of Holiness , Bridges, p.69

"Our first problem is that our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered."

"Our second problem is that we have misunderstood 'living by faith' (Galatians 2:20) to mean that no effort at holiness is required on our part."

"Our third problem is that we do not take some sin seriously."

p16-18

"We need to be gripped by the fact that God hates all these things." p28

Recognize your freedom from the reign of sin

Form the habit of continually realizing you are dead to sin

Rom 6:5-11 We are freed from sin.

"If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the BODYof sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Count on God to enable you to realize our death-to-sin & life-in-Christ

Phil 2:12-13 God (via Spirit) works in us that we may act in accordance with His will

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

God works through Holy Spirit to make you Holy

1 Thess 4:7-8 Paul connects giving of H.S. with living a holy life

1 Cor 6:18-19 flee sexual immorality because our bodies are temples of H.S.

Rom 8:9 controlled by Spirit, not sin, if Spirit of God lives in us

Gal 5:16 not carry out desire of flesh by Spirit

Gal 5:22-23 fruit of Spirit

1 Cor 12 gifts of the Spirit with which to serve the church

John 15:26-16:15 promise of Spirit as Helper, bringer of truth, convictor, glorifier

Obedience: put aside sin

Heb 12:1 throw off everything that hinders and the sin that entangles

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

2 Peter 3:14 make every effort to be faultless

"So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this [heaven], make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him."

It is time for us Christians to face up to our responsibility for holiness. Too often we say that we are "defeated" by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated; we are simply disobedient! It might be well if we stopped using the terms "victory" and "defeat" to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms "obedience" and "disobedience." When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying that something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may, in fact, be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey. We have chosen to entertain lustful thoughts, or to harbor resentment, or to shade the truth a little.

We need to brace ourselves up. and to realize that we are responsible for our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. We need to reckon on the fact that we died to sin's reign, that it no longer has any dominion over us, that God has united us with the risen Christ in all His power, and has given us the Holy Spirit to work in us. Only as we accept our responsibility and appropriate God's provisions will we make any progress in our pursuit of holiness.

p. 81

This is accomplished through these general actions:

Conviction

Conviction on specific issues addressed within Scripture

Heb 4:12 This is primarily done through Scripture

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Psalm 119:11 Memorization

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Conviction on issues not specifically addressed within in Scripture

Ø " 'Everything is permissible for me' — but not everything is beneficial" (1 Cor 6:12). Question 1: Is it helpful — physically, spiritually, and mentally?

Ø " 'Everything is permissible for me' — but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Cor 6:12). Question 2: Does it bring me under its power?

Ø " Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall" (1 Cor 8:13). Questions 3: Does it hurt others?

Ø " So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). Question 4: Does it glorify God?

Commitment

Matt 16:24 Commit to denial of self

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.' "

Discipline

1 Cor 9:24-27

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the game goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my BODYand make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Perseverance

Prov 24:16

"...for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity."