Tag: Holiness

jens herrndorff zy2lrkqgw w unsplash

The Pursuit of Peace and Holiness. Hebrews 12:14

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight:

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:14

Explanation:

We must remember that not all the people written to in the book of Hebrews were believers.  Some were Jews who were intellectually convinced but had not put their trust in Christ.  Pursuing holiness should mean to draw near to God with full faith (Hebrews 10:14, 22) and accepting Christ as Savior for covering our sin through his sacrifice.  What these people need is true faith in Christ to receive a holiness that is not their own, but once received is developed in them through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Application

“Follow peace with all men”- Another way of thinking about this verse is “pursue peace”.  When it is possible the path of peace is generally the right path.  Who am I on a course for possible unnecessary conflict with, and how can I avoid such conflict?

“And holiness”- Do I have the holiness of Christ through faith in Him, and forgiveness from the father based on His righteousness imputed to my account?  If I am saved, am I working with God to pursue actual holiness in my living?

Response:

Who do I need to talk to today to make sure I am pursuing peace?

Is there any gap in holy living in my life?

ben white 1urnubnaqbi unsplash

God’s Forgiveness- Isaiah- Week 2- Day 2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 6:5

Explanation:
Isaiah sees this incredible vision of the glory of God in verses 1-4. The Holiness of God is declared, and the truth of His holiness shakes the place where Isaiah finds himself. I notice three factors in this verse.

First, notice his confession. His immediate response is to confess his own sinfulness. He declares that he is done for. “Woe is me!” He feels almost hopeless because he can do nothing to expiate his guilt or the guilt of his people on his own.

Next, notice the contrast. There was a significant contrast between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of Isaiah and his people.

Finally, notice the chasm. The contrast of God’s holiness and Isaiah’s sinfulness leads to an acknowledgement of the chasm between the perfect holiness of God and the sinful guilt of Isaiah and his people. He describes his vision of God as King. God is One in total authority. He describes him as “Lord of hosts.” The term “hosts” describes a mass of people, especially armies.

Isaiah’s proper and realistic view of God drove him to a fear of God, an understanding of the holiness of God, and then a confession of his own sinfulness.

Application:
We often excuse our own sin. We minimize it. We ignore it. When we do it is not good for us or those around us. Whenever we sin we are forgetting the holiness and glory of God. We need a higher view, a more biblical and realistic view, of who God is. Our fear of the Lord must grow, for as we learned in Proverbs, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. For us to turn away from sin we must adopt God’s view of himself, and God’s view of our sin. We must confess our own sinfulness. We must stop ignoring, excusing and minimizing our guilt.

Response:
• Do you have a high view of God’s holiness? How does it show up in your life?
• Is there sin you are ignoring, minimizing, or excusing today? Confess it! “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!

ben white bebqppehem4 unsplash

Week 11: Day 2- Deuteronomy 18:16-17

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

This Weeks Passage: Deuteronomy 18:15-22

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

Deuteronomy 18:16-17

Explanation

Moses continues to address the people, letting them know that God acknowledged to him the rightness of the request. The children of Israel had asked Moses for there to be some reprieve from the glory of God. They were so fearful of the Lord that they asked Moses for this because they were afraid of dying because of the glory of God.

This truth was echoed by the Lord himself to Moses.

18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Exodus 33:18-20

Because of our unholiness and unworthiness, none of us are able to stand before God on our own. When Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened and the knew they were naked. Then they went and hid themselves. Sin lead to shame, fear and death. Sin always brings death- separation from a holy God.

God heard their request and granted it, making Moses a mediator between Him and them. God provided Jesus Christ as a mediator of a better covenant.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2 Timothy 2:5-6

Application

God is holy. God is righteous. Jesus said…

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Because Jesus becomes our mediator when we accept Him as Savior, we can go to God ourselves. We can fear the Lord in His Holiness, and yet approach Him boldly finding grace to help in time of need. This is God’s desire for us. Praise the Lord for this incredible gift!

Response

  1. If you don’t know Christ as your Savior, then know that you can’t get to God on your own. Trust in Christ!
  2. If you do know Christ as your Savior, know that those around you can’t get to God on their own. Be a witness.
  3. If you do know Christ as Savior, You have a privileged position. You can go to God every day, at any time. When was the last time you prayed?
  4. Pursue holiness. God commands us to be holy because He is holy. What sin do you need to confess and forsake today?