Heavens Light 7-30-13 Ephesians 2:1-10 Saved by Grace Part 1

Saved By Grace

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God NASB

 

Ephesians 2:1-3 – 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. NASB

A.   1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, –  Here Paul endeavors to show the actual former spiritual state of the believers. We know it is a spiritual state because this is not their physical state. This state he points out is that “you were dead” and this was as a result of being “in your trespasses and sins.” See here the biblical description of the state of the unregenerate unbelieving person. They are spiritually dead, unable to have any mental awareness to the things of God and unable to do anything of their own ability to move towards God or stimulate themselves into spiritual life, as dead people have no abilities of their own. This is a theme in the teaching of the Lord Jesus who frequently refers to unbelievers as “dead” and in desperate need of regeneration (Matt 8:22, Luke 15:24-32), and explains that faith is the necessary condition for life.

John 5:21, 24 – 21 "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes…. 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. NASB

This is why regeneration is the necessary element in salvation v-5, there is a need for resurrection or new birth, which only God is able to do and without which “no one can SEE the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3-6, John 6:65). Here is seen the consequence of sin and transgression, DEATH! Not that they were physically dead, but in that wretched state of spiritual death which rendered them helpless to hear or understand the things of God and His kingdom. Here is the definitive statement in the bible on depravity or natural inability.

Romans – 8:5-8 – 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NASB

1 Corinthians 2:14 – 14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. NASB

B.   2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. – See here the former state of every Christian explained in terms of their life of unbelief, “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world.” They were living and acting according to the dictates of this fallen world, steeped in transgressions and sin as followers of Satan, whom Paul describes as “the prince of the power of the air.” He further explains that Satan is that “spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience,” with deceiving influence leading all unbelievers daily into “disobedience,” that is sin and transgression. The Greek here for disobedience is 543 apeitheia, which means [disbelief (obstinate and rebellious):–disobedience, unbelief]. Paul makes it clear that this is both our former state as Christians, and therefore the actual state of all unbelievers as he repeats this idea that “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind.”  Here he has described our disobedience which we all committed against God as living “in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind.” The flesh is defined as the “sinful nature” and here “ALL” of us formerly lived “in the lusts of the flesh” and “indulging the desires of the sinful nature.” This is the state of every person apart from REGENERATION. Because the unbeliever has not received the Spirit, he/she is in bondage to the flesh (Rom 6:17-23), they always and continually live after the flesh. Until we have been raised from our dead state, we have no communion with God and live to please the SELF, satisfy SELF, and follow and indulge in the desires of SELF, rather than the desires of God. Indeed before REGENERATION, we cannot see (John 3:3), cannot understand (1 Cor 2:14), cannot accept (John 14:17), cannot obey (Rom 8:7) and cannot hear (John 8:43) God. And this because we have no ability being enslaved by sin and Satan.

Romans 6:17-20 – 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. NASB

Romans 8:7-8 – 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NASB

Titus 3:3-3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. NASB

Colossians 3:5-7 – 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. NASB

He further points out that the results of such behavior makes us objects of the very wrath of God, saying that when we were in that natural state of being dead in transgressions and sin we “were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” See here that “children of wrath” is the designation of the natural state of all who are apart from Christ, being made clear by the terms “we were by nature… even as the rest.” This is the truly wretched state of all who are not in Christ! They are without hope and without God in the world (v-2:12), destined for eternal destruction in hell (2 Thess 1:8-9) and storing up wrath (Rom 2:5) for the day of judgment! Woe to one who rejects God’s free grace in Christ!

Colossians 1:21– 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, NASB

1 John 5:19 – 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. NASB

 

Ephesians 2:4-5 – 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), NASB

A.   But God, being rich in mercy – Mercy is an attribute of God, which is part of His very nature. See here God is “rich in mercy!” His mercy is complete and full, never changing and infinitely abundant. So it is said of the Lord that He is "the Father of mercies" (2 Cor 1:3), "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4), "full of pity, and of tender mercy" (James 5:11). What a beautiful characteristic of God, He is merciful!

Exodus 34:6-7 – 6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." NASB

Psalms 145:8 – 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

Micah 7:18 – 18 Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. NASB

Mercy is defined as “the active compassion of God to assist and provide for the miserable and bestow benefit on the needy.” In the grand scheme of the history of redemption, mercy presupposes sin and death. Since we, as His creatures, have “all sinned and fallen short of His Glory” (Rom 3:23), we are all in need of Divine mercy. In our miserable fallen and deadly state, God has actively come to our aid and provided for our needy souls an abundant provision of eternal life and peace through Jesus Christ. Mercy is not something that we merit or earn, but is freely given of God to the miserable.

1 Peter 1:3 – 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, NASB

Titus 3:4-7 – 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  NASB

B.    because of His great love with which He loved us – See here the motivation of God toward His elect people in mercifully raising them from their dead state. Here the special love of God toward His elect is described, in this context as toward “us” who “by grace have been saved.” It is because of God’s great love that he did these things, says Paul.  

1 John 3:1 – 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. NASB

1 John 4:9-10 – 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. NASB

C.   5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), – See here the “great love” of God held in contrast to our sin, “even when we were dead in our transgressions,” this love of God is the cause of our being “made alive together with Christ” and “raised up with Him.” These are terms describing God’s work of REGENERATION in the believer. We were “made alive together with Christ.” This is powerfully expressive of our union with Christ in the regenerative act of God.  The Greek here is 4806 suzoopoieo; [to reanimate conjointly with (figuratively):–quicken together with]. As Paul says in verse 6, God “raised us up with Him.” This is to say that were we not raised independently of Christ, but “with Him,” in the power of His resurrection, we were born again (regenerated) by “working of the strength of His might” v-1:19, by the “surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

Ephesians 1:18-22 – 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. NASB

The basis of this REGENERATION is God’s free grace, this being expressed as “by grace you have been saved.” See here the act of being “saved” expressed as regeneration and Paul pointing out that this is an act of unmerited, undeserving, free grace by God. The Greek here for grace is 5485 charis, which means; [graciousness, of manner or act–acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), with joy, liberality, and pleasure]. Our salvation is “by grace,” that is unmerited (we did not earn it), undeserving (we deserved wrath instead), and free, that is God was not owing to us but freely saved us because of His great love for us. This He carried out by raising us from the death of sin and transgression into eternal life “together with Christ.” Consider these profound words, “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved.)”

 

 

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Shaan Sloan

Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ

The Lord is the Strength of My Life

 

 

 

Jesus Christ is Beautiful!

Consider the words of our Lord as He is hanging on the cross and dying for the sins of those who have brutally murdered Him…. 

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 

What marvelous words!

What wondrous love is this?

Is there anything more profoundly supernatural and amazing than the forgiving love of Jesus Christ loving His enemies?  There is no one like Him… He is otherly, set apart, holy!

Here I can worship something far beyond me…. something way above my own weakness and selfishness. Here I can adore the King of Love in His beauty and long to be like Him!

Heavens Light 7-15-13 In His Image – Virtue, Vice and the Nature of God

In His Image
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. NASB
Virtue, Vice and the Nature of God
Having considered that the purpose of God in salvation and the process of practical sanctification is for God to conform us into His image by the work of the Holy Spirit, it is important to understand how the image of God and His character is related to how we live our Christian lives in practice, and how that relates to both God’s character and ours. In becoming like God, we are taking on His character and “participating in the divine nature” and growing evermore in His likeness by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Let us now consider the important truth that God is Holy. That is, He is set apart from all other created beings in moral purity, perfection and self-existence as the Holy Creator God. The holiness of God is one of God’s attributes, and one in fact that characterizes all of God’s other attributes. Therefore God’s love and mercy are holy, as is His wisdom and justice are holy, that is, they possess a divine quality that is infinite, perfect and complete in such a way as to be set apart from other kinds of love and mercy, wisdom and justice in the creation. God’s majesty and beauty are holy majesty and holy beauty being infinitely and perfectly majestic and beautiful beyond all other things that exist. Moreover, all of God’s attributes are set apart from evil in every way because of the moral purity of God’s holiness. All of God’s attributes are completely pure and untainted by any kind of impurity of evil. In fact God’s own holiness is the antithesis of evil and the very standard by which evil is seen and understood. Therefore God hates what is evil and loves what is good, and this is a major theme in the Bible and it is major theme in God’s relations with people and His purposes throughout redemptive history. Kevin DeYoung comments… “There is no question that holiness is one of the central themes in the Bible. The word “holy” occurs more than 600 times in the Bible, more than 700 when you include derivative words like holiness, sanctify and sanctification. You can’t make sense of the Bible without understanding that God is holy and that this holy God is intent on making a holy people to live with Him forever in a holy heaven. The whole system of Israel’s worship revolves around holiness. That’s why you have a holy people (the priests), with holy clothes, in a holy land (Canaan), at a holy place (tabernacle/temple), using holy utensils and holy objects, celebrating holy days, living by a holy law, so that they might be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Make no mistake about it God is holy and He expects His people to be holy as well. This He accomplishes through the holy work of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit within us!
Now this holiness of God has everything to do with our image bearing and our Christian practice as God seeks to sanctify us (make us holy) in our character and in our practice, just like He is and just like He does. Therefore He commands us to be holy, just like Him. He calls us to live a holy life and emulate His holy character. This then becomes a major theme in the New Testament as it was given to us by our Lord Jesus and the Apostles.
Matt 5:48 – 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. NASB
2 Corinthians 7:1 – Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. NASB
Titus 2:11-14 – 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. NASB
1 Peter 1:14-16 – 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” NASB
Now because God is holy, perfectly pure and undefiled in every part of His character, He expects holiness from us, His holy people who He has set apart to reflect His character and bear His image. Jerry Bridges comments; “God rightfully demands perfect holiness in all of His moral creatures. It cannot be otherwise. He cannot possibly ignore or approve of any evil committed. He cannot for one minute relax His standard of holiness. Rather He must say as He does say, “So be holy in all you do”…1 Pet 1:15…”
It is important to remember the glory of the Gospel when we start to focus on God’s expectation of our personal holiness. We have a positional righteousness or positional sanctification before God on the basis of Christ’s life and death (discussed in detail below). We cannot forget that we have been cleansed once for all by the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross, and His perfect life of righteousness has been imputed to us by faith. We stand in the spotless righteousness of Christ, God’s wrath toward our sin has been appeased (propitiation), our guilt has been removed (expiation), Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us by faith (imputation), and all of this has brought about reconciliation with God. God has now declared us righteous in His sight on the basis of Christ’s perfect life and death. This is called Justification by Faith. We are now in a state of grace having all our sins forgiven and possessing the hope of eternal life. If you have been born again by the Holy Spirit and believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as a result, all of these wonderful blessings from God are surely yours! But now that we have been saved by the grace of God through faith in our Lord Jesus alone, God expects us to live in holiness and prove the reality of our faith and love toward Him in obedience to His holy Word! At the same time that our sins are forgiven, God is commanding us to forsake our sins and behave in a holy way.
Titus 2:11-14 – 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. NASB
1 Peter 1:14-16 – 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” NASB
But what does holiness look like in our lives? In short, it is conformity to God’s holy character and also His practice. We are to be holy in our hearts and that in turn produces holiness in our practice, our daily lives. Therefore God’s Word is very specific about what holiness actually looks like both in our heart and in our life. The Word is filled with instruction and exhortations toward this end. The New Testament therefore calls us to “put off” the evil deeds of the flesh, the old nature of sin which still lives in us, and to “put on” Christ, or the new nature which has been re-created in us at regeneration.
Romans 13:12-14 – 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. NASB
Colossians 3:8-11 – 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him NASB
These deeds of the flesh, or acts of the sinful nature are called vices. They are thoughts, words and deeds that the Bible identifies as evil. One thing is sure, God’s Word calls out sin by name and explains that it is deadly, destructive and contrary to God’s commanded will and very displeasing to Him. Vice is sin and evil and God hates it and God judges and reproves those who commit it. Therefore God’s Word is crystal clear about what sin is, giving whole lists of vices and telling us to forsake them. The vices are contrary to the character and nature of God. In contrast to these vices are the virtues of God, which give to us a very specific definition of what holiness looks like. Virtue manifests itself in thoughts, words and deeds just like vices. Virtues are extolled as pleasing to God, beneficial to ourselves and our neighbor, and opposite of vices. Therefore God’s Word is crystal clear about what virtue is, giving whole lists of virtues and telling us to perform them and allow them to define our character. Virtue is consistent with the character and nature of God. And so we see both virtue and vice described in detail in the New Testament giving us instruction as to how to live and please God, what TO do and what NOT to do in order to live a holy life. Holiness looks like a life lived in virtue instead of vice. Growing in personal holiness and practical sanctification are effectively the same thing. We grow in holiness as we are conformed to the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit. Holiness and wickedness are held in stark contrast in the Christian life, as the below virtue and vice lists put on display.
Vice lists – Here is a list of Scriptures that define vices for us and show us what the character of the evil and wicked people are. These vices do not please God and are the kind of behavior that characterize the wicked and unbelieving people of the world, who do not know God, obey Jesus Christ, and will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Mark 7:21-23 – 1 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” NASB
Romans 1:26-32 – 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. NASB
Romans 13:13-14 – 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. NASB
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. NASB
Galatians 5:19-22 – 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. NASB
Ephesians 4:31 – 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. NASB
Colossians 3:5-9 – 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, NASB
1 Timothy 1:8-10 – 8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, NASB
Revelation 21:8 – 8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” NASB
These vices are in fact the wicked deeds that characterized our former life as unregenerate sinners and as Christians we are called to forsake these sins, to make war against them and “put off” these acts of the sinful nature, through faith in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Virtue lists – Here is a list of Scriptures that define virtues for us and what the character of godly believing born again Christians should be like. These virtues are very pleasing to God and are the kind of behavior that should characterize the lives of Christians, who are image bearers being conformed to God’s image by the power of the Holy Spirit within them.
Romans 12:9-19 – Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. NAS
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – 4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. NASB
Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. NASB
Ephesians 4:32 – 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. NASB
Colossians 3:12-15 – 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. NASB
2 Peter 1:5-7 – 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. NASB
These virtues are in fact the character and nature of the Holy Spirit who lives in us and the end goal of our growth in holiness for our daily lives. These virtues should now begin to characterize our life as Christians with ever increasing intensity as we take on the image of God more and more by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. In our struggle against the sinful nature we are to renew our minds with the beautiful and wonderful thoughts of the virtues of God, longing for and pursuing His righteousness in our daily life as children of God, born from above.
In his book, “The Hole in our Holiness,” Kevin DeYoung gives these virtue and vice lists and goes on to describe a few other important things that define personal holiness. He adds;
·        Clean Conscience
·        Obedience to God’s Commands
·        Christlikeness
Surely our conscience guides us by the prompting of the Holy Spirit to obey God’s commandments and be virtuous. And as we have discussed, becoming like Christ in our character and practice is what bearing the image of God means. DeYoung makes the contrast of virtue and vice in the Christian life really clear. He writes, “You can think of holiness, to employ a metaphor, as the sanctification of your body. The mind is filled with the knowledge of God and fixed on what is good. The eyes turn away from sensuality and shudder at the sight of evil. The mouth tells the truth and refuses to gossip, slander, or speak what is coarse or obscene. The spirit is earnest, steadfast, and gentle. The heart is full of joy instead of hopelessness, patience instead of irritability, kindness instead of anger, humility instead of pride, and thankfulness instead of envy. The sexual organs are pure, being reserved for the privacy of marriage between one man and one woman. The feet move toward the lowly and away from senseless conflict, divisions, and wild parties. The hands are quick to help those in need and ready to fold in prayer. This is the anatomy of holiness.”
This teaching can be heard on audio here:
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Shaan Sloan
Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ
The Lord is the Strength of My Life