Salvation is a call to holiness. Our God who is Holy, Holy, Holy calls out a people to become like Him. In Peter’s opening instructions to these suffering believers, he emphasizes the personal responsibility, attitudes and actions required of a believer in the pursuit of holiness. Such holiness is not achieved without diligent effort on our part. As it is demanded by our God, His grace also provides us what we need to meet His demand. In this third sermon on the pursuit of holiness Pastor Jim covers the specifics of working out a life of God-pleasing holiness through our responsibilities, actions, and attitudes toward holiness.
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Jim Sole
A study of the prayers of the Apostle Paul is rich not only in doctrinal truth but practical Christianity. In his second prayer in the letter the Ephesians, the petitions define the high of Christian experience – to know the love of Christ and the fullness of God. In part six of the examination of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, Pastor Jim examines the purpose of the strengthening Paul is petitioning for – an awareness and experience of the indwelling Christ and to know in greater measure His love.
The chief aim in the life of a Christian is to glorify God by conforming more and more into His image and that of being holy. In this message on the Apostle Peter’s instructions to the suffering Christians in Asia Minor, Pastor Jim continues talking about our motivations to holiness by discussing what God has accomplished through His Son’s blood and the illogical nature of a willfully sinning Christian.
A study of the prayers of the Apostle Paul is rich not only in doctrinal truth but practical Christianity. In his second prayer in the letter the Ephesians, the petitions define the high of Christian experience – to know the love of Christ and the fullness of God. It is in praying and seeing the Lord answer this prayer that we enter into the true Biblical experience of the Christian life – walking under the control of Christ’s incredibly love. In part five of the examination of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, Pastor Jim talks about where Paul asks God to apply His power; our innermost being.
The chief aim in the life of a Christian is to glorify God by conforming more and more into His image and that of being holy. And holiness is a necessity to endure suffering with joy for without holiness, we cannot fellowship with Him who is our joy. In the Apostle Peter’s instructions to the suffering Christians in Asia Minor, his exhortation to holiness is an invitation to know Him who is our joy and strength in suffering.
Ephesians 1:13-19 – In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord…