Embracing Holiness: A Joyful Journey with God

 

Summary

In our exploration of holiness, we turn to 1 Peter 1:15-16, where we are called to be holy as God is holy. This call to holiness is not just a command but an invitation to experience the beauty and joy of living in alignment with God's nature. The Puritans, with their profound understanding of holiness, offer us a rich perspective on what it means to live a holy life. They emphasize that God's holiness is a transcendental attribute, a luster that shines through all His perfections. God's holiness is characterized by separateness, a hatred for sin, and a desire for intimacy with us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Puritans teach us that holiness is both a status and a condition. As believers, we are given a holy status through Christ, but we must also grow into this holiness through a process of sanctification. This involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, a journey that requires the diligent use of spiritual disciplines. The Puritans categorized these disciplines into private, corporate, and neighborly practices, emphasizing the importance of Bible study, meditation, prayer, and fellowship.

Holiness, for the Puritans, was not a burdensome duty but a joyful pursuit. They found supreme joy in fellowship with God, abiding assurance in Christ, and the anticipation of eternal reward. This joy was not just for the future but was experienced in the present through a life lived in conformity to God's will. The Puritans encourage us to pursue holiness with joy, using the means God has provided, so that we might know more of the joy of the triune God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Nature of God's Holiness: God's holiness is a transcendental attribute that permeates all His other attributes, making them shine with unparalleled beauty. It is characterized by separateness from sin and a desire for intimacy with us through Christ's sacrifice. This understanding calls us to a deeper reverence and awe for God's nature. [04:31]

- Sanctification as a Journey: Holiness is both a status we receive in Christ and a condition we grow into through sanctification. This journey involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, requiring intentional effort and reliance on God's grace. [09:32]

- The Role of Spiritual Disciplines: The Puritans emphasized the importance of spiritual disciplines, such as Bible study, meditation, and prayer, in cultivating holiness. These practices help us align our lives with God's will and experience His presence more fully. [16:06]

- Holiness in Every Aspect of Life: Holiness should permeate every area of our lives, from our private communion with God to our relationships and work. The Puritans teach us to live intentionally and seriously in conformity to Christ in all we do. [12:30]

- The Joy of Holiness: Pursuing holiness is not a burdensome duty but a source of profound joy. The Puritans found joy in fellowship with God, assurance in Christ, and the anticipation of eternal reward. This joy motivates us to pursue holiness with enthusiasm and gratitude. [23:49]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Introduction to Holiness
- [01:11] - The Need for Holiness Today
- [02:33] - The Puritan Influence
- [03:33] - God's Holiness
- [04:31] - Attributes of God's Holiness
- [06:31] - The Role of Blood in Holiness
- [08:08] - Intimacy with God
- [09:32] - Sanctification Explained
- [10:34] - Divine Grace in Sanctification
- [11:53] - Comprehensive Moral Renewal
- [13:32] - Mortification and Vivification
- [15:25] - Spiritual Disciplines
- [19:03] - Corporate and Neighborly Disciplines
- [23:49] - The Joy of Holiness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Pursuit of Holiness

Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 1:15-16

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Observation Questions:

1. What does 1 Peter 1:15-16 say about the nature of holiness and our call to it?
2. How do the Puritans define God's holiness, and what are the three words they use to describe it? [04:31]
3. According to the sermon, what role does Jesus' sacrifice play in our ability to be holy? [07:49]
4. What are the three categories of spiritual disciplines emphasized by the Puritans? [16:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of holiness as both a status and a condition affect a believer's daily life? [09:32]
2. In what ways do the Puritans' views on holiness challenge modern Christian practices? [02:33]
3. How do the spiritual disciplines help believers align their lives with God's will, according to the sermon? [16:06]
4. What is the significance of experiencing joy in the pursuit of holiness, as described by the Puritans? [23:49]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual disciplines. Are there areas where you can be more intentional in your pursuit of holiness? [16:06]
2. The Puritans found joy in holiness. How can you cultivate a sense of joy in your spiritual journey, even when it feels challenging? [23:49]
3. Consider the idea of holiness permeating every aspect of life. What is one area of your life where you feel holiness is lacking, and how can you address it? [12:30]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of meditation into your daily routine to deepen your relationship with God? [16:59]
5. Think about your relationships. How can you encourage holiness in your interactions with others, both in your family and community? [21:39]
6. The sermon mentions the importance of fellowship with godly people. Who in your life can you seek out for spiritual growth and accountability? [20:31]
7. Reflect on the concept of dying to sin and living to righteousness. What is one specific sin you need to address, and what steps can you take to overcome it? [13:52]

Devotional

Day 1: The Transcendental Beauty of God's Holiness
God's holiness is a transcendental attribute that permeates all His other attributes, making them shine with unparalleled beauty. It is characterized by separateness from sin and a desire for intimacy with us through Christ's sacrifice. This understanding calls us to a deeper reverence and awe for God's nature. God's holiness is not just an abstract concept but a reality that invites us into a relationship marked by purity and love. As we contemplate His holiness, we are drawn into a deeper appreciation of His majesty and the profound love He has for us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. [04:31]

"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper reverence for God's holiness in your daily life, and how might this change your relationship with Him?


Day 2: The Journey of Sanctification
Holiness is both a status we receive in Christ and a condition we grow into through sanctification. This journey involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, requiring intentional effort and reliance on God's grace. Sanctification is not a one-time event but a lifelong process where believers are continually transformed into the likeness of Christ. It involves a conscious decision to turn away from sin and embrace a life of righteousness, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This journey is marked by both struggle and victory, as we learn to depend on God's grace to overcome the challenges we face. [09:32]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to rely more on God's grace to grow in holiness, and what steps can you take today to begin this transformation?


Day 3: The Power of Spiritual Disciplines
The Puritans emphasized the importance of spiritual disciplines, such as Bible study, meditation, and prayer, in cultivating holiness. These practices help us align our lives with God's will and experience His presence more fully. Spiritual disciplines are not mere rituals but vital practices that nurture our relationship with God and strengthen our faith. By engaging in these disciplines, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to shape our character and guide our actions. The Puritans understood that these disciplines are essential for spiritual growth and encouraged believers to incorporate them into their daily lives. [16:06]

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2, ESV)

Reflection: Which spiritual discipline do you find most challenging to maintain, and how can you incorporate it more consistently into your daily routine to deepen your relationship with God?


Day 4: Holiness in Every Aspect of Life
Holiness should permeate every area of our lives, from our private communion with God to our relationships and work. The Puritans teach us to live intentionally and seriously in conformity to Christ in all we do. This holistic approach to holiness means that every aspect of our lives is an opportunity to reflect God's character and love. Whether in our personal time with God, our interactions with others, or our professional endeavors, we are called to live in a way that honors Him. By doing so, we become living testimonies of His grace and truth in a world that desperately needs to see His light. [12:30]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to reflect Christ's holiness, and consider what changes you can make to align this area more closely with His will.


Day 5: The Joy of Pursuing Holiness
Pursuing holiness is not a burdensome duty but a source of profound joy. The Puritans found joy in fellowship with God, assurance in Christ, and the anticipation of eternal reward. This joy motivates us to pursue holiness with enthusiasm and gratitude. Holiness is not about adhering to a set of rules but about experiencing the fullness of life that comes from walking closely with God. As we pursue holiness, we discover the joy of living in harmony with His will and the peace that comes from knowing we are loved and accepted by Him. This joy is both a present reality and a future hope, as we look forward to the eternal reward that awaits us. [23:49]

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy in your pursuit of holiness, and what practical steps can you take to experience this joy more fully in your daily walk with God?

Quotes


The holiness of God is a prominent theme in the writings of the Puritans they point out that when the Bible speaks of holiness it actually speaks of it more in relation to God than to us John how the Puritan defines God's holiness as a transcendental attribute that as it were runs through the rest casts luster upon them all it is an attribute of attributes and so it is the very luster and glory of His other perfections holiness is essential to God it is the heart of everything the Bible declares about him his grace is holy grace his holiness is celebrated before the throne of heaven. [00:03:36]

God's holiness can be defined the Puritans would say in three words first the word separateness God is wholly separate from his creation separate from all evil he hates sin Stephen Charnock defying God's holiness as the rectitude or integrity of the divine nature in affection and action to the divine will whereby he works with the becoming us to his own excellency imbue tea in his rectitude and moral excellence God possesses a perfect and unpolluted freedom from all evil he is light and in him there is no darkness at all. [00:04:39]

The Puritans teach us that holiness is both a status and a condition. As believers, we are given a holy status through Christ, but we must also grow into this holiness through a process of sanctification. This involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, a journey that requires the diligent use of spiritual disciplines. The Puritans categorized these disciplines into private, corporate, and neighborly practices, emphasizing the importance of Bible study, meditation, prayer, and fellowship. [00:09:32]

Holiness must affect our private communion with God the making and the ordering of our homes the honesty and Industry of our work the friendships reform the use of our leisure time our worship and work as members of God's church every piece of the pie of our lives must be marinated in holiness and this is where the Puritans didn't teach anything different than the Reformers but coming in a later age where they didn't have to hammer out all the major doctrines like how to worship and justification by faith alone they were able to take the Reformation doctrine about living the Christian life and applied to every area of life. [00:12:08]

The Puritans said the best way to put all of this into practice the practice of sanctification is to do so by diligently using the spiritual disciplines that God has provided us and they divided the disciplines into three categories first private disciplines second corporate and thirdly neighborly and they wrote extensively on all of these the private disciplines you-you-you can surmise them first of all a careful Bible study being in the word reading the word carefully and meditating on the word they believed in what they called the art of holy habitual meditation. [00:16:06]

The Puritans wrote 41 different books on how to meditate and they divide meditation in two categories first deliberate meditation something you do a set time every day in your daily devotions and then occasional meditation which were spiritual applications of any truth that would happen to come into their mind so as they're going through the day and they see things they learn to think in spiritual categories and meditate upon them so that they see a doorway opening there they might say well Jesus said I'm the door. [00:17:06]

The Puritans would say to you today pursue this holiness with this joy and this idea and use these means and you will know more of the joy of the triune God may God bless you with this spirit of holiness. [00:24:54]

The Puritans teach us that holiness is both a status and a condition. As believers, we are given a holy status through Christ, but we must also grow into this holiness through a process of sanctification. This involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, a journey that requires the diligent use of spiritual disciplines. The Puritans categorized these disciplines into private, corporate, and neighborly practices, emphasizing the importance of Bible study, meditation, prayer, and fellowship. [00:09:32]

The Puritans said the best way to put all of this into practice the practice of sanctification is to do so by diligently using the spiritual disciplines that God has provided us and they divided the disciplines into three categories first private disciplines second corporate and thirdly neighborly and they wrote extensively on all of these the private disciplines you-you-you can surmise them first of all a careful Bible study being in the word reading the word carefully and meditating on the word they believed in what they called the art of holy habitual meditation. [00:16:06]

The Puritans wrote 41 different books on how to meditate and they divide meditation in two categories first deliberate meditation something you do a set time every day in your daily devotions and then occasional meditation which were spiritual applications of any truth that would happen to come into their mind so as they're going through the day and they see things they learn to think in spiritual categories and meditate upon them so that they see a doorway opening there they might say well Jesus said I'm the door. [00:17:06]

The Puritans would say to you today pursue this holiness with this joy and this idea and use these means and you will know more of the joy of the triune God may God bless you with this spirit of holiness. [00:24:54]

The Puritans teach us that holiness is both a status and a condition. As believers, we are given a holy status through Christ, but we must also grow into this holiness through a process of sanctification. This involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, a journey that requires the diligent use of spiritual disciplines. The Puritans categorized these disciplines into private, corporate, and neighborly practices, emphasizing the importance of Bible study, meditation, prayer, and fellowship. [00:09:32]

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Transcript
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