Motivated by Love: The True Path to Holiness
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound concept of being accused of the "crime" of righteousness and holiness. We delved into the evidence required to prove such an accusation, focusing on the means, opportunity, and most importantly, the motive behind our actions. The heart of the message is about our motive for being holy, which should be rooted in love for God and others. We reflected on the Beatitudes, specifically the verse, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled," and discussed how our spiritual practices and disciplines can position our hearts to be transformed by the Spirit of God.
We examined the story of Cornelius in Acts 10, who exemplified a life of holiness through his devotion to God and his generosity towards others. This dual aspect of holiness—both vertical (towards God) and horizontal (towards others)—is crucial. We also looked at 1 John, which emphasizes obedience as a key indicator of true faith and love for God. Obedience, when motivated by love rather than fear, transforms our actions into genuine expressions of our faith.
Jesus summarized the commandments into two: love God and love your neighbor. This simplification underscores that all acts of righteousness stem from love. We are reminded that our love for God and others is a response to God's love for us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus. This love should be the driving force behind our hunger for holiness and righteousness.
As we continue this series, we will explore practical ways to live out this love through spiritual disciplines and acts of kindness. Our motivation should always be gratitude for God's immense love and grace, which empowers us to live holy lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Holiness is Both Vertical and Horizontal: True holiness involves a relationship with God (vertical) and acts of love towards others (horizontal). Cornelius exemplified this by his devotion to God and his generosity to the poor, showing that genuine faith impacts both our spiritual and social lives. [09:35]
2. Obedience as an Expression of Love: Obedience to God's commandments is a clear indicator of our love for Him. This obedience should not be out of fear but out of genuine love, much like how acts of service in a marriage can communicate love more profoundly than words alone. [13:56]
3. The Simplification of Commandments: Jesus distilled the 613 commandments of the Torah into two: love God and love your neighbor. This simplification highlights that all righteous acts are rooted in love, making it easier to understand and live out our faith. [20:07]
4. Love as the Motivation for Righteousness: Our hunger and thirst for righteousness should be motivated by love. We love because God first loved us, and this love compels us to live holy lives. This foundational truth ensures that our actions are genuine and not merely legalistic. [23:09]
5. Gratitude as the Foundation for Holiness: Our response to God's love and sacrifice should be one of gratitude, which naturally leads to a desire for holiness. This gratitude-driven approach helps us avoid the pitfalls of legalism and ensures that our spiritual disciplines are heartfelt. [25:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - Accused of Righteousness
[02:23] - Means, Opportunity, and Motive
[03:19] - Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
[04:15] - Practicing the Way
[05:17] - The Heart Behind Hunger
[06:17] - Clues from Cornelius
[09:35] - Holiness: Internal and External
[10:32] - Two-Way Righteousness
[11:22] - Struggling with Preparation
[13:09] - Obedience and Love
[14:41] - Love Languages in Marriage
[17:30] - Sin as Disobedience
[18:44] - God's Love Language
[19:25] - Commandments Summarized
[20:07] - Love God and Love Others
[22:08] - The Heart Behind Hungry
[23:09] - Love as the Motivation
[24:47] - God's Love for Us
[25:26] - Gratitude and Holiness
[27:11] - Practical Applications
[29:17] - Nothing Can Separate Us
[29:55] - Reflecting on God's Love
[31:58] - Prayer for Forgiveness
[33:16] - Empowered by the Spirit
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 10:2, 31 - "He and everyone in his home were devout and respected God. Cornelius gave many gifts to poor Jewish people and always prayed to God." "So Cornelius is sharing a testimony about this man that appeared to him. And he says, 'God has heard your prayer. And he's remembered your gifts to the poor.'"
2. 1 John 2:3-6 - "We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments. The person who says, 'I know him,' but doesn't obey his commandments is a liar. And the truth isn't in that person. But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God's love is perfected. That's how we know we are in Christ. Those who say they live in him must live the same way as he lived."
3. Matthew 22:37-39 - "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the two main aspects of Cornelius's life that demonstrated his holiness? ([06:17])
2. According to 1 John 2:3-6, what is a key indicator that someone truly knows Christ?
3. How did Jesus summarize the commandments in Matthew 22:37-39, and what does this imply about the nature of righteousness? ([20:07])
4. What does the sermon suggest is the primary motivation behind our hunger for righteousness and holiness? ([23:09])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Cornelius's example in Acts 10 illustrate the dual aspect of holiness being both vertical (towards God) and horizontal (towards others)? ([09:35])
2. In what ways does 1 John 2:3-6 challenge the notion of merely professing faith without corresponding actions? ([13:56])
3. Why is it significant that Jesus condensed the 613 commandments into just two? How does this simplification help us understand the essence of living a righteous life? ([20:07])
4. How does understanding God's love for us, as described in 1 John 4:19, influence our motivation to live holy lives? ([23:09])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there specific actions or habits that demonstrate your love for God and others? How can you cultivate these further? ([09:35])
2. Think about a time when you obeyed God's commandments out of love rather than fear. How did this affect your relationship with God and others? ([13:56])
3. Jesus summarized the commandments into loving God and loving your neighbor. Identify one practical way you can show love to a neighbor this week. ([20:07])
4. How can you ensure that your spiritual practices and disciplines are motivated by gratitude for God's love rather than a sense of obligation? ([25:26])
5. Consider the concept of holiness being both internal and external. What are some internal attitudes and external actions you can work on to align more closely with this dual aspect of holiness? ([09:35])
6. Reflect on the idea that our love for God and others is a response to God's love for us. How can this perspective change the way you approach your daily interactions and decisions? ([23:09])
7. In what ways can you incorporate acts of kindness and generosity into your routine to reflect the love of God to those around you? ([27:11])
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
#### Day 1: Holiness in Relationship with God and Others
Description: True holiness is not just about our personal relationship with God but also about how we treat others. Cornelius, a centurion in Acts 10, exemplified this dual aspect of holiness. He was devout and God-fearing, and his faith was evident in his generosity towards the poor. This shows that genuine faith impacts both our spiritual and social lives. Holiness is both vertical (towards God) and horizontal (towards others). Our devotion to God should naturally overflow into acts of love and kindness towards others. This dual focus ensures that our faith is not self-centered but is lived out in community and service. [09:35]
Bible Passage: "And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a way you can show love to someone in your community today. How can your relationship with God inspire you to act in kindness towards them?
#### Day 2: Obedience as an Expression of Love
Description: Obedience to God's commandments is a clear indicator of our love for Him. This obedience should not be out of fear but out of genuine love. Just as acts of service in a marriage can communicate love more profoundly than words alone, our obedience to God is a tangible expression of our love for Him. When we follow God's commandments out of love, our actions become genuine expressions of our faith. This kind of obedience transforms our relationship with God from a set of rules to a loving partnership. [13:56]
Bible Passage: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle with obedience. How can you shift your perspective to see this obedience as an act of love rather than a burden?
#### Day 3: Simplification of Commandments
Description: Jesus distilled the 613 commandments of the Torah into two: love God and love your neighbor. This simplification highlights that all righteous acts are rooted in love, making it easier to understand and live out our faith. By focusing on these two commandments, we can ensure that our actions are aligned with God's will. This approach simplifies our spiritual journey, allowing us to concentrate on the essence of God's commandments rather than getting lost in the details. It also helps us to see the interconnectedness of our love for God and our love for others. [20:07]
Bible Passage: "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you simplify your spiritual practices to focus more on loving God and loving others? What changes can you make today to align your actions with these two commandments?
#### Day 4: Love as the Motivation for Righteousness
Description: Our hunger and thirst for righteousness should be motivated by love. We love because God first loved us, and this love compels us to live holy lives. This foundational truth ensures that our actions are genuine and not merely legalistic. When love is our motivation, our pursuit of righteousness becomes a joyful response to God's love rather than a burdensome obligation. This love-driven approach transforms our spiritual practices and disciplines, making them heartfelt expressions of our faith. [23:09]
Bible Passage: "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your motivations for pursuing righteousness. Are they rooted in love or obligation? How can you cultivate a deeper love for God that naturally leads to righteous living?
#### Day 5: Gratitude as the Foundation for Holiness
Description: Our response to God's love and sacrifice should be one of gratitude, which naturally leads to a desire for holiness. This gratitude-driven approach helps us avoid the pitfalls of legalism and ensures that our spiritual disciplines are heartfelt. When we are grateful for God's immense love and grace, we are empowered to live holy lives. This gratitude transforms our perspective, making our pursuit of holiness a joyful response to God's love rather than a burdensome duty. [25:26]
Bible Passage: "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude today? What are some specific ways you can express your gratitude to God through your actions and spiritual disciplines?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. And it's based on the premise of that quote that she mentioned, that God goes where he is most wanted. And the end goal of the series is to expose you to a number of spiritual practices, disciplines that will help all of us position our hearts and open up our lives to the Spirit of God so that he can transform us from the inside and do amazing things among us." [03:19] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "How would you love to be a people of depth and love? What I'm hoping for, and I'm trusting for, that by the end of this message, that we'll get to the heart. To the motivation behind what it means to be hungry. So that we can guard against what I referred to in my message two weeks ago, and Jolene mentioned it as something she struggled with when she was first exposed to the disciplines. The danger of becoming legalistic and religious about just doing stuff." [05:17] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The conclusion led me to a single word. And if you've been paying attention through the service from the very first song, that word is love. I believe that this word gives us the motivation behind a hunger and a thirst for righteousness. This one word is the heart behind hungry. And we will only be found guilty of being righteous if our motive for the crime is love." [22:08] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If we want to get the order right, starting with the heart, starting with the motivation, it starts with God. God loves us. We sang it in the first song. God so loved the world that he gave his son. And so his son came and died for us so that you and I could be saved from death, from sin, and from judgment. When we receive, that with the fact that he's done it in our place for us, we receive immediately his forgiveness and his Holy Spirit. And then our response in gratitude for all of that is holiness." [25:26] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I'm convinced, Paul says, that nothing can ever separate us from God's love, which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can't be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below or by anything else in creation. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Our first response should be love. But our response is always only a response. The response to the love of a God who loved the world so much." [29:17] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Holiness is both internal and external. It involves putting off and putting on. And why that passage that Jolene read from stood out to me is because I found another pair. Because holiness is both vertical and horizontal. Cornelius prayed to God, but he was regularly giving to those poor Jewish people in his community. And so, from the top, all together, just to be clear, holiness is both internal and external. It involves putting off. Putting on. And it is both vertical and horizontal." [09:35] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You see, one of the clues or the secrets to holiness and righteousness is obedience. Obedience is the thing that distinguishes true Christians from non-Christians. And there is a difference, a huge difference between compliance based on fear and genuine, authentic obedience. I learned that most notably in my marriage. We've been married for 22 and a half years. And especially in the early days of our marriage, a big issue was dishes." [13:56] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I want to know, which commandments are we supposed to obey? Because in the Bible, there are a lot. For the Jews in their Torah, they counted 613 commandments, what they called mitzvah, that they needed to obey. And those were things that pertain to every aspect of life. Family life, daily life, personal hygiene, diet. 613. And Jesus summarizes, all the commandments of the Bible into two categories." [20:07] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I'm going to suggest, as we've gleaned from scripture and seen some of the clues, that if you aren't hungry for God, or if I'm not hungry for God, then maybe I don't really love God. Is that a harsh thing to say? I don't know. That's what John says in 1 John. If we don't have that love for others, then we are lying, when we say that we love God. But it all comes back to verse 10 of chapter 4. This is love. Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the payment for my sin." [27:51] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And so over the next few weeks, we'll be looking at some practical things of doing simple obedience, of spending time in God's word, in prayer, singing songs of worship. You may be encouraged to do practical things like joining a small group, tithing by giving to God through the church, living a holy life, making an attack on the sin in your life. Anyone up for that? What about loving others? Praying for them, showing kindness, forgiving them, giving someone a word of encouragement, maybe a handwritten note, investing energy, time, resources into others." [27:11] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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