Pursuing Holiness: Living Out Christ's Righteousness
Devotional
Day 1: The Foundation of Justification by Faith
Justification by faith is the cornerstone of our relationship with God, where Christ's righteousness is imputed to us, making us fully accepted by Him. This profound truth assures us of God's unwavering favor, yet it does not absolve us from the call to pursue holiness in our daily lives. As believers, we are called to live in a way that reflects the righteousness we have received, not to earn God's favor, but to live in the fullness of it. This foundational understanding should inspire us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. [05:59]
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it." (Romans 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively reflect the righteousness of Christ in your daily interactions and decisions today?
Day 2: The Harmony of Justification and Sanctification
Sanctification is the process of becoming holy, and it complements justification by faith. It is not in conflict with being justified but is a necessary response to it. Our practical holiness is a reflection of the imputed holiness we have received. This journey of sanctification involves allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, transforming us into the image of Christ. As we grow in holiness, we are called to live lives that are fully pleasing to God, recognizing that our actions matter to Him. [06:29]
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can invite the Holy Spirit to bring transformation and growth in holiness today.
Day 3: God's Delight in Our Dual Status
God's delight in us is twofold: He delights in us as His justified children and in our pursuit of holiness. He is not indifferent to our actions but desires us to live in a way that reflects His righteousness and brings Him glory. This dual delight is not about earning God's favor but about living in the fullness of the righteousness we have received. As we pursue holiness, we are called to live lives that are pleasing to God, recognizing that our ability to do so is rooted in the forgiveness and righteousness we have in Christ. [07:49]
"For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation." (Psalm 149:4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally live in a way that reflects God's righteousness and brings Him glory in your current circumstances?
Day 4: Living in the Fullness of Righteousness
The pursuit of holiness is not about earning God's favor but about living in the fullness of the righteousness we have received. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ, enabling us to live lives that please God. Our aim should be to please God in all we do, recognizing that our ability to do so is rooted in the forgiveness and righteousness we have in Christ. This understanding should inspire us to live lives that are fully pleasing to God, reflecting His righteousness in all we do. [09:11]
"Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to allow the Holy Spirit to transform you more into the image of Christ?
Day 5: Victory Over Sin Through Imputed Righteousness
Our ability to live a holy life is rooted in the forgiveness and righteousness we have in Christ. The imputed righteousness is the foundation for our practical holiness, and it is only through this that we can achieve victory over sin. As we pursue holiness, we are called to live lives that are pleasing to God, recognizing that our actions matter to Him. This pursuit is not about earning God's favor but about living in the fullness of the righteousness we have received, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us into the image of Christ. [11:07]
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of sin in your life where you need to rely on the imputed righteousness of Christ to find victory today?
Sermon Summary
The pursuit of holiness as justified believers is a profound journey that intertwines the imputed righteousness of Christ with our lived-out holiness. As believers, we are justified by faith, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, which is a glorious truth that assures us of God's complete favor. However, this does not negate the call to live a life that pleases God. The question arises: Does God's pleasure in us depend solely on Christ's work, or does it also involve our own actions? The answer lies in understanding the relationship between justification and sanctification.
Justification by faith means that Christ's obedience is imputed to us, making us righteous before God. This is a foundational truth that should not be compromised. Yet, sanctification, the process of becoming holy, is equally important. It is not in conflict with justification but complements it. The Bible exhorts us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. This means that while we are justified and accepted by God, He is not indifferent to our actions. Our practical holiness is a response to the imputed holiness we have received.
God's delight in us is twofold: He delights in us as His justified children and seeks to make us delightful through our lived-out holiness. This pursuit of holiness is not about earning God's favor but about living in the fullness of the righteousness we have received. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, transforming us into the image of Christ. Our aim should be to please God in all we do, recognizing that our ability to do so is rooted in the forgiveness and righteousness we have in Christ.
Key Takeaways
1. Justification by faith is the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us, making us fully accepted by God. This foundational truth assures us of God's unwavering favor, but it does not negate the call to pursue holiness in our daily lives. [05:59]
2. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy, and it complements justification. It is not in conflict with being justified by faith but is a necessary response to it. Our practical holiness is a reflection of the imputed holiness we have received. [06:29]
3. God's delight in us is both in our status as justified children and in our pursuit of holiness. He is not indifferent to our actions but desires us to live in a way that reflects His righteousness and brings Him glory. [07:49]
4. The pursuit of holiness is not about earning God's favor but about living in the fullness of the righteousness we have received. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ, enabling us to live lives that please God. [09:11]
5. Our ability to live a holy life is rooted in the forgiveness and righteousness we have in Christ. The imputed righteousness is the foundation for our practical holiness, and it is only through this that we can achieve victory over sin. [11:07] ** [11:07]
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Pursuit of Holiness
Bible Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:21
Colossians 1:10
Romans 5:19
---
Observation Questions:
According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, what is the significance of Christ being made sin for us? How does this relate to our righteousness before God?
In Colossians 1:10, what does Paul mean by walking "in a manner worthy of the Lord"? How does this relate to pleasing God?
Romans 5:19 speaks about the obedience of one man. Who is this referring to, and what is the result of this obedience for many?
---
Interpretation Questions:
How does the concept of imputed righteousness in 2 Corinthians 5:21 provide assurance of God's favor towards believers? [03:34]
In what ways does Colossians 1:10 suggest that our actions and lifestyle are important to God, even though we are justified by faith? [07:21]
Romans 5:19 discusses the obedience of Christ. How does this obedience impact our understanding of justification and sanctification? [04:21]
---
Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you felt God's pleasure in your life. How did your actions align with the call to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord? [07:37]
How can you actively pursue holiness in your daily life without falling into the trap of trying to earn God's favor? [09:11]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle with sin. How can the assurance of imputed righteousness help you find victory in this area? [08:18]
What practical steps can you take this week to ensure that your actions reflect the righteousness you have received in Christ? [06:11]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your pursuit of holiness. How can you be more open to the Spirit's transforming work in your life? [11:33]
How do you balance the understanding that you are fully accepted by God with the call to live a life that pleases Him? [05:59]
Think of a specific way you can encourage someone else in their pursuit of holiness. How can you support them in their journey this week? [09:31]
Sermon Clips
"One of my concerns is that the stress on justification by faith which is a glorious doctrine not to be diminished or compromised at all, has not been accompanied by a biblically proportionate focus on sanctification by faith and one form that this neglect has taken is the hesitancy for some pastors to say to their people, you should seek to please the lord by the way you live." [00:14:32]
"There's no doubt that throughout the gospels and throughout the epistles we are exhorted to walk that is live practically with our minds and our attitudes and members of our body we're exhorted to walk in a way that pleases the lord and you'd you may not please the lord if you don't walk that way now that's not a peripheral teaching and it's not in conflict with justification by faith." [00:27:02]
"The moment we experience authentic faith in christ and are thus united to him at that moment, his death counts as the punishment of all our sin so that all divine wrath is forever removed from us and in that same glorious moment, christ's entire obedience is counted as ours so that he fulfills for us every demand that the law made on us in order to be found in god's everlasting favor." [00:49:57]
"The fact that god reckons us to be perfect in christ and thus acceptable to him in his holiness does not mean that god is willing to leave us in a condition embattled by sin where we can't fully enjoy him forever. The fact that god accepts us fully in christ means he is fully committed to making us fully happy forever which means that he is displeased with anything short of our joyful perfection in attitude and heart and mind and body." [01:01:19]
"God does not only intend to count us righteous because of christ but to make us righteous because of christ. To say that he sees us clothed with the righteousness of christ for the sake of justification does not mean that he has become blind to the attitudes and thoughts and deeds of our life on earth. He has not become blind or indifferent to our lived out holiness." [01:17:44]
"Practical holiness is only possible because of the prior imputed holiness. God means to get glory for jesus not only as the one who deals with the guilt of our sin by justification but also the one who deals with the power of our sin by sanctification. Over and over, paul tells christians to make it their aim to please the lord by the way they walk, that is the way they live." [01:24:40]
"The flip side of this repeated refrain that we can and should please the lord by the way we live is the fact that we can displease the lord by the way we live even as justified, accepted, loved children of god. Paul says do not grieve the holy spirit of god ephesians 4 30. and in first thessalonians 5 19 he says do not quench the spirit and in hebrews 12 god disciplines those he loves, his justified children." [01:35:12]
"There is imputed righteousness and there is imparted righteousness. The imputed righteousness is the foundation of imparted righteousness. The only sin you can get any victory over is a forgiven sin, not the other way around. The imputed righteousness is the way we become the children of god so that he now exerts his omnipotent fatherly favor to impart his own righteousness to us by the spirit." [01:42:42]
"Proverbs 3 12 says the lord reproves him whom he loves as a father the son in whom he get this word delights. So god is seeking to make us delightful to him in our lived out holiness and happiness because we are delightful to him as his justified children." [01:56:59]
"God cannot be indifferent to our everlasting happiness which means being indifferent to our everlasting holiness. Yes and amen thank you pastor john thank you for joining us today you can ask a question of your own search our growing archive or subscribe to the podcast all at desiringgod.org forward slash askpastorjohn." [02:01:12]
"God's delight in us is both in our status as justified children and in our pursuit of holiness. He is not indifferent to our actions but desires us to live in a way that reflects His righteousness and brings Him glory." [01:17:44]
"The pursuit of holiness is not about earning God's favor but about living in the fullness of the righteousness we have received. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ, enabling us to live lives that please God." [01:24:40]