Reply To: The Holiness of God, Chapter 8 – Be Holy Because I Am Holy

[Lynne MazzaHilway]

This chapter definitely covered a lot. Our bible study once spent many weeks discussing keeping in step with the Spirit, using the same imagery as does Sproul- “saints are rank and file believers, requiring a disciplined education to rise to the call of holiness, to His absolute call of purity; it’s a special commission, the original assignment for the human race.” One gets the seriousness of such almost military, boot camp-like training. If those in service to countries and even police officers who go through academies to serve communities have to go through serious, rigorous training, even moreso should those of us in service to The King and His Kingdom. “We are to shine forth His glory to the world-the chief end of man, the very reason for our existence. As well as to enjoy Him forever.”
“Our worship or thank offering is to present our selves, our bodies as living sacrifices. Yet not with degrees of superficiality but at deeper levels, beyond externals.” At the level of the heart. “Control of the tongue and acting with integrity reveal (true) fruit of the Spirit.” I really appreciated the explanation of degrees of sin as we hear very often, I’m sure I’ve even said it myself, that there is no degree of sin. But it makes perfect sense in this context that sins of the body or external ones would be more serious than those of the heart, internal ones.
“Godliness and an uncontrolled tongue are incompatible.”

“A living faith immediately brings forth the fruits of repentance and righteousness, which is the goal of Christian growth.” Praise God for the Gospel, the Good (Great) News -“we are made just by the righteousness of Christ; we are covered and clothed by Him”!