What Comes After the Gospel?
Okay, last week we talked about THE MOST IMPORTANT THING that could ever be talked about: the Gospel, in “Why the Gospel Is Such a Big Deal.”
So, it only seems logical that we talk about what’s next… what comes AFTER we surrender to the hope of the Gospel: repenting of our sin, believing that Jesus died on our behalf & rose victorious over both sin AND death, surrendering to HOPE… what comes next?
God Is Perfectly Holy
This topic of holiness is something that I quite frankly have misunderstood my entire life.
I sort of understood the idea that GOD is holy… although the impact of that fact still somewhat eludes me & although I strive to learn, will probably never FULLY get it.
God is holy. He is perfect. He is without fault or sin (Psalm 92:15). He CANNOT do evil. There is NO darkness in Him, only Light (1 John 1:5). He never has sinned & never will (2 Corinthians 5:21). He CAN’T sin. He is the definition of complete perfection in every single way. ALL of His ways are Good & done in perfect wisdom & Truth.
BUT, then this little verse comes along, in 1 Peter 1:16, where God tells us, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Ooof.
Does the Idea of Holiness Make You Anxious?
Considering all that makes up the pure holiness of God, right away I need only review even just a brief snippet of my life (of today even), to feel completely overwhelmed by this command to BE HOLY.
How in the world am I supposed to live up to THAT?!
Well, first, let’s take it back to the Truth that gives us hope on this venture, the phrase I will keep repeating: “Our only hope is JESUS.” HE is our holiness before a perfect, holy GOD ALMIGHTY.
“For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus].” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
When we turn to, surrender to, & accept JESUS as our Hope (the Gospel), God credits JESUS’ holiness as OURS.
So, this is not a call to be holy OR ELSE. It’s not a threat, because Jesus already paid our debts in full.
But, we ought not stop there, beautiful lady.
Why Is Holiness Such a Big Deal?
If holiness doesn’t save us… what is the whole point of holiness? Why is holiness such a big deal?
Because we know. We know what we were saved from. We know what we deserved & the mercy that covered us. We know Hell was our path, but that Jesus gave His own life for our debt.
Because it’s commanded by God, “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)
Because we know it pleases Him.
What Is Holiness
Holiness is a longing… a striving… a journey… & not one done in our solitary efforts.
Holiness is worked out in us through the work of the Holy Spirit, Who gently leads, gently prunes, gently replaces the old you with a new you. (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Holiness is a partnership with God… a striving to live a life that pleases Him & to do only what pleases Him.
Holiness is striving to do ONLY what pleases God for ONLY the purpose of pleasing God… not for salvation, not to manipulate Him to answer our prayers, not to be “good enough”, not to be a “good” person… but only for the purpose of pleasing God.
We won’t always get it right. We’re not perfect. But it’s a pursuit well worth our efforts.
What Pleases God?
How do we know what pleases God, though?
The age-old answer: Read/study/meditate on the BIBLE (aka absolute Truth/the Word of God) & talk to Him/spend time with Him, by being still with Him.
And also, make sure to ask God to help you find a church that determines to teach from the Bible, not changing the Bible to fit culture, but seeking to change culture to fit the Bible. We’re easier to trick when we stand alone. God continually emphasizes the need for church fellowship throughout the Bible. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
The Holy Spirit guides & affirms us in our efforts to live a holy life. The Bible tells us to acknowledge God in all our ways & He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6). That means, acknowledge that He alone is God & therefore He alone knows what ought to be done or how something ought to be handled. He will help teach you what pleases Him as you continue to seek Him in this pursuit.
Crave Revival–A Renewed Surrender & Closeness with God Our Father
When I first began this journey of holiness, in working through the “Seeking Him” study by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth & Tim Grissom, I was SUPER convicted when they addressed pride with God. I knew I struggled, but WOW.
This led me to realize that I was SERIOUSLY down-playing God’s PERFECT HOLINESS & not taking my personal journey for holiness serious enough!
It’s easy to feel good compared to people who express a lack of desire to grow at all in this area… but when compared to God? I FAIL… COMPLETELY… like NOT EVEN CLOSE to being good. And OOF, that hurt.
In praying to understand God’s holiness better, He led me to begin reading, “The Pursuit of Holiness,” by Jerry Bridges. (DEFINITELY & HIGHLY RECOMMEND.)
CRAVE REVIVAL!
God Beckons
As we seek to live a holy life (one that pleases God in everything) & as we seek to understand God’s PERFECT holiness, our own impurity & imperfections will become magnified, creating in us a grief as seen in Isaiah, when he encountered God’s splendor & holiness. (Isaiah 6)
And Satan will try to tell you to turn away from God, to accept your shame & never return… but God gently beckons us home to Him, saying, “Yes, My child, Jesus died for that, too. Repent & return to Me.”
“His mercies are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) THANK GOD for THAT!
And God comforts us, in Matthew 5:4, when He says, “Blessed are those who mourn [over their sin], because they will be comforted.” God doesn’t leave us in our own muck. He offers us comfort, healing, restoration, & growth through our human imperfections, through the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
(*Read my former post on “Matthew 5-The Ladder of Growth,” here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.)
Heed the Call: Humble Yourself & Pray for a Revival of Your Heart for God
So, my call to you (& ME) is this: Strive to “be holy, for God is holy” (1 Peter 1:16) & ask for God’s help AS you do it.
He is gentle & kind & ALMIGHTY & completely worthy of our pursuit.
What are you holding back from God?
Jerry Bridges mentioned in his book:
“If there is not, then, at least a yearning in our hearts to live a holy life pleasing to God, we need to seriously question whether our faith in Christ is genuine.”
(The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges, p. 33)
For, while the Bible tells us that salvation is of God, not of works, so that no man may boast… He also tells us in, “Faith without works is dead.”
If you say you believe but don’t live what you claim to believe… can you really genuinely claim to believe?
“Jesus says:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, & done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
(The Holy Bible, NKJV, Matthew 7:21-23)
Shine Hope, by Striving to Live a Holy Life
Do you long for holiness? To grow in holiness?
What is holding you back?
Humble yourself before God & repent of any pride that is holding you back from this pursuit.
God is worthy of our pursuit of holiness.
Shine HOPE by striving to live a life that pleases God for only the purpose of pleasing God.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement.
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
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A Note from Michelle:
This blog/website has been running for THREE years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Zoya Earrings (India)
Zoya means “shining, life” in Hindi. These stylishly stunning gold-toned earrings are handcrafted in India, featuring genuine freshwater pearls on a delicate linked-chain design. Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
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Purchase these earrings & empower an Artisan in India!
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