Holiness

To pursue holiness in our personal lives, in our families, and in this part of our Lord’s body, trusting the Holy Spirit to conform us to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The church is to declare, instruct, encourage, and discipline its members in regard to the holy standards of a holy God. Personal holiness is not a legalistic set of human regulations, but the joyful adherence to every command and principle of Scripture out of honor, reverence and love for the One who shed His precious blood that we might have life.

2 Co 7:1 – Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Php 3:7-8 – But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Hate Sin

We must learn to hate sin, not simply avoid it!

Pr 8:13 – “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.

Take thoughts captive

Sin begins in our inner man, our motives, thoughts, and attitudes.

2 Co 10:5 – We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Love Righteousness

We are to delight in doing that which is good and thus looking more like Christ. This must be our highest pleasure and goal.

Ro 12:21 – Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose – Jim Elliott