Surrender - be free!

Will Hotchkiss was a missionary in Africa in the late 1800s.  On one occasions he described some of the conditions that he and his colleagues faced in the early days of their work.  They lived for more than two months on beans and sour milk, facing attack from man-eating lions and watching their friends die.  But he said, ‘don’t talk to me about sacrifice.  It is no sacrifice.’  He spoke of the joy of his ministry and then added, ‘I can never think of these forty years in terms of sacrifice.  I saw Christ and His cross and I did this because I loved Him.’

I want to talk to you about surrender because I want you to be happy.  I want you to give your all to Jesus because I want you to be blessed.  I want you to take up your cross because that is the way to experience life in all its fullness.

1. God wants to control your life for good

From the moment we are conceived our hearts were in rebellion against the loving rule of God.  King David explains, ‘Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me’ (Psalm 51:5).  Our natural state is one of enmity towards God.  The apostle Paul says, ‘The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so’ (Romans 8:7).  I am assuming that you are born again, which involves not only accepting Christ as your Saviour but enthroning him as your king.  Through the internal work of the Holy Spirit we have been brought to a place of surrender.  The white flag has been raised.   We have conquered by love.  We have gladly placed our lives under the generous rule of our gracious Lord.

But there is a struggle!  Although we have a new heart, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we battle the impulses of the sinful nature every day.  Something within us recoils at saying, ‘thy will be done.’  The world, the flesh and the devil shout at us, declaring that God’s rule is unreasonable, that he wants to stifle our joy and that he does not know what is good for us.  That is a big lie!  Our God is committed to the good of his people.  Indeed, there is no real loss in handing over your life to the loving rule of Christ, quite the contrary.  Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes, ‘for those of us who are followers of Christ, any resistance to the will of God will keep us from enjoying an abundant life and will create barriers in our fellowship with God … Surrender is the source of freedom and fullness.’

Your sinful nature seeks to enslave you.  Beware of the sin which so easily entangles (Heb. 12:1).   Refusing Christ’s command to forgive enslaves you to bitterness.  Over-eating doesn’t deliver the comfort it promises; it makes us feel deflated and helpless.  Living to please people will leave you insecure.  If your let you tongue speak without restraint you will leave a trail of broken relationships all around you.  Keep people at an arm’s length and you will never experience the joy of being reconciled.  Avoid leaving your comfort zone and you will remain weak and immature.  Escape to a world of sexual or emotional fantasy and you will experience emptiness rather than intimacy.  Get absorbed with endless television viewing and the real world will pass you by.  God wants so much more for you!  You were saved to be free—a slave who is free!

2. God wants you to be a slave who is free.
In the Old Testament there were occasions where poverty-stricken Jews were forced to sell themselves into the service of their fellow Jews.  But this was very different from our understanding of slavery.  There were rules to ensure their well-treatment and they were to be freed at the end of six years.  However, there was an unusual provision for those who loved their masters and wanted to remain on as their slaves.  ‘If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years.  But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything … But if the servant declares, “I love my master … and do not want to go free,” then his master must take him before the judges.  He shall take him to the door or the door-post and pierce his ear with an awl.  Then he will be his servant for life’ (Exodus 21:1-6).

This slave was making a voluntary, lifetime and irrevocable commitment to be owned by the master that he loved.  Such enslavement pictures the attitude of Christ and the call for us.

Jesus gladly subjected himself to the rule of the Father.  From all eternity he who is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit placed himself under the authority of his Father.  As he entered our world, his glory veiled, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant [literally ‘slave’] being made in human likeness, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).  He said, ‘I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me’ (John 6:38).  He explained that the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45).  Amazingly, when he returns in glory he will serve those who love him.   ‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.  Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will make them recline at the table and will come and wait on them’ (Luke 12:35-37).

We too want to become slaves of our loving master because we love him.  We serve, ‘in view of God’s mercy’ (Rom. 12:1).  Christ has rescued us from sin and death, and poured his love into our lives.  Our obedience to him is actually his gift to us—for we can only serve him in acceptable manner because we are forgiven and his Holy Spirit is now working in and through us.  The psalmist implores us to ‘serve God with gladness’ (100:2).  ‘In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome’ (1 John 5:3).  God loves a cheerful giver, who sees the privilege in such service (2 Cor. 9:7).  Jesus teaches us to abide in him that his joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete (John 15:11).  ‘The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed’ (John Piper), for it honours God when we take delight in doing his will (Ps. 37:4).  At the end of a life marked by tremendous suffering, the pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor said, ‘I never made a sacrifice.’  He counted it all as joy! 

Jesus endured the cross, ‘for the joy that was set before him’ (Hebrews 12:2).  He was motivated by future reward.  Similarly, God woos us to obedience with gracious promises.  He responds to the outworking of the grace of obedience with lavish rewards.  Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal’ (Matthew 6:19-20).   ‘Love your enemies … and your reward will be great’ (Luke 6:35).  ‘When you give a dinner or banquet … invite the poor … and you will be blessed … You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:12-14).   ‘Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him’ (Heb. 11:6).

My problem with the so-called Prosperity Gospel is not that they promise rewards to those who give but that they promise the wrong rewards.  The motivate people saying, ‘give to my ministry and God will grant you financial prosperity,’ but the New Testament warns of those who see godliness as a means of material gain and that ‘the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil’ (1 Tim. 6:10).  They say that it is never God’s will for you to suffer, but the New Testament tells us to rejoice in our many trials makes our faith mature (James 1:2-4).     

Conclusion                                                                             

Finally, remember that surrendering to God isn’t simply about the great and noble sacrifice.  It’s about gladly honouring God in a thousand little ways.  One preacher explained that while we think of giving our all to God being like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table—“Here’s my life, Lord.  I’m giving it all.”  The reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters.  We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there.  We probably will not lay down our life as a martyr, but we can take up our cross with a million acts of joyful surrender.

Not being resentful when no one else offers to help tidy up, is a little act of surrender.  Letting love cover of multitude of sins, rather than making a big deal about someone being rude to us, is a little act of surrender.  Looking out for those who have no one to talk to after church is a little act of surrender.  Listening well, rather than daydreaming as they talk to you, is a little act of surrender.  ‘Realising that every act of obedience is significant in God’s economy and that it is for Him will add a sense of purpose and joy as we bring our sacrifices and offerings’ (Nancy Leigh DeMoss).

Get real

When I was applying to be a Methodist minister I had to attend a weekend away.  Part of this weekend away involved two psychological tests.  To my great embarrassment I failed them both.  I believe that I failed one because I did not listen well to the instructions, but the other failed test revealed something very serious. 

The test I failed was filled with subtle questions to reveal if you were being honest with people.  Although I convinced myself that I was answering truthfully, I was not.  The heart is so deceitful that often can fool our own selves.  The truth is that I was not willing to be vulnerable because I feared that I would be rejected if these people knew what I was really like.    

How real are you with people?  Are you willing to be vulnerable?  Do you feel free to ask for help?  This morning we are looking at the topic of transparency.  To be transparent is to be humble, honest and real with God and people.  Transparency is a key to experiencing spiritual renewal and to being a blessing to those around you.

1.  Transparency reveals that we understand the gospel

King Saul and King David both failed big time.  But the difference between these two men was not that they sinned but how they responded to being confronted with their sin.  Saul was confronted by the prophet Samuel and he made excuses.  He was caught red-handed and said, ‘please don’t tell the people’ (1 Samuel 15:30).  David wouldn’t face up to the magnitude of his sin for a whole year, but eventually the prophet Nathan got him to admit his wickedness, and he wrote two great Psalms of confession (32 and 51).  David knew that every time we read those two psalms we would be reminded of the awful things he had done.  Yet true repentance is not into saving face.

Transparency reveals that we get the gospel.  God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.  The gospel says that we are not only saved by grace, we are kept in grace.  The blood of Jesus not only cleansed us from past sin, it goes on cleansing us from current sin (1 John 1:5).  Indeed, the apostle John says that if we say that we do have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).  The gospel not only allowed the apostle Paul admit that he had been the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) but that at times he still felt that he was a hopeless wretch (Romans 7:13-25).  Transparent people admit that they struggle with temptations, sin and weakness.

Jesus was the only person who has had no sins to confess, yet he did experience many other weaknesses.  He was transparent! He got tired, thirsty and hungry. He wept.  He was willing to ask people for help.  In the Garden of Gethsemane he was open about his agony.   I find it amazing that the gospel writers include the fact that Jesus became so weak after his flogging that he was too weak to carry the beam of his cross.  The creator of the universe experienced what it was to be physically and emotionally broken.  He offered prayers with loud cries and tears (Heb. 5:11).  He made himself utterly dependant on the Father.  Because of Jesus we know that it is safe to be transparent with God.  He knows our hearts better than we do.  He has forgiven our sin.  He wants to help us in our temptations.  ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy in our time of need (4:15-16).

2. Transparency reveals that we care about the church and its people

‘When we refuse to shed that hard, outer shell called “self,” no one can get close to us; no one can penetrate or enter into our life.  Just as pride repulses God, so pride keeps others from getting close to us.’ (Nancy Leigh DeMoss).

My guess is it that for many of you it is a lot easier to be transparent with God than it is to be transparent with his people.  We know that God is gracious, but his people can be harsh and judgemental.  Maybe you have opened up to people only to find that they failed to understand you, did not seem to care about your pain, gave you lousy advice or ended up gossiping about you.  Nevertheless we are commanded to be transparent.  James writes, ‘confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed’ (James 5:16).

Your vulnerability will bless the church and impact the world.  It is only when we are transparent with each other that we can truly live out the gospel together.  Without vulnerability there can be no intimacy.  The church can’t enjoy real fellowship it we keep each other at arm’s length.  Jesus prayed that we might be one ‘so that the world may know that you sent me’ (John 17:23).  The world will know God is with us when it sees broken people accepting other broken people for the sake of Jesus.  Are there people in this church who really know you?  Are you willing to join the apostle Paul in boasting of the things that show your weakness (2 Cor. 11:30)?  Do you come to these meetings with a willingness to be vulnerable?

Not only will other people be blessed if you are transparent, you need to be transparent for the good of your soul.  The masks we wear are a symptom of our pride.  The image we carefully project reveals hardness in our heart.  Pretending to be strong will leave you weak.   This is pride that robs us of intimacy with God.  ‘Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud he knows from afar’ (Psalm 138:6).  ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up’ (James 4:10).

Transparency blesses us by increasing your intimacy with people.  We need fellowship with God’s people.  God saw Adam and saw that it was not good for him to be alone.  We were made as relational beings.  His people are God’s gift to us.  When we confess our sins to each other we can encourage each other by reminding them of the infinite grace that flows from the cross and seek to strengthen them. 

We are actually to be transparent so that we can invite correction.  ‘Reprove a wise man and he will love you’ (Proverbs 9:8).  ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend’ (Proverbs 27:6).  Those who take holiness seriously will seek out accountability partners.  They will lift the phone and call for help, or text, when facing times of specific temptation.  They won’t talk about their struggles in vague terms.   They will be specific, because they are seeking specific prayers for help. 

What joy can you take from your carefully crafted image?  What delight can you have in not truly being known?  What support can you receive if you will not be vulnerable?  Be open and real.  Let your life display confidence in our gracious, kind and loving Saviour.

Conclusion

The opposite of transparency is pretence, which is pride.  Being real is an act of humility.  It may cost you to be honest.  Immature people may judge you.  Unloving people may slander you.  Self-righteous people will rejoice to look down on you.  But they don’t understand the gospel.  It may even hurt when the faithful challenge you with truth spoken in love.

The transparent people enable people by transparent in return.  The transparent person does not fear the skeletons in their closet because they know that they are forgiven.  They know that it magnifies the grace of God to reveal some of what they have been forgiven from.  They are willing to share their weaknesses and struggles because they always acknowledge their dependence on God.  God is the one who gets the glory!  Transparent people grow in your faith.  They come to know the encouragement of fellow strugglers.  They will be open to the transforming grace that is given to the humble.  Charles Spurgeon said, ‘he that humbles himself under the hand of God shall not fail to be enriched, uplifted, sustained, and comforted by the ever-gracious One.  It is a habit of Jehovah to cast down the proud, and lift up the lowly.’  Be transparent and you will be free!  ‘In reality brokenness brings a release, which produces a deep sense of joy and peace’ (Nancy Leigh DeMoss).

Pride - the mother of all sins

You have a problem with pride

You have a problem, and it is a very serious problem.  The problem is pride.  Maybe you want to protest.  ‘I am not really that proud.’  ‘There are worse things than being proud.’  Please don’t be so foolish.  Pride is a wretched, foolish and disgusting sin.

When you hold a grudge there is pride.  We are all greatly concerned about what people think of us, because we are proud.  When the photograph is passed around the first face I look for is mine, because I want to ensure that picture portrays me well.  You might be proud of the family you come from, or alternatively, you’re proud of the fact that you have done so well given your disadvantaged background.  We crave applause and approval.  Proud people are really annoyed when people forget to thank them.  We think that everyone needs to hear our opinion.  Racism is a sin of twisted, unbiblical logic that is bathed in pride.  But your pride makes a fool of you—for in pride you seek to be honoured, but your actions leave people thinking less of you.

Do you judge people?  Do you have a critical spirit?  Do you push to get your way?  These are all symptoms of pride.  Maybe you are scared to use your talents, in case people think you are a show-off.  That’s inverted-pride.  Can you be real with people or do you out on a face?  When was the last time you asked another Christian to pray for you regarding a temptation you struggle with?  When was the last time you confessed your failures to people in the church?   Are you willing to be open about your weaknesses?  When was the last time you said sorry to someone?  Proud people flee from intimacy and hate vulnerability.

Pride not only causes us to hurt others, it hurts us.  When you criticise me, it’s not your words that hurt, it’s my wounded pride that causes me to suffer.  Marriages are ruined by a proud spouse that refuses to admit the problem is serious.  Proud people don’t like to seek help, and so the proud person goes on living in pain.  Pride will make you jealous and angry.  It is very hard to say sorry to a proud person because they rub you nose in it.    

Pride is the mother of all evil

The scary thing is how seriously God takes pride.  ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).  ‘Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than him’ (Proverbs 26:12).  ‘Pride and arrogance … I hate’, says that Lord (Proverbs 8:13).  ‘Everyone who is proud is an abomination to the Lord’ (Proverbs 16:5).  It was pride that led the Satan to fall from being an angel of God (Isaiah 14:12-14).  It was pride that caused Adam and Eve to want to be like God, and so herald the reign of human sin and death.  In the early centuries of the church the great preacher Chrysostom called pride the mother of all evils.  C. S. Lewis wrote of pride saying, ‘there is one vice of which no man in the world is free … the more we have it in ourselves, the more we dislike it in others … it is a completely anti-God state of mind.’

So how can proud people like us know that we are born again?

If the proud are an abomination to the Lord, and I admit I have a problem with pride, how can I have any confidence that I am really a Christian?  I can be sure I am a Christian if the gospel has humbled me.  Has the Holy Spirit convicted you of your sin?  Have your eyes been opened to the fact that in your wickedness you deserve God’s eternal punishment?  Have you being brought to that place where you realise that you have no other option but to cry out with the tax-collector in the temple, ‘have mercy on me, a sinner’ (Luke 18:13)?  Do you see that it is only by the death of Christ that you can experience peace with God?

The Bible gives us a view of ourselves that must make us humble.  We are a people rescued from our evil and rebellion by his unmerited favour (Ephesians 2:8).  Not only that, our every breath is a gift from God.  Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of heavenly lights (James 1:17).  We should know that our talents are his gifts and so we say, ‘by the grace of God I am what I am’ (1 Corinthians 15:10).  ‘What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you received it why do you boast as if you did not receive it?’ (1 Corinthians 4:7). Our desire to please God is because he works within us to will and act according to his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).  It is not so much our love for God that compels us, but the realisation of his love for us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).  If do anything truly good for the kingdom of God it is only because God enabled it—‘I was not I that worked but the grace of God that was with me’ (1 Corinthians 15:10).

We know that we are born again, because the gospel has humbled us.  The gospel makes a humbled people who struggle with pride, rather than a proud person who refuses to accept God's life transforming truth.  But even as humbled people we still wrestle with pride for the flesh wars against the Holy Spirit in us  The Holy Spirit wars against the flesh so we hate our pride (Galatians 5:16-21).  We actually see evidence that we are God’s humbled people by the fact that we are willing to admit we have a problem with pride—‘if we say that we are without sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us’ (1 John 1:8).  Awareness of our own pride actually makes us humble.

God is committed to making you humble through his loving discipline.

Jesus was the only person who had something he could boast about—he was the sinless creator not a sinful creature.  Yet he is described as being gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29).  He actively chose to humble himself, saying that I did not come to be served but to serve, and give my life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).  He left heaven, became a human-being, took the nature of a servant, and humbled himself to the kind of death that proud people did not mention in polite company (Philippians 2:6-8).  Reflecting on Jesus should inspire us to be humble. 

God is so committed to our humility that he is willing to humiliate us to deal with this awful sin of pride.  The Proverbs explain that ‘the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:11-12).  The writer to Hebrews explains that no discipline seems pleasant at the time but that God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:11).  We grow more though pain than comfort.  God prunes us to make us more fruitful (John 15).  The apostle Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, to keep him from becoming conceited (2 Cor. 12:7).

It would seem that one of the means that God grew the apostle Paul in grace was the unfair criticism he so often had to endure.  Sometimes it is even harder to accept genuine criticism than such slander, because correction wounds our pride.  But those who want to be more holy should see correction as a blessing.  ‘Reprove a wise man and he will love you’ (Proverbs 9:8b).  But ‘do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you’ (Proverbs 9:8a).  If those who are close to you are scared to challenge your attitudes and actions it may be because they think so little of you.

God wants us to be humble because he cares about our joy

Finally, remember that our gracious and good God wants us to grow in humility because he cares about our joy.  Like any loving father he wants what is best for his children.  Think of the blessings of growing in humility compared to the pain of being stuck with our pride.

Pride makes us bitter, but humility fills our hearts with thanksgiving.  Pride makes us resentful, but humility makes serving others a source of happiness.  Pride makes us defensive, but humility enables us to experience intimacy.  Pride causes us to fall out with people, but humility causes us to be peacemakers.  Pride closes our ears to correction, but humility enables us to change.  Only the humble can be content in all circumstances.  Pride damages our relationship with God, but the Lord declares, ‘this is the one to whom I look, to him who is humble and contrite in heart’ (Isaiah 66:2).  Pride makes you ineffective for God, but humble people are used by God to bring people into his kingdom—‘I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, so that many may be saved’ (1 Corinthians 10:33).  Pride stops us marvelling at grace, humility causes us to delight in a God who saves the worst of sinners like me.  Best of all, we want to grow in humility because it makes us more like Jesus.

Final word

In his classic book on holiness J. C. Ryle wrote, ‘surely that man must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of all that Jesus suffered, and yet cling to those sins for which that suffering was undergone.’  Similarly, it would be a hard heart that claims to have received Christ’s love and not hate the things he hates.  He loves you, but he hates the pride he sees in you.  So remind yourself of the gospel of grace.  Be inspired by the humility of Jesus, and the beauty of those who reflect his character.  Submit you self to his loving disciple.  Dwell on the great blessings that accompany growth in humility.  Now make ‘every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy’ for ‘without holiness no one will see the Lord’ (Hebrews 12:14).

The enemy within

The rewards and threats of the flesh

You are something of a Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde.  You want to do what is good, but you do what is evil.  You desire to please God, but you end up doing the things he hates.  You see the sinful nature lives in you, we have an enemy within.

The sinful nature knows how to make a fool of you.  It offers you rewards.  The writer to the Hebrews reminds us of Moses ‘who chose not to enjoy the pleasures of sin’ (11:25-26).  These rewards are enticing.  Starring at that lady jogger actually realises endorphins.  Fantasising about another man relieves some of the sin of having to live with Mister Not-So-Perfect.  Gossip really is juicy.  Laziness is comfortable.  A critical spirit gives a great sense of superiority.  Gluttony tastes good for a while.  Indeed sin is like pigging out on junk food—it seems nice for a moment but ends up leaving you feeling sick.

If the sinful nature can’t get you with the carrot it will threaten you with a stick.  When Moses forsook the pleasures of sin he had to endure being mistreated and disgrace.  Generosity is costly.  Kindness takes effort.  It is not easy to tell the truth.  If you think people are easy to love then you don’t really know very many of them.  Giving up resentment feels like death.  Forgiveness requires letting go of bitterness.  The sinful nature will remind you of the cost of holiness.  The writer to the Hebrews speaks of resisting sin to the point of shedding blood (12:4).  The Christian life is not for the timid!

The enemy of the flesh

Thankfully, all is not lost.  Not only does the sinful nature dwell within you, but, if you are born again, the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart.  Every Christian has been given a new heart (Ezek. 36:26).  We have the mind of Christ (Rom. 8:26).  God grants us new desires (2 Cor. 5:2).  While the sinful nature within us wars against the Spirit, the Holy Spirit dwelling in us wars against the sinful nature (Gal. 5:17). 

One fruit of the Holy Spirit is a hatred of sin.  It is not that the Christian cannot sin, but they cannot ultimately be happy in their sin.  Sin makes us feel miserable.  There is a godly sorrow that leads to repentance, which leaves no room for regret (2 Cor. 7:10).  The Anglican Book of Common Prayer says, ‘we weep and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions.’  If you are not sorry about the sin in your life then I doubt that you are born again.  If you have made a truce with your sinful nature then you are in grave spiritual danger.  We should actually be asking God to reveal more of our sin so that we could seek his help to change.  ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart … See if there is any offensive way within me, and lead me in the way everlasting’ (Ps. 139:23-25).

The battle of the mind

The battle against the sinful nature begins in the mind.  Think of Joseph.  His master’s wife said, ‘Come to bed with me!’  She was relentless in pursing him day after day.  He knew she could make his life miserable.  But he applied his reason.  His mind was protected by two truths: the awfulness of sin (‘how could I do such a wretched thing?’) and the goodness of God (‘how could I sin against God?’).  Remember that every sin is a matter of forsaking the God whose love endures forever (Jer. 2:19).

Keep the cross in view.  It is at the cross where we most clearly see the wretchedness of sin and the goodness of God.  As one writer puts it, ‘If you want to know how infinitely deep the rot of sin reaches, you have to think through the implications of the cross.  If you want to know how far God is willing to go to rescue you from sin, you have to see his precious Son hanging on the cross for you.’  Centre all your prayers on the cross of Christ.

But the battle is often lost in the mind.  The sinful nature preaches a distorted gospel.  ‘Go ahead and sin.  Hasn’t Christ’s blood already paid for that transgression?’  The sinful nature loves to divide and conquer (remember you cannot serve both God and money, and you cannot both love the world and God).  The sinful nature provides great excuses.  ‘Sure you are only human, and everyone else is doing it.’  When you find some measure of victory in one area of sin the sinful nature then tempt you towards the greater sin of pride.

Cultivate intimacy in God

The Psalmist asks, ‘How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word!’ (Ps. 119:9).  The Bible displays the beauty of God, centres of the death of Jesus and promises to work within us.  It can change our mind.  Allow this book to fill you with the thoughts of the character, glory, majesty, love, beauty and goodness of God.

God has also given us prayer.  Strive for an intimate relationship with God.  But realise that the sinful nature will fight tooth and nail to get you not to pray.  Getting out of bed in the morning to pray is a battle (the sinful nature knows about the snooze button).  When you get down to praying don’t be surprised that your mind is filled with distracting thoughts.  The sinful nature will even remind you of all the urgent and good things that you could do instead of spending time talking with God.  We have to be prepared to sacrifice the good for the best.

It is those who are truly heavenly-minded who will be holy.  Look forward to what awaits you.  ‘Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure’ (1 John 3:2-3). 

The benefits of holiness

What are the benefits of holiness? 

Assurance of salvation is one of the benefits of holiness.  Without holiness no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14).  We grow in our confidence that Christ has saved us as we see evidence of the new desires and actions that the Holy Spirit enables. 

Intimacy with God is a benefit of holiness.  Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God (Matthew 5:8).  As Don Carson explains, ‘The pure in heart are blessed because they will see God.  Although this is not ultimately true until the new heaven and earth, yet it is true even now.  Our perception of God and his ways, as well as our fellowship with him, depends on our purity of heart’.

Avoiding the negative consequences of sin is a benefit of holiness.  The psalmist declares, ‘many are the woes of the wicked’ (Ps. 32:10).  The apostle Paul warns us that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:8-10).  While we may know God’s forgiveness sometimes the evil we do nevertheless results in consequences that hurt us.

Holiness makes us beautiful.  Humankind was made in the image of God.  But when Adam and Eve sinned we were given over to corruption (Romans 5:12-21).  We are still God’s image-bearers (Genesis 9:6, James 3:9), but the image is distorted (Genesis 6:5 and Ecclesiastes 7:29).  A beauty has been lost.  Yet as God transforms our lives he restores this beauty.  He not only want to make us more like Adam, before he fell, but like the wonderful human of all, Jesus.  Holiness is beautiful.  The godly man displays the wonderful virtue of a kind strength.  The gentle woman has an inner beauty that outward appearance can never match (see Proverbs 31:30).    

A labour of love

Let holiness be a labour of love.

Love is a powerful force.  ‘Love is as strong as death … it burns like a blazing fire … rivers cannot wash it away’ (Song of Songs 8:6-7).  Jesus said, ‘if you love me you will obey my commands.’  Love delights in the thought that our little lives, taught and enabled by the Holy Spirit of God, can actually bring pleasure to our Father in heaven.

But never think that your efforts to be holy are paying God back for saving your soul.  Holiness is actually his gift to you.  Apart from him you can do no good thing.  He is the one who stirs up the desire to be holy and who enables us to overcome temptation.  So ‘good deeds do not pay back grace, they borrow more grace’ (John Piper).  Our God wants us to go deeper in debt to grace.  He wants us to draw freely from his infinite love and enabling so that we might experience the ever-increasing joy of a life that is being made more like Jesus.