THE PURSUIT OF PEACE AND HOLINESS
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
In “Running The Race Of Faith” (Heb 12:1-3), we saw the need to...
In “Running The Race Of Faith” (Heb 12:1-3), we saw the need to...
Lay aside things that would hinder us, especially the sin of unbelief
Have endurance, even as Jesus endured hostility and the cross
Focus our gaze on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, whose own example should encourage us not to become weary and discouraged
After reminding his readers of the value of the Lord’s chastening, the author of Hebrews returns to the metaphor of “running”...
After reminding his readers of the value of the Lord’s chastening, the author of Hebrews returns to the metaphor of “running”...
With a call to “run with style” - Heb 12:12-13
With instructions to pursue peace and holiness - Heb 12:14
With a word of caution, appealing to the example of Esau - Heb 12:15-17
One way to describe the Christian “race”, then, is “The Pursuit Of Peace And Holiness”...
One way to describe the Christian “race”, then, is “The Pursuit Of Peace And Holiness”...
How well are you doing in your pursuit?
Do you know what it is you are to be running after?
Are you aware of the possible pitfalls that can hinder you?
To encourage excellence in regards to our pursuit, let’s take a closer look at the passage, beginning with...
To encourage excellence in regards to our pursuit, let’s take a closer look at the passage, beginning with...
DISCUSSION
MAKING PREPARATION FOR OUR PURSUIT
MAKING PREPARATION FOR OUR PURSUIT
12 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; 13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
A Call to “Run with Style”
A Call to “Run with Style”
We are to “lift up” or strengthen...
“the hands which hang down”
“the palsied [or, weak] knees”
A common figure of speech (Job 4:3-4; Isa 35:3), calling us to shake off all weariness, to be firm and strong
We are to “make straight paths” for our feet, so that...
“which is lame be not turn out of the way” or, out of joint
“but rather be healed”
Another common expression (Isa 40:3-4), encouraging us to remove all that would hinder our progress (especially if we are weak)
The Implications of this Call
The Implications of this Call
First, we must respond to this call to action
This is something “we” are being called to do
We can’t expect God to do it all!
While God will certainly help us, we must make the effort -
12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
This call to action is not limited to strengthening just yourself
Certainly there is the personal application
But as concerned Christians, we should seek to:
“strengthen the hands...and feeble knees” of others
“make straight paths” for others
14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.
Those who are “spiritual” should be concerned for the weakness of others...
1 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
In a way, this call is similar to the one the Lord gave to Joshua
6 Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Which Joshua later gave to Israel
6 Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God.
Shall we not heed the call to “be strong and very courageous”, i.e., to “run with style”? Now, for some thoughts about...
Shall we not heed the call to “be strong and very courageous”, i.e., to “run with style”? Now, for some thoughts about...
THE GOAL OF OUR PURSUIT
THE GOAL OF OUR PURSUIT
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
The Goal of our Pursuit is Peace with All Men
The Goal of our Pursuit is Peace with All Men
We should not be surprised to read that we are to “follow [strive for] peace...”
Jesus is “The Prince of Peace”
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He died to make peace possible: with God, and with man -
1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
He taught that peacemakers will be called the children of God
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
A key element of the kingdom of God is peace
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.
Therefore, we are to pursue peace with all men...
19 So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.
18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.
How does one “follow after peace with all men”?
We follow after peace with all men by seeking peace with God first
7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
We must first make our relationship with God what it ought to be
Through Jesus, we can be at peace with God (Rom 5:1)
We follow after peace with all men by letting the peace of God rule in our hearts
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.
The Lord is able to “give you peace always in every way” (2 The 3:16)
How the Lord imparts peace:
Through His Word...
165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling.
Through prayer...
6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
If one is not at peace with himself, it is unlikely he can be at peace with others
We follow after peace with all men by doing things that make for peace
19 So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.
Such as being considerate of their conscience - cf. Rom 14:13-21
Seeking unity with compassion, love, tenderness, courtesy, and willing to
respond to evil or reviling with a blessing - cf. 1 Pet 3:8-11
The Goal of our Pursuit is Sanctification or Holiness - without which no one will see the Lord
The Goal of our Pursuit is Sanctification or Holiness - without which no one will see the Lord
As God is holy, so His children must be holy
14 as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance: 15 but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; 16 because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
How can one “follow after [strive for] sanctification or holiness...”?
True sanctification or holiness comes through:
Faith in Jesus
18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
The work of the Holy Spirit
11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
The Word of God
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
We cooperate with God in following after sanctification by:
Offering ourselves as “slaves of righteousness”
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification. 20 For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness. 21 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
We cooperate with God in perfecting holiness in the fear of God
1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Which includes cleansing ourselves from all “filthiness of the flesh and spirit” - 2 Cor 7:1
Also putting on the “new man...in true righteousness and holiness” -
24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
In many respects, this is what the Christian life is all about: pursuing peace and holiness!
How successful we are will depend on how diligently we avoid...
How successful we are will depend on how diligently we avoid...
PITFALLS THAT HINDER OUR PURSUIT
PITFALLS THAT HINDER OUR PURSUIT
15 looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; 16 lest there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. 17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.
One Pitfall is Falling Short of the Grace of God
One Pitfall is Falling Short of the Grace of God
Without God’s grace, none can be saved, pursue peace, or have the holiness necessary to see God!
But do Christians need to concern themselves with falling from grace?
Consider...
The warning not to neglect our great salvation - Heb 2:1-3
The warning not to be hardened by sin - Heb 3:12-14
The warning to be diligent - Heb 4:1, 11; cf. 2 Pet 1:10
The warning against willful sin - Heb 10:26-31
The warning not receive God’s grace in vain - 2 Cor 6:1
The warning not to fall from grace - Gal 5:4
The warning to “look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for...” - 2 Jn 8
Indeed, if there were no possibility for one to “fall short of the grace of God”, then there would be no need for us to be “looking carefully”
For the Christian, however, God’s grace can be just a prayer away!
16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.
Another Pitfall is letting a Root of Bitterness to Spring Up
Another Pitfall is letting a Root of Bitterness to Spring Up
Bitterness can be a stumbling block in our pursuit of peace
It destroys the peace within the person who harbors it (modern medicine has shown that emotions like bitterness and anger can cause problems such as headaches, backaches, allergic disorders, ulcers, high blood pressure, and heart attacks, etc.)
It can destroy the peace in the congregation where it becomes manifest
It also becomes a stumbling block in our pursuit of holiness, for the problems it creates cause many to become “defiled” (unholy)
If we are going to “make straight paths for your feet”, then we need to clip any root of bitterness “in the bud”!
Another pitfall is becoming a Fornicator or Profane Person
Another pitfall is becoming a Fornicator or Profane Person
Fornication is certainly a pitfall to avoid...
Fornication is a generic term for any sort of sexual immorality (including premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, etc.)
It is contrary to God’s will regarding our sanctification - 1 The 4:3-8
Later, we will read in Hebrews where God will judge fornicators - Heb 13:4
It will keep one out of the kingdom of heaven - 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21
Therefore, let us heed Paul’s admonition: “Flee fornication!” - 1 Cor 6:18
We must also not become a “profane person”...
“A worldly person who profanes holy privileges by placing on them a worldly estimate.” (B. W. Johnson)
One does not have to be overtly wicked; they can displease God by simply devaluing that which is important to Him!
Such was the case with Esau... - cf. Gen 25:29-34
There is no indication that he was a fornicator
But he was a profane person because he did not properly estimate the value of his birthright
Though he later wanted the blessings of the birthright, it was too late; despite his tears, it was too late to change his father’s mind (“he found no place for repentance”)
We can become “profane” by devaluing our spiritual blessings...
In Christ, we have a spiritual birthright (redemption, fellowship with God, the hope of eternal life)
But we can allow careers, hobbies, friends, even families, come between us and the things of God
Are we willing to “sell our birthright” for “one morsel of food”?
CONCLUSION
As we run the race of faith, peace with others and holiness before God should be our goals
As we run the race of faith, peace with others and holiness before God should be our goals
To run the race with “style”, we need to...
To run the race with “style”, we need to...
Get in the proper form (lift the hands, strengthen the knees), helping one another to do so
Watch out for the pitfalls that can hinder us in our pursuit, such as...
Not utilizing God’s grace to help you in your race
Allowing bitterness to become a stumbling block
Becoming a fornicator or profane person
As we run this “race”, the words of the apostle Paul are very appropriate…
As we run this “race”, the words of the apostle Paul are very appropriate…
24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
Are you running in such a way as to obtain the imperishable crown?
Are you running in such a way as to obtain the imperishable crown?