Category Archives: Christianity

Holiness

Posted on by
Reply

One of the books most often cited on the “top ten” lists of many, many Christians (myself included), is the classic work, HOLINESS by J C Ryle.

[Ryle is one of my favorite authors, particularly for his sweet and simple commentaries on the four Gospels; I’m so thankful that an old friend, Brent Nelson, pointed me to Ryle some 20+ years ago]

In chapter three you’ll find several points on the nature of practical holiness. Here is a short list of points (with some texts added) which I compiled for last Wednesday’s prayer meeting at CPCC:

Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God. 
– 1st Peter 1:14-15

A holy man will endeavor to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. 
 — Psalm 119:127-128

A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. 
– Romans 8:29; 1 John 2:6

A holy man will govern his emotions and his tongue.
 — Galatians 5:22-24

A holy man will pursue temperance and self-denial.
 — 1 Corinthians 9:27

A holy man will manifest charity and brotherly kindness. 
– Colossians 3:12-13; 1 Peter 1:22

A holy man will show a spirit of mercy and active benevolence. 
– Acts 9:36; 2 Corinthians 12:15

A holy man will follow after purity of heart.
 — Proverbs 4:23

A holy man will follow after the fear of God.
 — 2 Corinthians 7:1

A holy man will follow after humility. 
– 1st Peter 5:5

A holy man will faithfully perform all his duties.
 — Colossians 3:23

A holy man will follow after spiritual-mindedness.
 — 1st Peter 1:13; Philippians 2:5; Colossians 3:2

As he writes, Ryle reminds us in Hebrews 12:14 that there is a “…holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” This should move us to pray, and to pursue greater holiness…
— pdb

The work week…

Posted on by
Reply

As the “work week” begins remember the biblical view and context of your labors. Tony Payne & Colin Marshall (in their new book The Trellis & The Vine) share this brief summary….

• Working is a good and fundamental part of being human in God’s world. Form the very beginning, mankind was placed in teh garden to work it and to keep it.

• This side of the Fall, work is cursed and frustrating… but it remains good and worthwhile and necessary.

• Christians are strongly motivated to work, not only because of the place of work in creation, but also because work (like any other field of life) is a theatre for our service of Christ. Whatever you do, says Paul to the Colossians, “in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

• At a deep level, when we work at any job, we work for Christ. As Paul goes on to say in Colossians 3, “Whatever you do , work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

• As Christians, we do not work in order to gan self-fulfilment or fame or personal kudos. We work not for ourselves but for others, to serve them, to not be a burden to them, and to have something to share (Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:8)

• Secular work is thus very valuable, worthwhile and important. But like any good thing, it can become an idol. We can start to look to our work for our significance and value.

[pp. 137-138, emphasis added]