Pursuit of Holiness 2…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

It is Tuesday April 22nd of 2025.  It is a cloudy, comfortable morning with a high of 78 forecast.

Today let’s start with a reminder from Paul…

Romans 12: 1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

What is Truth?

Some have defined Truth as that which corresponds to reality.

What is reality?

Creation.  The world around us as God created it and all things in it material and immaterial.

As Christians, we understand that God is Truth. He is the source of all reality. What God speaks is. He is the Alpha and the Omega—the source of all life, and the One who holds reality together by the power and strength of His will.

God is also outside of time—He created time. Eternal, He sees time from its beginning to its end. While we, as humans, see only the moment we’re in and remember the past, it is God alone who sees the future. And it is only He who can reveal it, if He so chooses to do so in His infinite wisdom and compassion.

God is holy. He is wholly other—there is none like Him. God is One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons in One God.  If we are Christians, God has set us apart from the world to be different from the world. We are to look different. We are to act different. We are to value different things. We are to speak differently. We are to mold and change our lives to please God and align with what He has designed—instead of shaping our lives according to our own desires or to please the world around us, including other people.

Now.

How did we answer the first question: What is Truth?  I’m hoping we turned to John 14: 6.

John 14: 6

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

And it is for this reason that we turn this morning to Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Colossians 3: 1-4

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

What things are we seeking?

Jesus weighs our hearts—He is the One who knows, the God who sees. Our Savior sits at the right hand of God. He is the Savior who died for us, taking the punishment for our sins upon Himself so that we may live with Him forever.  So how much do we consider where we are going? Are we preparing ourselves—and the world around us—for Jesus?  Paul teaches us here that Jesus is coming back. And we must always remember: the Holy Spirit is with us, always—even to the end of the age. It is with Jesus that we will appear in glory.

Have we considered this yet this morning?

Colossians 3: 5-11

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

Paul writes of the importance of the pursuit of holiness in every one of his letters. And here in Colossians, we’re given both a list and a warning. But before we dive too deep into the Scripture, let’s take a moment to look at the simple list of behaviors we are meant to put to death. That means—we are not to do them.

Fornication: (Greek: Porneia)

- Consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other

Uncleanness: (Greek: Akatharsia)

- Impurity, physically or morally

Passion: (Greek: Pathos)

- Inordinate affection, lust

Evil Desire: (Greek: Epithumia)

- A longing (especially for what is forbidden)

Covetousness: (Greek: Pleonexia)

- Avarice, greediness

Does this list sound familiar?

The wrath of God is coming upon those who practice these things. It may be sooner, it may be later—but we can rest assured: each one of us will give an account of what we’ve done to Jesus.

The list goes on. Paul gives us more things we are to let go of: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and any filthy communication—we are to put these aside.  I would venture to say that not only must we put these things aside, but we must also understand them as behaviors that God does not approve of for us. There may be times when we feel justified in our anger, but God teaches us through Paul that we are to set anger aside. We are to lean not on our own understanding, and instead make space for God’s wrath—for He will repay.

This is a list of what we are set apart from.

Colossians 3: 12-17

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Each of the things Paul listed above—the things we are to set aside—are associated with behaviors. If we are to put away anger, doesn’t it make sense that we would also do what we can to keep ourselves out of situations that make us angry?  If we’re spending time on things that provoke anger, then by setting those things aside, we’re not simply “giving up anger”—we’re freeing up time and space to pursue something else.  If we struggle with fornication, that struggle involves time spent engaging in the behavior. But if we set that behavior aside, we create space to pursue virtue.  More properly understood, when we leave behind the things that do not please God, we’re taking the time and effort we’ve been using for our own desires and giving it back to God—to use as He sees fit.

Romans 12: 9-21

“Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  Do not be wise in your own opinion.  Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’  Says The Lord.  Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We are to put on kindness, humility, meekness, and long-suffering. These are not strange philosophical ideas. They are not hidden or esoteric spiritual secrets. They are simple—plain to understand—and, in theory, relatively easy to enact in our lives.  It all depends on how willing we are to let go of the old and let God bring in the new.  Let’s not forget: it is God who grants repentance, and it is God who causes our increase. It is to God we must turn if we are to begin walking with Him—and we most certainly must continue to turn to Him if we want to continue walking with Him.

My personal experience with what we’re talking about—letting go of my old ways and working on Jesus’ ways—is this: the very first thing I’m blessed with when I let go of a sinful behavior is extra time.

And it’s what I choose to do with that blessing that matters.

Jesus said…

Matthew 12: 43-45

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.  Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’  And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.  So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

When we are letting go of malice, when we are letting go of coveting—when we remove the evil, the wicked, and the sinful from our lives and turn our backs on them—we’re first left with something unexpected: extra time.  I humbly suggest that we remember to fill this time with Scripture, with prayer, and with good works—works that further the Gospel.  There is always more to learn about God. By definition, there will always be more to learn about Him. But we must always remember to be doers of the work, not just hearers of the Word.  For we are judged by the perfect law of liberty—by the contents of our hearts—and that which is hidden will be revealed in Jesus.

I have also found that conviction from the Holy Spirit is often the beginning of new work that Jesus wants to do in us. Sometimes conversions are quick and dramatic. Sometimes it takes years to work through certain things.  But however long it takes, Jesus is working in each of us as believers—and there is no time limit. We live forever in Jesus. We are on the eternal time clock.

1 Thessalonians 5: 14-24

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

So.

Today let’s continue to think on holiness.  Let’s hear the Word and let’s do the work and see what wondrous things we will see from Jesus today!

Don’t forget to rejoice!

Don’t forget to pray!  Keep talking with God!  He hears us and knows what we need!

Let’s remember to be thankful today even if we are struggling with our list.  As Job teaches, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed is The Lord!

But above all today, if you hear The Holy Spirit’s call, let’s remember not to harden our hearts!  For the danger of sin in our lives is the hardening of our hearts.

And tomorrow we’ll look a little into Hebrews.

I think that’s a good place to start for the day.