The Pursuit of Holiness Holiness, Faith and Obedience by Jerry Bridges Chapter 15 Holiness, Faith and Obedience

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Holiness and Faith (Chapter 15) – Handout 10

Holiness, Faith & Obedience What is holiness?

Holiness, Faith & Obedience But isn’t holiness just separation from evil? Isn’t it just not doing bad stuff? Why not?

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said… ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ Hebrews 10:5-7 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience So, does Obedience = Faith?

Holiness, Faith & Obedience And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. Hebrews 3:18-19 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed… Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience… Hebrews 4:2,6 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Why do we need faith to be born again?

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Why do we need faith to be holy?

Holiness, Faith & Obedience By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. It takes faith to think like this! Matthew 20:25-28 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. Hebrews 11:7 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience To be holy we must have the confidence that God meant it when he told us to be holy like him and we must have the confidence that God will use our obedience to make us holy like him.

Holiness, Faith & Obedience For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Leviticus 25:3-4 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. Leviticus 25:20-22 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. (God’s message to Jereboam) 1 Kings 11:38 New International Version, ©2011

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Because we do not believe that humility is the path to drawing near God, we jockey for a place of power in our relations with others. Because we do not believe that God takes note of wrongs done to us, we figure out how we can get back at someone who has wronged us. Because we are not convinced of the deceitfulness of sin, we play with it, thinking we will find satisfaction.

Holiness, Faith & Obedience Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 To pursue holiness we must have faith to obey the will of God revealed in the Bible.