God’s Rules for Holy Living

            I have been asked many times if I think the Ten Commandments are supposed to be followed by Christians today.  I think the reason people want to know is because they desire to do everything God wants them to.  I don’t want to think that they have the same mindset as the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) who only wanted to know in order to soothe his conscience.  My answer is to have them read these principles with me and discuss the reason God had Moses record them in stone (see Exodus 20:17).  For a more in-depth study on these see, The Sinai Summit, by Rick Atchley:

            “You shall have no other gods before me.”  God must be our first and only priority.

            “You shall not make for yourself an idol . . .” You change to fit God; don’t try to make God fit your idea of Him.

            “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.”  Don’t use God’s name as an expletive; respect God and His holiness.

            “Remember the Sabbath day . . .” Set aside time to spend with God and His people.

            “Honor your father and mother.”  Respect authority and make family a priority.

            “You shall not murder.”  Respect the sanctity of human life.

            “You shall not commit adultery.”  Keep sex within the guidelines God designed for it.

            “You shall not steal.”  Keep material things in their proper place and perspective.

            “You shall not give false testimony.”  Always tell the truth.

            “You shall not covet . . .” Be content with what God has blessed you with.

            So, what do you think?  When understanding the principle guiding each commandment, are there any that God would want us to do away with today?  Jesus and the apostles not only encouraged all of these principles, they improved upon them.  Now we must not hate our brother, or look at a woman with lust in our hearts, or just devote one day to spend with God.   As Christians we have committed ourselves to living according to God’s design every moment of every day - not because it is commanded - or to make Him happy.  But because you’re maturing to the point where you want to do what is right.

Doug

Holy and Profane

            It should come as no surprise to anyone that God is offended and angered by our sin.  All throughout history, there has been a tension within us to be the kind of people He created us to be or to try and make it on our own.  Needless to say, we all “thumb our noses” at God and try it to do things our way.  How does it make you feel when someone you’re trying to help does that to you?  Can we blame God for getting so emotional about sin and doing something about it?

            God created us to be holy (set apart for a special purpose; different; His own possession) because He is holy (unique; special; to be adored and revered - 1 Peter 1:15-16).  In other words, we were created to be like Him (Ephesians 4:24) in all that we do.  However, when we go our own way, we profane (defile; show contempt or irreverence for; use in a vulgar way) what God has created.  And in so doing, we profane Him (show no respect; make Him to be unimportant; despise Him).  Can you now see why God reacts to our sin the way He does?

            God tried to teach this all throughout the Bible.  By ordaining the articles of the Tabernacle and not allowing them to be touched, He was teaching Israel the distinction between the holy and the profane.  By declaring some animals clean and some unclean, He was showing the difference between the holy and the profane.  By demanding that His people keep their distance from their idolatrous neighbors, God was making a distinction between the holy and the profane.  And when anyone disregarded these specifications, God dealt with them in a very harsh way in order to remind them of the importance to be holy.

            So, how do you think God feels about your sin?  Will He be ok with it in the end?  Will He understand that you just NEED this right now?  After all, you’re an nice guy / gal; you’re in love (and isn’t that a beautiful thing?  Why would God do anything drastic to such a congenial person?  Could He be so mean; so unloving?

            If you read the Bible and truly listen to God speak, you can come to no other conclusion: sin is to have no place in your life - NONE.  You must “murder” sin (Romans 8:13) in order to live – all of it.  There can be no other conclusion; no other result will be acceptable.

            So decide now to live a holy life.  Jesus says to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23).  You must truly set yourself apart to show glory to God in all that you do.  This, and only this, will enable you to draw near to Him and receive the strength you need to get rid of the sin that He hates so much.

Doug

Being Transformed

            “Sanctification (God making us righteous through his Spirit’s indwelling), though begun the moment we are justified, is gradual and throughout this life incomplete, as we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ ‘from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Cor. 3:18).”

John Stott, The Cross of Christ, p. 186

            My life, like so many projects I’ve started, is an unfinished masterpiece.  The reason I remain unfinished is because there are a lot of attitudes that need to be changed; many old habits that need to be stopped; countless sins that need to be abandoned; and several blessings to appreciate; many new activities to be a part of; countless righteous deeds to add in to my daily activity.  Until all of this is accomplished, I am an unfinished work in God’s hands.  But that’s okay with God – so many of the New Testament writers struggled with becoming and overcoming and transforming into the likeness of Jesus.

            This improvement process is called sanctification.  This comes from the term “holy” (Latin = “sanctus”) and means “to be set apart” or “special” or, in a sense, “different” from the rest of the world.  It can refer to people (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 10:29; 13:12) or objects that are dedicated to religious acts of worship. 

            By calling His people “saints” (“sanctified ones”) God is indicating some very important truths about ourselves:

            (1) that we are special compared to those who are still lost in sin (1 Pet. 2:9),

            (2) that we are to hold each other in high regard (John 13:35),

            (3) that we are to be busy taking care of each other (Gal. 6:10). 

       However, it is also important to note that we are never finished or complete or flawless in holiness.  It is an on-going process of growth and improvement.  As the quote above points out, our transformation into the likeness of Christ never ends.  It’s a life-long journey.

       That may frustrate many people who are impatient and desirous to see immediate results for their hard work. But “quick fixes” rarely last and they seldom grow to be appreciated.  So rather than seeing this reality as a negative thing be thankful to God for His patience and willingness to help you work through this lengthy improvement process.  Be grateful that He considers you special enough to be willing to mold you and shape you and work on you as He transforms your life into a masterpiece that He can be proud of.

Doug

Holy = Happy

            Is there anything in your life that is classified as “off limits”?  For me while growing up it was mom & dad’s room and the upstairs (where my sisters’ bedrooms were). We were also not allowed to use other people’s things without expressed permission. When I and my siblings trespassed upon these territories, there were loud protestations followed by certain punishments.

            The same went for bad behaviors while out in public. Church was not a place (or time) for loud talking; funerals were not a place (or time) for jokes; swimming pools were not to be used as toilets; and violating the sanctity of Saturday morning sleeping-in brought corporal punishment and the requirement to make everyone else’s bed before breakfast for a whole week.

              We know all of this in our physical lives, but do we ever consider things in our spiritual walk to be “off limits”? Or do we ever stop to comprehend why God has declared that certain things, and people, and behaviors, and thoughts are to be considered separate from the common? By definition, the Bible calls these things, and people, and behaviors, and thinking, “Holy.” And violating these decrees and profaning what He has made holy brings divine retribution; if not in this life (guilt, shame, fear, sorrow, alienation) then in the next one (spiritual death).

            One of the great attributes of God is that He is holy (separate from this creation, yet an active part of it; sinless as opposed to our sinfulness; faithful vs our faithlessness, etc.). In Isaiah’s vision of the Almighty (chapter 6) the heavenly host declares Him to be the epitome of holiness; stating the fact 3 times in succession sealed the fact of His ultimate holiness. And in Leviticus 19, since we are made in His image and likeness, He expects us to be holy as well.

            So what are we humans to make of this? We’re sinful; we’re unfaithful to His guidelines; we’re distracted from His love and presence by our physical wants / desires. In short, we like Israel of old, profane His holy name by not being holy in our behavior or in our thinking. And in His ultimate holiness He has promised to punish all sin (remember; He has never failed fulfill a promise). Hebrews 12 says that “Our God is a consuming fire!”

            Fortunately, Jesus has taken our sins with Him to the cross and put them to death (separated them from us by His blood). Now, in Christ we are deemed by God to be “not guilty”; “redeemed” from the profanities of our sin; “reconciled” to fellowship with our Holy God; and thus “holy” or set apart/different from the sinful ones around us who are only successful in finding temporary happiness.

            Those in Christ find true happiness because they are now free to be what God created us to be. Whereas sin entangles us in this world and hinders us from enjoying His blessings, striving to do and think what we know is right brings us the happiness we are all seeking. Trying to be happy by your own standards hasn’t worked – selfishness and greed profane God’s image within you. True, lasting happiness can only be found with God – and He won’t abide with sin.

            God wants you to be happy. Therefore He expects you to be holy. Because true, lasting happiness is only found by being in Christ and by living the life He has designed for us. By being holy can He provide you with the innumerable blessings that will enable you to live with Him forever – which is the ultimate happiness. So complete your search for happiness successfully by getting into Jesus and following Peter’s plea: “Be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 19:2).

Doug