Be Holy

This past Sunday our lesson was entitled “The Cross and Persecution” from Galatians chapters 5 and 6. Disciples of Jesus Christ were being pressured to accept a message of salvation that included having to be circumcised. God rejects this message. Personally I am greatly encouraged by God’s rejection of salvation by circumcision. Similarly, I am encouraged by God’s rejection of anyone’s message that we are justified by what we do. Galatians 5:4 (NIV) clearly states

4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

What? Alienated from God’s grace? Now that is scary. Perhaps the scariest verse in God’s word. Especially when we consider the “Christian” landscape of doctrine and practice. “Do this, believe this, unless you do this or believe this you will not be, no - you are not saved.” What? I choose to believe God over people.
Yet choosing God also means inviting persecution. Some folks just can't accept God’s position on this. Sometimes we struggle with believing that God loves us that much. Well, God does love us “that much.” Can you dare to believe it? What do we do once we believe it? How does it change our lives? We must do something, right? We just don’t sit around thinking we are holy without life change, do we? God provides the answer to this also. God’s answer is:

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

Imagine a life, your life, shaped by the life of God. Imagine a life, your life, lived by, led by, and in step with the Spirit. Imagine a life that has crucified the sinful nature and is now all about the fruit of the Spirit. Imagine this life is your life. Imagine the possibilities.

Join us Sunday March 15th for “The Cross and Holiness.”

Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus,
Bobby