Title: Pursue the Spirit of Holiness
Contents
Pursue the Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:1-6, Phil 2:12-16)
1. Have you been set apart for the sake of the gospel? (Verse 1)
(1) Those who are possessed by God - “Servants of Jesus Christ”
(2) God's Predestination for the Gospel - “Elected for the Gospel of God”
2. What is the Gospel? (Verses 2-6)
(1) The content of the gospel is the news about Jesus (verse 2).
(2) Jesus was born of the blood of David in the flesh (verse 3).
⑶ Jesus came into the world with the divine spirit as the Spirit of holiness (verse 4).
The apostle Paul testifies of the gospel for the name of Jesus who changed him, and testifies that we, Gentiles, are also called to be servants of Christ (verses 5, 6).
3. Seek the spirit of holiness.
(1) The Apostle Paul pursued the spirit of holiness after being regenerated (Romans 7 and 8).
The Apostle Paul was troubled in Romans 7. After believing in Jesus and being born again, he did not do the good he wanted in his heart, and his evil heart tormented him. So, the closer I got to the Lord, the more painful I was to die (Romans 7:22-24).
In Romans 8, Paul declared that his guilt was settled by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-2). The salvation we received when we believed in Jesus in the past is still in our possession today. Although many Christians have been saved in the past, they are living their lives without the assurance of salvation because their faith lives are messed up now. God is not pleased with it (Hebrews 10:38,39). The state of “crucifixion of passions and lusts” (Galatians 5:24) is holiness.
(2) How to seek the grace of holiness (Philippians 2:12-16)
First, in order to achieve the present salvation, we must always live a life of submission to the Lord (Philippians 2:12). Second, in order to achieve the present salvation, we must have a heart of fear and trembling. There are problems that arise when we, the saved saints, try to live holy lives in the world. That is grumbling and arguing (Philippians 2:14). That is why we must strive so that there are no 'grievances and disputes'. Only then can we be blameless and pure (Philippians 2:15).
Third, we must appear as light in the world and reveal the word of life (Philippians 2:16).
God's desire is for the saints to be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 3:13). To continue to have the salvation you received in the past is the present salvation and the holy life. In order to keep this salvation without losing it, not only the washing of the spirit, but also the cleansing of the soul, which controls human emotions and knowledge. We must crucify our passions and desires We must follow holiness (Galatians 5:24-26; Hebrews 12:14).