Dec 22, 2009
Why You Need the Gospel To Be Holy
Why You Need the Gospel To Be Holy (Mark Redfern)
I mean this: If you don’t functionally live in the good of the gospel, you will not be a Christ-like person.
Let me put it another way: If you do not “preach the gospel to yourself,” reminding yourself that before God, because of the righteousness of Christ and by faith in his finished work, you are accepted and loved, you will not make progress in personal holiness.
Let’s look briefly at 2 Peter 1:3-7. Here’s the text:
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What is the point here? Peter’s main point is that we are to, according to verse 5, “make every effort” to become like Christ. That is, we are to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. We are to, in the language of verse 9, “be all the more diligent” to verify the truthfulness of discipleship by proving it in the pursuit of holiness. It is only these kinds of people, those who increasingly pursue Christ-likeness, who will be welcomed into heaven (v. 11).
But, is that all that is here? Thankfully, and joyfully, no! Peter, as always, provides the framework for us to understand our obedience. And, as usual, it is always as a response to the gospel. Notice two “gospel-motivators” for pursuing holiness.
First, verse 5 begins with the phrase, “For this reason…” Those are very important words! They link verse 5 with the motivation provided in verse 4. If we forget this motivation, we will not be given the spiritual resources to fight sin and put on righteousness. What is “this reason?” Peter gives it to us in verses 3-4. God has called us to his own glory and excellence through the knowledge of him. He has granted us everything we need for life and godliness. We have escaped the corruption of the world. God has called us to himself, so for this reason, pursue likeness to Him! We see this kind of logic over and over again in the Bible. But, for our purposes here, notice that it is through believing the promises of God that we make progress in our sanctification. Our sanctification does not begin with (although it certainly includes) our work, but our faith. We must believe and know certain truths about God and ourselves and keep those things in mind, otherwise, our pursuit of holiness will malfunction.
Second, verse 9 gives a reason for why some professing Christians have not made progress in Christ-likeness. The reason given is that they have “forgotten” that they have been forgiven. Peter says, “having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” If a Christian is not making progress in the faith, growing in holiness and fighting sin, the first question to ask them is not: Are you trying? What are you doing to flee temptation? The first question to ask them may be: Brother or sister, have you forgotten that you have been cleansed from your former sins? Have you forgotten the promises of God? Have you forgotten who you are in Christ? Then, verse 10 begins with a “therefore…be diligent.”
So, what does all this mean for us practically?
Preach the gospel to yourself. Remind yourself of what God has done for you in Christ. Remember daily his total forgiveness of all of your sins. Remember that God has called you to himself and to eternal glory. And, trusting in those realities, “make every effort” and “be diligent” in going after Christ-likeness. You won’t be holy unless you start here.
Comments
annie begly on Feb 10, 2010 5:19pm
These words are so true. I constantly wrestle with the notion that God will not accept me until I straighten up my life. But what I actually find from experience is that life is so twisted and mixed up; I am so twisted and mixed up,that I would never be able to tell the good from the bad, let alone avoid it, apart from His power.
Thank God for His forgiveness. It makes it possible for Him to accept me as his child, and to chasten me and teach me as his child, instead of being condemned as an enemy.