"Forgiven souls LOVE CHRIST. This is that one thing they can say, if they dare say nothing else—they do love Christ. His person, His offices, His work, His name, His cross, His blood, His words, His example, His ordinances—all, all are precious to forgiven souls. The ministry which exalts Him most, is that which they enjoy most. The books which are most full of Him, are most pleasant to their minds. The people on earth they feel most drawn to, are those in whom they see something of Christ. He is their Redeemer, their Shepherd, their Physician, their King, their strong Deliverer, their gracious Guide, their hope, their joy, their All. Were it not for Him they would be of all people most miserable." ~ J.C. Ryle
2 John 6
"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
The greatest means for living holy lives is by walking in love of Christ. Whatever we love, we serve. When our hearts are filled with love for God, we will hate what he hates - treasonous sin and we will love what He loves - holiness.
No one is where they desire to be in their walk with God. The Apostle Paul is famous for confessing in Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
God's plan is to sanctify us in Christ. The best way for us to participate is by daily treasuring Christ in our hearts and growing in our love for Him. We remember that our love for Him comes from Him. 1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
The grace and mercy God has given us in Christ compels us to be grateful. And this gratitude stimulates and promotes a deep love for Him. The more we love Him the more we will live for Him.
4 comments:
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect..."
So is Paul saying that he still sins (since he is not made perfect), and if he sins, is he not separating himself from God?
That is correct. Paul sinned until his dying days. His sin certainly had consequences, but it did not relationally disconnect him from God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God when we are in Christ.
Romans 8:38–39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The Bible states repeatedly that everyone sins/has sinned with the exception of Jesus Christ. There is no one made righteous by his works. A believer who sins suffers the consequences of that sin but that believer always has their security as one of God's children. No works can separate you; no works can save you. Only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ can your soul be regenerated, your legal standing with God justified, and you made holy and that you have an eternal relationship with the Trinity. All of this is through the supernatural work of God alone. No man can do this. It is a gift from God.
The Bible makes a distinction between willful sin and unintentional sin - as followers of Christ we need to understand this distinction, Lev. 4 and Heb. 10 shed light on this. The Holy Spirit who dwells in us enables us to live a holy life - the whole purpose of Christ's sacrifice.
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