Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. The prophets described this stone of stumbling, this obstacle to the carnal, faithless mind: The apostles also drew attention to how the very foundation of this wonderful highway could also trip many up: Christ, in His holiness and mind yielded to the will of the Father, embodies the foundational principle of the Kingdom of God. I have no merit or goodness whereby I may claim salvation, but I present before God the all-atoning blood of the spotless Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Tom Kirkpatrick holds a PhD in accounting from the University of North Texas, and is a retired CPA. To understand this paragraph, we must see that John is writing against the false claims of the false teachers. There is no covering or trying to give a general statement to cover everything just by saying, Lord, forgive me for all my sins. I recognize that as I am specific in communion with God about those sins, I am keener to discern when He works in my life to help me on that particular point. Remember that self-justification originated with the father of lies. These are practical, ordinary things that any person could do. God will be better glorified if we confess the secret, inbred corruption of the heart to Jesus alone than if we open its recesses to finite, erring man, who cannot judge righteously unless his heart is constantly imbued with the Spirit of God. Holiness is an unpopular topic in our culture and churches today. Eucharistic adoration extends the Mass in a unique way; the Paschal Mystery that was made present at Mass is reserved for us in every tabernacle and monstrance. For Christians who want their growth in holiness to be informed by these biblical truths, five implications follow: Scripture holds together truths that Gods people are prone to separate. In times that Ive fasted and prayed in advance of a feast, Ive been much better attuned to whats happening at Mass. Contributing Editor Rick Hamlin shares Scripture to help you savor the profound joy of Easter. You are moving toward being more fully centered on Gods will. St. James reminds us that each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. If a traveler on this highway has made the mistake of exiting from it in order to travel another direction (either intentionally, through succumbing to the inclinations of the old man, or unintentionally, through inattention or carelessness), he can get back onto the right highway. C. D. "Jimmy" Agan III(PhD, Aberdeen University) is professor of New Testament and director of homiletics at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. In closing let us read Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. In contrast, the next verse goes on to describe those who do not walk in the Way of Holiness, saying in verse 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practised falsehood.. 2 Tim 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.". Their claims are introduced by the phrase, "if we say" (1:6, 8, 10). It is called the Way of Holiness, because its goal is the Holy city of Zion. The Bible gives vital details about the challenges and benefits of this Highway of Holiness. It is impossible to get lost. After confessing sins and faults the next step is to forsake those sins by putting them away. This scripture talks about walking in the way of Holiness. It is an obstacle over which some have stumbled and will stumble. 3, 1147. True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. Ibid. What is the book of the Lord in Isaiah 34:16? This does not mean that you do not need to do anything along this path. Stillness isnt negative or passive; it frees our hearts from being weighed down by the concerns of the world. Holiness is motivated by the grace of Gods love for us and requires the work of loving him by obeying his commands; Gods love is freely offered in forgiveness and is a blessing promised on condition of obedience; loving him is a matter of the heart and the will. Its a tremendous gift to humanity. 5, 639. The writings of the Church Fathers are also available online for free. The scripture tells us that the Lord blesses the righteous; in other words, those who walk in the way of holiness and so God covers them with favour as with a shield. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.. They are heading toward the holy Creator God, not away from Him. Here is how he was inspired to describe his progress on it: Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. He has taught accounting and business courses at the university graduate level, and has served in the financial management of Church of God organizations. The majority of the Christian world profess to accept Him as their personal Saviour, but they stumble at following His example of self-denial, and thereby fail to inherit that holiness. In refusing to do that we are failing in our pathway to holiness. It is the world Gods people long for. What this shows us is that those who are on this way of Holiness, it is impossible for them to loose the way. The Scripture states that this path is for those who "walk on that Way.". 3. John 14:26 says But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all that I have said to you.. Many people find it very uncomfortable to humble themselves and admit that they are wrong, for fear that they would be exposed and their reputation be brought to disrepute. Psalm 51:13 says, Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. The Gospels frequently show us Jesus "on a journey"; he walks alongside people and listens to the questions and concerns lurking in their hearts. The goal, again, is Christ-likeness. By no means does the entire reservation embrace this way of life, but for the Littleboys, religion is pervasive. Jesus has given us clear instruction as to finding this Way. This particular obstacle is personified in the Designer of the highway, its first Traveler, and the demands He places on anyone who would be His disciple and follow His pioneering journey on it. Accepting Christ as a personal Saviour and following His example of self-denial is the secret of holiness. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe. No matter the storms raging in the world, the rosary promises peace. The choice is before you, which highway are you going to take? Confess to those whom you have injured, and make restitution, bringing forth fruit meet for repentance. Self-awareness eludes many people, especially when it comes to faults. To walk with God in holiness and newness of life is a challenge, a hard race. No other highway leads to this. Having said that, it is not supernatural experiences we . Seeking to build a virtue like purity is somewhat abstract; seeing it lived out in a real person is easier to understand. The exit ramps are many. That is why it tells us in 1 John 1:7 saying But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.. Another reason why this is important is found in Matthew 5:23. Francis. If we love Him and one another as we should, there is no room for sin, because the essence of sin is . This obstacle has everything to do with the Pioneer who first traveled this highway and who personified it. 9:24). The apostle Paul traveled on this highway. Psalm 5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. When I do that, I only set myself up for failure. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, American Standard Version I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice; Aramaic Bible in Plain English I walk in the way of righteousness and within the streets of judgment Brenton Septuagint Translation It is important for anyone traveling on this highway to follow faithfully those footsteps made by that Pioneer traveler. In a hostile world, surrounded with temptations to idolatry and given to hardness of heart, we can sustain a holy life only through passionate love for God and appreciation of his love for us. It is not a clear and smooth road. To combat danger, we must cultivate passionbut how? Where is the spiritual preparation for Christmas? It convinces of sin; it plainly reveals the way of salvation. English Standard Version And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. Contemplating the Lords passion goes back even further than Bl. First, it reconciles us to God. That promise is given to us if we should confess our sins. ( [X minutes of Bible reading] + [Y minutes of prayer]) x [Z days a week] = holiness. That which makes manifest is light. Ephesians 5:14. Based on this Scripture there is a connection between ones relation between his brother or his sister and ones relation with God and worship. Christ wants His people to appear before Him spotless, without stain, with a humble and contrite heart. He is the personification of this highway. Song of Solomon 4:7 says, Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee. This conveys a similar concept as the proclamation that Jesus said He would make, Well done, thou good and faithful servant.. Adam and Eve both cast the blame and guilt of their sin on others. The tipping point in his conversion was the simplicity and holiness of an itinerant preacher, Fr. Sanctity is a hard-fought battle that takes serious effort, prayer, faith, and sacrifice. These are confession of faults to those we have injured or wronged. What made him so appealing was a simple lifestyle and a simple manner of expressing himself. Let's look again for that 'Highway of Holiness', the designated way of God's people, the path where God leads the way. In His life as a human being, He traveled the Highway of Holiness exclusively and perfectly. In Acts 2:37 Peter says, Now when they heard this (the gospel truth) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Turns out holiness isnt about how you appear to others, but rather where you are headed. It is the requirement that such a person must carry a certain something as he walks on this highwayjust as He did. When we come to worship God, we must be one with our brother and our sister. It is from July 12th to July 15th at Camp Choya in Boxwoods. There are great conversions (Paul, Augustine, John Henry Newman) and great heroes (Martin of Tours, Joan of Arc). Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.. All rights reserved. Let us then keep [our]selves in the love of God (Jude 21), employing every means possible to discover in all of Scripture, and in all of life, the ever enduring, earth-filling, steadfast love of the Lord! The name isJesus Christ. Call it a road. There is a pre-condition to walk in this Way of Holiness. How mistaken are those who imagine that confession of sin will detract from their dignity, and lessen their influence among their fellow men. All rights reserved. They should sustain one another in grace throughout the entire length of . The Author and Giver of life had a purpose in mind when He created the world, all the plants and creatures, and then His ultimate handiworkmankindmade in His own image (Genesis 1:27; Hebrews 2:10). You are increasingly aware of what keeps you from Him. Why? If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Those inclined to a more academic read could pick up the Catechism of the Catholic Church or one of St. John Paul IIs encyclicals (like Redemptor Hominis). The human person is a union of body, intellect, heart, and soul. Ultimately, everyone will know this purpose, but in todays world, not many do. There is a great joy for those who walk in the way of holiness because it is there that the Lord spreads His protection over you. Clinging to this erroneous idea, though seeing their faults, many fail to confess them, but rather pass by the wrongs they have done others, so embittering their own lives, and shadowing the lives of others. Study Gods word prayerfully. 2 Timothy 1:9 grace salvation calling Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. Since human life has a purpose, it is important for people to know about, understand and fulfill that purposelest they be out of sync with their fundamental reason for existing. Amen and God bless. Later parish stops included time in Maryland (1854-1862) and itinerant preaching in New England and the Midwest (1863-1866). Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes, if a half hour is not possible. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). No longer a slave to sin, but a slave to righteousness. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. Prayer and confession are to be offered only to Him Who has entered once for all into the holy place [the sanctuary]. Ellen G. White Comments, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. Every day! And our ability to contribute to the holiness of God's household depends on the holiness of our own. The sinner must see himself or herself as being exposed to the wrath of God before he or she can realize the need of a Saviour. It is clear that our confession must be specific to the sin committed. 1 likes, 0 comments - A Louise Bonaparte (@dralb) on Instagram: "DAY 9 THEME: - "OPEN HEAVEN" DATE: WEDNESDAY 15TH OF SEPTEMBER 2021 SCRIPTURE TEXT: Acts 10:1-." A Louise Bonaparte on Instagram: "DAY 9 THEME: - "OPEN HEAVEN" DATE: WEDNESDAY 15TH OF SEPTEMBER 2021 SCRIPTURE TEXT: Acts 10:1-4 As we are waiting upon the Lord during this 10 day fast preparing for the imminent rapture of the . If you reject Jesus you will find yourself on the highway leading to death and destruction. This is difficult for many humans to do and there are many reasons why we may not take this step. 2:4 with Hos. Born in Bavaria in 1819, he had the desire to be a priest from the age of twelve. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Paul not only walked on this highway, he ran. This Highway of Holiness actually has another name. Bl. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20. Holiness is motivated by the grace of Gods love for us and requires the work of loving him by obeying his commands; The steadfast love of God should thrill us as better than life (Ps. He shows us that God is not found in neat and orderly places . It is a daily experience. The effort is worth it, however, because Christ Himself is calling us to love as He did (John 13:34). This is an important aspect of our life in Jesus Christ. Daily examinations of conscience should lead us to the practice of regular confession. A truly born-again Christian, who has been baptised into the body of Christ will have these characteristics. Left unchecked, sin will run roughshod over our soul. Likewise, when God covers you with favour it means that it is set in concrete. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance [cheerful, patient endurance] the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). Many do that hoping for some kind of forgiveness, freedom of conscience, or some kind of freedom from their guilt. Fall on the Rock and be broken, and Christ will give you the true and heavenly dignity. This is why the LORD said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28:9 The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and will in his ways. The Lord will establish you as a holy to Himself and the way shall belong to you. Hebrews 3:7 says, Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.. Praying a novena entails reciting certain prayers each day for nine days. Reconciliation with God is a good thing; in fact, full reconciliation with God is the greatest thing we can ever hope to arrive at. Landmark works of Catholic spirituality are also available online for free, from the likes of St. Augustine to St. Teresa of Avila. Tips and Scripture to brighten your spirit with Gods grace. Paul tells us to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Thirdly, no lion shall be there, nor ravenous beasts. Newman and his towering intellect wrestled with theology and dogma for several years as he sought the fullness of truth. Francis isnt asking us to fast on bread and water for nine days or wear sackcloth. Wrongs cannot be righted, nor can reformations in character be made, by a few feeble, intermittent efforts. He provided right-standing with God for you at the Cross. Passionate love for God will therefore flourish best when we joyfully embrace our utter dependence on his lovewhether as sinners in need of forgiveness or as creatures in need of daily bread. In the world tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to help many others do the same. The scripture tells us that the unclean shall not pass over it. Gods masterpieces are on display in order to bring glory to Him and to bring us closer to Him. There is a fatal mistake that we do not want to make on the pathway to holiness when it comes to the conviction of sin. Living in the supernatural means letting go of the natural and giving the Holy Spirit free reign in our own spirits, training us up in the ways of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. There is a judgment coming, and each and every soul has a case pending at the bar of God and must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Achan uttered no confession until the finger of God was placed upon him. John Kubasak holds an undergraduate degree in history from Sacramento State and a masters in theology from Mt. It was backward progressaway from the Kingdom of God. No one comes to the Father except through me. Amen! Involved in confession is making restitution on the pathway to holiness. 6:4. Francis, we have a great model for the New Evangelization. A person must have faith that it (and it alone) leads to the desired destinationthe Kingdom of God. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them, and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. Joshua 7:20. 8, 312, 313. When mankind fell, God didn't change His mind about us being holy. We are not to confess our sins to man, hoping for forgiveness or a release of guilt. Then there are confessions that the Lord has bidden us make to one another. Our faults dont just affect usthey affect the people we live with, work with, as well as anyone we might encounter. John uses three terms to describe Christ's sacrifice for our sins: (1) He is our Advocate with the Father; (2) He is Jesus Christ the righteous; and, (3) He is the propitiation for our sins. Many people do not know what sin is and think they are okay. What does Isaiah 29:13 mean when it says their hearts are far from me? Breaking Down the Exsultet: What we Ought to Know about the Great Easter Proclamation. 12:10 ). The answer is yes! It will be named the Highway of Holiness. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. Steps to Christ, 38. Ministering to victims of yellow fever in New Orleans, he contracted the disease himself. Psalm 119:9 Word of God equipment He has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. Rev. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.. Often people say that all I need to do is to live a good life. Holistic approaches to medicine are becoming more common, and theyre onto something that Christian anthropology has advocated for centuries. The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway (Proverbs 15:19). A less direct route is often the wiser choice. For children who have completed kindergarten through the fifth grade. Pine Cove City Day Camp is from June 26th to June 30th. This has been the case since the beginning. Basecamp is for our middle school students. It was sinners that Christ came to save. Steps to Christ, 35. We need to re-focus our eyes on God. It will be available to all peoples and nationsin all the world. Francis Xavier Seelos had a great gift of preaching, for a single purpose: helping as many souls get to heaven as possible. This is an important aspect of our life in Jesus Christ. We would prepare for a feast like Christmas with shopping, parties, family get-togethers, cheesy Hallmark movies, and baking. 3. This is not a road for the lazy. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Zacchaeus proved his sincerity by repaying what he had stolen four times to make restitution. The walk with God is not a fast lane, for if it is, many would have already done so. It is important while on this pathway to holiness to study the word of God in order to reach the condition that God has set before us. When you walk in the way of Holiness, the one who is in you is the Holy Spirit as we just discussed earlier. Isaiah, Holman Old Testament Commentary by Trent Butler. Jesus says, For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Luke 8:17. His footsteps are on it, always facing forward, never backward, and never toward an exit ramp. You see if you want to make the decision of taking this highway, called the Way of Holiness, the route has been given clearly to the entire world. Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. Without the spiritual disposition on the part of the assembly, the sum of their participation amounts to sitting, standing, kneeling, and some verbal responses. Like the chief publican, he will give proof of his sincerity by making restitution Conflict and Courage, 302. HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS. Nobody will want to hear Jesus saying: Depart from Me, I never knew You. Follow the pathway to holiness and gain the victory through Jesus today before it is too late. Yet the Eucharist is the deepest of all mysteries, from which each Catholic is meant to draw their life. By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:20-22). "One is seats, one is . But He must at last call the transgressor of His law to account. Ellen G. White Comments, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. There are many counterfeit highways in this world, allegedly leading to the Kingdom of God, but actually leading only to death. What a testimony to have. Bl. But, I wanted to touch on these things, really emphasizing that to walk in righteousness is to walk in the love of Jesus and in obedience to Him. There shall be lion there, not shall any ravenous beast come upon them, because it is the redeemed that walk there. It takes perseverance and sustained, purposeful effort to make progress on this highway. Gut Feelings: Is What Seems Right, Right? One of the "talents" God has given to every Christian is the possibility of walking in holiness, being free from the dominion of sin. The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. . God's love for his people is the foundation for all holy living and our love for him its most essential mark. Being saved does not just mean that you have said a few words to accept Christ. The peace which He alone can impart would restore vigor to the mind and health to the body. The Ministry of Healing, 77. It is reserved for those who are righteous in God's sight. We can identify some keys about those who walk in the way of Holiness. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Any other habitual way of thinking, believing and doing means exiting from this highway. His teachings are still doing that, 150 years later! For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favour as with a shield..
