HOLY LIVING

Belief in God must be accompanied by obedience to his word and holy living. ‘For this is the will of God even your sanctification’ (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Most of the letters of the New Testament begin with teaching or doctrine and then turn to practical aspects of Christian living. Romans 12 is a classic passage outlining many duties required of the believer- ‘I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God’.

As God's children, Christians are called to be different in their attitudes and standards from the prevailing ethos of a secular society. Love, gentleness, mercy, and all the fruits of the Spirit, are distinguishing marks of Christ's disciples (Galatians 5:22-26). Jesus calls us to holiness of life (1 Peter 1:13-16). The Holy Spirit is given, as Christ promised, so that we may be sanctified (i.e. 'made holy'), through his purifying application to our hearts of that Word which is truth (John 17:17; cf. 14:26, 16:13,14). We are to be subject to the authority of this truth in all spheres of life (Matthew 7:24-27; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Without the fruits of good works, our faith is not true but dead. Faith and obedience are inextricably linked together (James 2:14-16)