Why Do We Pursue Holiness and Peace?

WHY DO WE PURSUE PEACE?

WHY DO WE PURSUE HOLINESS?

PART TWO

Hebrews 12:15

C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional

"I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword."-Matthew 10:34

The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the I true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal Himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up His cross, know ye not what your Master said? "I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, He brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you.

He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth's sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master's steps, for He has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.

Why do we need to pursue these and become fruit bearing believers?

#1 - Without these we will not see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).

#2 – Without these we may miss God’s grace (Heb. 12:15).

Without these we may miss God’s grace (Heb. 12:15).

What does this mean?

Observing not anyone failing from the grace of God . . .

u;sterew (present, active, participle) – to lack, too come short, to fail.

1) Active

- come to late

- be in need of

- be less than or inferior to

- fail, give out, lack

- Hebrew 4:1 and 12:15 – God’s rest . . . let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

- Matthew 19:20 – Rich young ruler . . . all these have I kept, the young man said, what do I still lack?

- Mark 10:21 – Rich young ruler . . . Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said.

2) Passive

- lack, be lacking, go without, come short of

- Romans 3:23 – fall short of glory of God

- Phil. 4:12 – how to abound and how to lack

Failing in the school of God’s Grace.

This is one class we don’t want to fail.

An unbeliever may miss it and get on the wrong boat.

Believer may get on the right boat but never unpack their luggage and really get set up for the voyage.

3 Characteristics of those who fail in the school of God’s Grace:

We become a bitter root (rather than a good plant)

- root that bears bitter fruit

- “Sufferings are apt to sour the spirit and sharpen the passions” (Matthew Henry, p. 1280).

- Duet. 29:17 ?

We become a trouble maker (rather than a grace giver)

- such growth is slow but it will manifest itself in time (just like the good fruit).

Our bitterness spreads like a weed (rather than maturing and producing good fruit)

- Bitterness can take root and ruin my life.

- My bitterness can multiply itself and ruin others lives.

- This could speak of the rank and rotten end of apostasy.

- “Bitterness defiles people and makes them unfit to stand before God” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

Why do we need to pursue these and become fruit bearing believers?

#1 - Without these we will not see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).

#2 – Without these we may miss God’s grace (Heb. 12:15).

“At the end of the day, questions and answers are not the stuff of theology. Rather how we treat others is most important” (A quote from Dr. David Johnson of Providence Seminary concerning the Emerging Church).

Compare with:

II Cor. 6:1 – receiving God’s grace in vain.

Galatians 5:4 – falling from grace.