Without This, No One Will See The Lord (Introduction)

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

There is something that has been weighing on my mind for years. It started in that first year of my Christian life, now almost 30 years ago. I had been attending our first church for several months and had a growing number of new Christian friends. As I learned more about their lives, it became clear that many were still walking in sins that should not be part of a believers’ life. Yes, they could speak of their salvation testimony and how they had repented and believed, but the lives they were leading were not dissimilar to their pre-conversion days. I understand that Christians don’t stop sinning and yes, I understand that the Bible teaches that there is a war that goes on in the heart and mind of the believer, but what I didn’t understand was how these Christians could be so comfortable with their sins.

I was deeply troubled and concerned for the souls of my fellow believers and concluded that I must make the situation known to someone at the church. I made an appointment and met with a kind, loving church leader who sat with me and explained the situation by drawing 3 circles on a piece of paper. The first circle was labeled, “those who are walking with the Lord.” The second circle was drawn completely clear of the first circle and was labeled, “those who don’t know the Lord.” Finally, a third circle was drawn with half of this circle overlapping the first circle and the remaining half of this circle overlapping the second circle. It was labeled, “those in progress.” He explained that those in the “in progress” circle were Christians that had yet to lead changed lives or bear fruit.

I was new to the faith and didn’t know much, but I knew that there was no third circle. Scripture had already taught me that Christians are new creatures in Christ and that real changes, sometimes dramatic, happen as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work, and that Christians are never satisfied with ongoing sins in their life. Soon thereafter, the senior pastor announced that he was getting a divorce and needed to think and pray about stepping down. To me, it was a clear disqualification based on 1 Timothy 3, but after a brief sabbatical he returned and announced that he felt God was leading him to continue in the ministry. Maybe the teaching of this church, with a fundamental wink at sin, was influential in his decision to not step down.

I’m now 66 years old and have been spending more time lately thinking and assessing my walk with the Lord. I’m not going to give myself some kind of rating but frankly, I am disappointed with my spiritual growth over the years. And when I talk about spiritual growth, I am really talking about the multitude of verses throughout the entire Bible that command, encourage, and admonish Christians toward greater obedience to God and enjoyment of Him as He conforms me to the image of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus. In a word, growing in holiness. So, why is it that I have failed to make more progress in holiness?

So, I’m asking myself questions. Lots of them. For example-

Is it because I don’t know what the Bible says about this topic?
Is it because I do understand the topic, but feel like I am doing pretty well in the area of holiness in my Christian life?
Have I become slack in my efforts because I’m resting on the fact that God has promised that all of my sins are forgiven when I put my faith and trust in the work of Christ?
I’ve thought about this many times in the past and have planned to make some changes, but why does it seem I never get to it? Is it because in my heart of hearts, I really don’t want to change?
What’s wrong with my thinking? Have I been listening to something or someone other than the Bible that is keeping me from moving forward with Christ?
Can God conform me to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) without me growing in holiness? In essence, is there a minimal line that I have to cross for God to be happy with my level of conformity?

And what does holiness have to do with the everyday life of how I treat my wife, train up my children, or think about my job?

I’m past the child raising years now, but if I were striving for holiness, what were the implications for what I should have modeled and taught my children?
And if I preached Christ to my children but they didn’t see the fruit in me that aligns with what I am telling them to think and do, was I a hypocrite? Will they say no to obeying Christ because they never saw much of my obedience to Christ?

And then there is this frightening passage from Hebrews 12:14-

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord . That is a sobering, straightforward commandment and a not so subtle warning. Every true Christian must know the implications of that verse. I’m thinking that I can’t be the only one asking questions. So, I am inviting you to join me as I pursue answers to those questions and others by using arguably the greatest book written on the subject by J.C. Ryle as our guide. The book is called Holiness, and Ryle is clear and straightforward as he uses the Bible only to explore the subject. It will take more than a few articles, but I’ll do my best to be as concise as possible. I look forward to starting the journey together with you next week!