Thoughts on Current Reading
Unlike my husband, I am a slow and very un-dedicated reader. However, I have started reading “The Hole in Our Holiness” by Kevin DeYoung(Wheaton, Illinois:Crossway, 2012) and already it has been a challenging read!
I don’t know about you, but for me, when I think about being holy, it always seems like something that is far beyond my spiritual grasp. Something that I’ll never quite reach. Maybe it is because I like to have things detailed and concrete; I like to know exactly what holiness is supposed to look like in my life (but obviously [and thankfully!], the Bible doesn’t list it off as if it were a checklist to complete.)
The last chapter that I read from DeYoung’s book, however, was particularly encouraging and challenging. He made several points that brought home to me the necessity and the “grasp-ability” of holiness in the believer’s life.
1. The Bible is full of examples of believers being declared upright and godly, walking blamelessly before the Lord. DeYoung lists examples such as Zechariah and Elizabeth who were “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). Job was also called “blameless and upright” (Job 1:8) And Paul multiple times talks about various New Testament churches who are known for their “obedience and godly example.” As DeYoung so simply states, “It sure seems like holiness is a possibility for God’s people.” (DeYoung, 65.)
It is important to note too, that none of the people in these examples had some kind of extra-spiritual gifting: they were human just as we are. In fact, to make the case even stronger in our favor, get this: WE are the ones who have the advantage over them because WE are the ones have the indwelling Holy Spirit that enables us to do what is right!
2. It is possible to please God. I grew up being quite familiar with the verse talking about our works being as filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6) and that nothing we ever did was acceptable before Him. To a certain extent this is true, for we cannot earn our own righteousness by our works. However, as a Christian, God sees Christ’s righteousness in us, and it is because of His righteousness and grace that we have through Him that, in turn, we can do that which pleases God! Yes, on our own, all of our measly, human efforts are as filthy rags, but when they are done through God’s incredible grace, they become pleasurable to God!
DeYoung proceeds to give examples where the Bible states specific actions as pleasing to God:
- Bearing fruit in good works and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
- Presenting one’s body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)
- Being sensitive to the weaker brother (Romans 14:18)
- Being obedient to parents (Colossians 3:20)
- Teaching the Word in truth (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
- Praying for governing authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
- Caring for family members in need (1 Timothy 5:4)
- Keeping His commandments (1 John 3:22)
(DeYoung, 69/These are originally from Wayne Grudem’s “Pleasing God by Our Obedience” (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010) 277.)
In all of these references, the Bible specifically mentions that they are “pleasing and acceptable to God.” So “basically, whenever you trust and obey, God is pleased.” (DeYoung, 69.)
This new perspective on how God views the works of the believer that are done through His strength has been quite encouraging to me!
As DeYoung concludes this particular chapter, he summarizes the general idea of holiness: It is not about absolute perfection (for no could could ever do that—we are all sinners and that is the very reason why Christ had to die for our sins!) but rather it is that
**Note: All of the thoughts/summaries/ideas/paraphrases/quotes in this post are all taken from chapter 5: The Pleasure of God and the Possibility of Godlinss.
I don’t know about you, but for me, when I think about being holy, it always seems like something that is far beyond my spiritual grasp. Something that I’ll never quite reach. Maybe it is because I like to have things detailed and concrete; I like to know exactly what holiness is supposed to look like in my life (but obviously [and thankfully!], the Bible doesn’t list it off as if it were a checklist to complete.)
The last chapter that I read from DeYoung’s book, however, was particularly encouraging and challenging. He made several points that brought home to me the necessity and the “grasp-ability” of holiness in the believer’s life.
1. The Bible is full of examples of believers being declared upright and godly, walking blamelessly before the Lord. DeYoung lists examples such as Zechariah and Elizabeth who were “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). Job was also called “blameless and upright” (Job 1:8) And Paul multiple times talks about various New Testament churches who are known for their “obedience and godly example.” As DeYoung so simply states, “It sure seems like holiness is a possibility for God’s people.” (DeYoung, 65.)
It is important to note too, that none of the people in these examples had some kind of extra-spiritual gifting: they were human just as we are. In fact, to make the case even stronger in our favor, get this: WE are the ones who have the advantage over them because WE are the ones have the indwelling Holy Spirit that enables us to do what is right!
2. It is possible to please God. I grew up being quite familiar with the verse talking about our works being as filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6) and that nothing we ever did was acceptable before Him. To a certain extent this is true, for we cannot earn our own righteousness by our works. However, as a Christian, God sees Christ’s righteousness in us, and it is because of His righteousness and grace that we have through Him that, in turn, we can do that which pleases God! Yes, on our own, all of our measly, human efforts are as filthy rags, but when they are done through God’s incredible grace, they become pleasurable to God!
DeYoung proceeds to give examples where the Bible states specific actions as pleasing to God:
- Bearing fruit in good works and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
- Presenting one’s body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)
- Being sensitive to the weaker brother (Romans 14:18)
- Being obedient to parents (Colossians 3:20)
- Teaching the Word in truth (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
- Praying for governing authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
- Caring for family members in need (1 Timothy 5:4)
- Keeping His commandments (1 John 3:22)
(DeYoung, 69/These are originally from Wayne Grudem’s “Pleasing God by Our Obedience” (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010) 277.)
In all of these references, the Bible specifically mentions that they are “pleasing and acceptable to God.” So “basically, whenever you trust and obey, God is pleased.” (DeYoung, 69.)
This new perspective on how God views the works of the believer that are done through His strength has been quite encouraging to me!
As DeYoung concludes this particular chapter, he summarizes the general idea of holiness: It is not about absolute perfection (for no could could ever do that—we are all sinners and that is the very reason why Christ had to die for our sins!) but rather it is that
“Christians should display a consistent pattern of obedience, along with a quick habit of going to God for cleansing when they are disobedient. This is how we can be established ‘blameless in holiness’ and have the same confidence Paul enjoyed in 1 Corinthians 4.” (DeYoung, 76.)
**Note: All of the thoughts/summaries/ideas/paraphrases/quotes in this post are all taken from chapter 5: The Pleasure of God and the Possibility of Godlinss.
That was a good read! It's been a while, though, so I will have to hunt down my copy of it :)
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