The Christian Lifestyle: What Is It?
Robert Walker
I Peter 1:15-16
INTRODUCTION
Someone tells the story of a boy who was rebelling against his dad constantly. This boy was destroying his own life by his rebellion, but he refuse to heed his father's words.
One day, the dad said to the boy, "I want to show you what you're doing to your life. I'm going to put a wooden post in our front yard. Every time you rebel, I will put a nail in this post. Every time you obey, I will pull out one nail."
The first thought from the boy was, "I'm going to do everything I can to fill that post with nails." And he did. In two months' time, he filled that post with nails. But he also began to feel the damage he was doing to his own life and to his parents' lives.
With true remorse, the boy began to obey his father. One by one, the nails came out. When the last nail came out of the post, the boy both broke down in tears. The dad asked, "Son, why are you crying?"
And the boy replied, "I got rid of the nails, but I can't get rid of the holes."
God the Father saw the nails and the posts of our lives, and He saw our helplessness against sin. So He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to gather the nails and the posts from those who would let Him. And because of His love for us, Christ allowed Himself to be nailed on the posts, where He willingly paid the consequence of our sin.
I. THE CONSTRAINT OF A HOLY LIFE
Why should we live a holy life? What is the motivation for us to do so? There is a three-fold constraint:
1. God the Father Commands It
This is absolutely imperative, it is not optional a life of holiness is commanded by God, for it is written," Be ye holy, for I am holy. "Holy" does not mean sinless perfection, which is a condition impossible in this life anyway.
ILLUSTRATION
There was a perfect man who met a perfect woman. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect.
One snowy, stormy Ch ...
Robert Walker
I Peter 1:15-16
INTRODUCTION
Someone tells the story of a boy who was rebelling against his dad constantly. This boy was destroying his own life by his rebellion, but he refuse to heed his father's words.
One day, the dad said to the boy, "I want to show you what you're doing to your life. I'm going to put a wooden post in our front yard. Every time you rebel, I will put a nail in this post. Every time you obey, I will pull out one nail."
The first thought from the boy was, "I'm going to do everything I can to fill that post with nails." And he did. In two months' time, he filled that post with nails. But he also began to feel the damage he was doing to his own life and to his parents' lives.
With true remorse, the boy began to obey his father. One by one, the nails came out. When the last nail came out of the post, the boy both broke down in tears. The dad asked, "Son, why are you crying?"
And the boy replied, "I got rid of the nails, but I can't get rid of the holes."
God the Father saw the nails and the posts of our lives, and He saw our helplessness against sin. So He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to gather the nails and the posts from those who would let Him. And because of His love for us, Christ allowed Himself to be nailed on the posts, where He willingly paid the consequence of our sin.
I. THE CONSTRAINT OF A HOLY LIFE
Why should we live a holy life? What is the motivation for us to do so? There is a three-fold constraint:
1. God the Father Commands It
This is absolutely imperative, it is not optional a life of holiness is commanded by God, for it is written," Be ye holy, for I am holy. "Holy" does not mean sinless perfection, which is a condition impossible in this life anyway.
ILLUSTRATION
There was a perfect man who met a perfect woman. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect.
One snowy, stormy Ch ...
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