Holiness and Love
We are finishing up our study of the Mind of Christ by T W Hunt. We have been going through it very slowly on Sunday evenings this year and emphasizing the applications. I have reminded everyone often that without applying the truths, we would not really benefit from the study.
The final unit is about realizing the character of God centers on both love and holiness. These two are not opposed to each other, but in reality you must have both in the right balance to have the Mind of Christ. Some people end up focusing on love and forgetting holiness. That perverts the love into some kind of love that is not godly love. Others stress being holy so much that they forget the love all together. Of course, that can't be right. We must allow the Spirit to develop the character of the Lord in us, so we can show His love and be holy like Him at the same time.
This is one of the most difficult things we have to do as believers. When we need to correct a brother or sister in Christ who is sinning, we must have the proper love while showing them the way of holiness, too. They must see it in us first before they will receive it from us. However, that is why we have the church. We are to help each other grow in the Lord and to serve the Lord together. Without encouragement and admonition that won't occur. Therefore, we are compelled to become loving and holy, so we can show love and holiness to others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Timothy 6 and II Timothy 1-2.
The final unit is about realizing the character of God centers on both love and holiness. These two are not opposed to each other, but in reality you must have both in the right balance to have the Mind of Christ. Some people end up focusing on love and forgetting holiness. That perverts the love into some kind of love that is not godly love. Others stress being holy so much that they forget the love all together. Of course, that can't be right. We must allow the Spirit to develop the character of the Lord in us, so we can show His love and be holy like Him at the same time.
This is one of the most difficult things we have to do as believers. When we need to correct a brother or sister in Christ who is sinning, we must have the proper love while showing them the way of holiness, too. They must see it in us first before they will receive it from us. However, that is why we have the church. We are to help each other grow in the Lord and to serve the Lord together. Without encouragement and admonition that won't occur. Therefore, we are compelled to become loving and holy, so we can show love and holiness to others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Timothy 6 and II Timothy 1-2.