Our Response

Faith is a term that Christians have watered down. It has become a cheap, casual word. But we need to hear the richness and strength of this word.

I like how Martin Luther defined it. He said:

"…faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith.

Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing…

Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith."

Again, do you see the connection? A holy God, working by the Holy Spirit, births faith in us. Why? So that our whole lives might be united to a holy God so that we naturally and gladly live holy lives.

And because of the work of a holy God, we are not only a people of faith, but we become faithful people.

The theologian Graham Cole states:

"…Holiness emphasizes our separation from the world, righteousness focuses on our engagement with it. We stand apart from the sinful world in order to be able to act effectively within it—our holiness is the foundation of our righteousness, which is possible only because we are holy in him."

Because of what God has done in us, we are now forgiven, cleansed, transformed, and empowered to represent his kingdom in the world. To pursue justice. To seek righteousness. To demonstrate and advocate for sinful humanity to recognize a holy God, to confess their sins, to place their faith in Christ, and to join with us and with God in his redemptive mission.

As the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Thou Blessed Spirit, Author of All grace and comfort,

Come, work repentance in my soul; Represent sin to me in its odious colors that I may hate it; Melt my heart by the majesty and mercy of God; Show me my ruined self and the help there is in him; Teach me to behold my Creator, his ability to save, his arms outstretched, his heart big for me.

May I confide in his power and love, commit my soul to him without reserve, bear his image, observe his laws, pursue his service, and be through time and eternity a monument to the efficacy of his grace, a trophy of his victory.

Make me willing to be saved in his way, perceiving nothing in myself, but all in Jesus.

Help me not only to receive him but to walk in him, depend upon him, commune with him, be conformed to him, follow him, imperfect, but still pressing forward, not complaining of labour, but valuing rest, not murmuring under trials, but thankful for my state.

Give me that faith which is the means of salvation, and the principle and medium of all godliness.

Perceiving nothing in myself, may I find in Christ wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption.

(From The Valley of Vision)

Identify one area of your life where you need to grow in holiness. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform you in that area this week.