Hebrews 12:14

HOLINESS OF LIFE

‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.’

Hebrews 12:14

Our subject is holiness; personal holiness which shows itself in the daily life; that personal possession of something which leads us day by day to live according to God’s laws.

I. A life of holiness is a life not ruled by the body but by the spirit.

II. How shall we obtain this holiness?—The right holiness of life is shown in the life of Christ. We are the possessors of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we have received not only forgiveness of the past but cleansing. So the life of Christ is in our lives. We become partakers with Him and His Spirit dwelleth in us.

III. Our bounden duty.—It is bound upon us to aim at holiness and to possess it because we are not our own. Many so-called Christians are leading a sham life so far as their religion is concerned. Their religion lacks sincerity. We ought to be very circumspect in our daily lives, and to be regular attendants at the house of God and take careful observance of the Holy Sacrament.

IV. Yet it is not in externals that holiness lies.—There must be form, but we must never leave out the inward and spiritual grace. Jesus Christ defined His Church in these words: ‘the Kingdom of God is within you.’ Such is holiness. It is something within.

—Rev. H. Lionel James.