Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather together with you today, in this sacred space, united by our shared faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are indeed a blessed people, called to live in the light of God's love, and to reflect that love to a world in desperate need of it.

Today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound truth contained within the precious pages of God's Word. We turn our hearts and minds to the apostle Peter's first letter, specifically 1 Peter 1:14-16. Let's read this together: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"

These words echo down the corridors of time, reverberating with a call to holiness, a call to purity, a call to piety, and a call to perfection through Christ. This call is not just a whisper in the wind; rather, it is a clear and compelling command. It is a call to action, a call to transformation, a call to live out our faith with integrity and authenticity.

Adrian Rodgers once said, "Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the way to holiness." This statement underlines the truth that our pursuit of holiness begins and ends with Christ. He is our model, our mentor, and our motivator. It is through His example, His teachings, and His empowering presence that we can pursue purity in practice, persevere in piety, and proclaim perfection through Him.

So, let's stand together at the foot of this mountain of truth, ready to climb, ready to learn, ready to grow. We are not alone on this ascent. We have each other, and most importantly, we have our Guide, our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the privilege of gathering together in Your name. We thank You for Your Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds to the truths contained within Your Word today. Help us to understand what it means to pursue purity, to persevere in piety, and to proclaim perfection through Christ. Guide us, teach us, transform us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Pursuing Purity in Practice

In the realm of our daily lives, the call to holiness is a call to a distinct way of living. We should be making choices that reflect our commitment to Christ. It's about aligning our actions with our beliefs.

The first aspect we need to consider is our personal conduct. The choices we make, the words we speak, the attitudes we harbor, all these reflect our level of purity. When we choose to act in ways that honor God, we are pursuing purity in practice. This is not about legalism or trying to earn God's favor. It's about expressing our love for God through our actions.

Next, this relates to our relationships with others. How we treat others is a direct reflection of our relationship with God. If we claim to love God, but treat others poorly, our claim is hollow. Pursuing purity in practice means treating others with kindness, respect, and love. It means forgiving those who hurt us, just as God forgave us.

The third aspect involves our thought life. Our thoughts are the birthplace of our actions. If our thoughts are impure, our actions will likely follow suit. But if we fill our minds with pure, noble, and praiseworthy thoughts, our actions will reflect the same. This is why it's so important to fill our minds with God's Word. It's the ultimate source of truth, wisdom, and purity.

Finally, consider our motives. It's possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. But pursuing purity in practice means having pure motives. It means doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do, not because we want to impress others or earn brownie points with God.

In all these aspects, we see that pursuing purity in practice requires effort, intentionality, and commitment. It's a daily choice to live in a way that honors God. It's a choice to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. It's a choice to live out our faith in a way that is consistent with our beliefs. But let's be clear. This pursuit of purity is not about achieving perfection. We are human, and we will make mistakes. But the goal is progress, not perfection.

Perseverance in Piety

As we continue to navigate the terrain of holiness, we find ourselves in the realm of piety ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO