HINDRANCES TO HOLINESS
Heb. 12:14-17
One of the purposes of God discipline is that believers might pursue a life of holiness. Verse 10 says, “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.“ Then verse 14 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Salvation is that initial experience when the sinner repents of his sin and by faith receives Jesus Christ into his life. That experience is called being saved, being converted, being born again, etc. It is that once for all experience that brings us into the kingdom of God and unites us with the church. Believers baptism is the opportunity for the new Christian to testify of his new found faith in Jesus Christ. It pictures his death to sin and to self, his burial to the old life, and his resurrection to a new life in Christ.
Sanctification is that on going and life long work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer that forms us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. Negatively, sanctification is the cleansing or purifying from sin. Positively, sanctification is the growth in righteous attitudes and behavior resulting in Christ-likeness. For this reason, believers are commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), and to “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). The NASB translates verse 14, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” Other translations use the word “holiness”
To pursue something means to run after, chase after, press after, stay after. Our key verse admonishes to pursue two things.
(1) “Pursue peace with all men.” The fact is that peace is not always possible. Some people are troublemakers even in the church. Grumblers, complainers, gossipers, criticizers. Some are self-centered and full of pride. They push their own way rather than seeking God’s way. Some in the world cause trouble for believers as well. The oppose us, ridicule us, mock, poke fun at, curse, abuse, persecute, ignore, and isolate us. Dissenters, dividers, fighters, power-builders, warmongers etc. Such people have no interest in peace. Paul wrote “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Ro. 12:18).
(2) Moreover we are to pursue sanctification or holiness: “hagiasmon” The word means sanctification, consecration, and separation. It means to be set apart and to be different. The child of God is to be a different person from the rest of the world. He is separated from the world and its pleasures and possessions. He is set apart unto God and to Him alone. Believers should pursue holiness because, “without holiness no man will see the Lord.”
Yet, as we examine this passage more fully, we need to be aware of the dangers that that would hinder us from attaining to a life of holiness.
I. THERE IS THE DANGER OF FALLING SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
There are two ways one can fall short of the grace of God. (1) A true Christian can neglect the grace of God and as a result experience very little growth. To do that however, is to incur the discipline of God. (2) A lost person can reject the grace of God. One can know that he is a sinner, that he is lost, and that Jesus Christ has provided the remedy for his sin on the Cross and still not receive that remedy.
Grace has often been described as “God’s unmerited favor.” Grace is that favor of God that reaches down to sinful man in order to save him from sin. It is that favor that we do not deserve. God has poured out his grace on sinners in spite of their rejection of him, cursing him, being hostile to Him, denying him, worshiping other gods instead of the true God. God loves us in spite of our sin.
The Bible says that God revealed his love for us when we were “without strength, ungodly, sinners, and enemies.” (See Romans 5:6-10). God’s grace has been poured out on sinful men who were lost and condemned. In Love, God gave his Son to die for us on the cross of Calvary. It is “By grace that we are saved through faith…..” It is the most wonderful gift of all. It is the glorious opportunity to be saved from sin, death, and hell, to live forever with God throughout eternity.
But God does not force a person to be saved. By grace He offers you eternal life. Take care that you do not “fall short of the grace of God.” God offers you His grace, but you must be willing to act on His offer. It is possible for a person to go to church and hear the gospel all his life, and even be baptized and join the church, and do good works and still miss out on the grace of God. It is not enough just to “profess” Jesus as your Savior. You must receive Christ into your life as your Lord and savior.
Maybe have good intentions to receive Jesus Christ some day, but for now they keep putting it off. That is very dangerous because, one doesn’t know the time of his death. Moreover, there may come a time when the Holy Spirit ceases to strive with you. God said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” Don’t fall short of the Grace of God.
II. THERE IS THE DANGER OF A ROOT OF BITTERNESS.
The writer is speaking about “any” root, any cause that might lead one to become a bitter person. There are many causes of bitterness. Disappointment in someone you looked up to you, neglect, being overlooked in a promotion when you felt you were the best qualified, feelings of inadequacy, teachers who may have done you wrong, accidents that prevented you from fulfilling our dreams, disease, mistreatment, unjust criticism, lose of loved ones or friends, even the loss of a job, or loss of health, ministers, wife, husband, parent, supervisors, etc. We can even become bitter at God. These are merely examples of a zillion things that can cause bitterness to take root in our lives.
When resentment, unresolved anger, take root in our lives, we can become bitter people. Bitterness can be caused by any thing or any person who has failed us or brought disappointment and trouble to our lives. A bitter person can be sharp, resentful, cynical, cold, harsh, stressful, intense, relentless, distasteful, unpleasant. Any attitude represented in these words is a sin against God.
A person with a root of bitterness in the church can be a corrupting influence to the entire body of Christ. It’s like a tiny thorn that causes an infection. Such infection affects the entire body. When such bitterness takes root, it can last for years. Some believers are still bitter over things that happened decades ago. We need to guard against allowing bitterness to take root in our lives. That is why God wants our lives to be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, ie. love, joy, peace, and holiness - not in bitterness.
III. THERE IS THE DANGER OF IMMORALITY.
The word “fornicator” speaks of any sexual act outside the bonds of “BIBLICALL MARRIAGE.” The word is “pornos.” This danger includes all forms of immoral and sexual thoughts or acts. Premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, and abnormal sex. Immorality includes is not only the act, but the thought. A person can be guilty of immorality when he looks at pornography in order to lust. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt. 5:28). This includes whether in person, in magazines, in books, on the internet, movies etc.
Listen to what the Bible says about immorality.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14).
“Flee fornication, Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18).
“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints” (Eph 5:3).
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and coveteousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience” (Col. 3:5-6).
IV. THERE IS THE DANGER OF BECOMING A PROFANE PERSON
ILL. The writer uses the story of Esau as an illustration of a man who literally despised his blessings and as a result, lost it all. This story is found in Genesis 25:29-34. Now Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, but they had very different personalities.
They were different in appearance: Esau was rough, ruddy, and hairy. Jacob was smooth in skin, dark in feature, slight in build. Moreover he was a homeboy.
They were different in pursuits: Esau was a rugged outdoorsman and a skillful hunter. Isaac favored Esau because he enjoyed eating the game Esau killed. Jacob stayed closer to home. Rebekah favored Jacob.
They were different in character: Scripture calls him a “profane man.” The Hebrew word for “profane” means to be unhallowed and sensual, neglectful of spiritual things, and a lover of this world and the things of the world. A profane person is a common person, that is, a “good ole boy” who lives for the world and not God. The English word means, “outside the temple,” or “not belonging to God.” Most of you outdoorsmen would be much more attracted to Esau than to Jacob
Jacob on the other hand was very different. Though he was at times very deceptive, he had a heart that was open to God and in God’s timing was used of God.
One day while Jacob was cooking, Esau came in from hunting and was hungry. He said to Jacob, “please give me some of that red stew for I am hungry.” Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” Now as the firstborn son, Esau had the birthright. In the ancient world, the firstborn son enjoyed a favored position. His birthright included a double portion of his father’s assets upon his death (Dt. 21:17). He also received a special blessing from his father and the privilege of family leadership
Esau could not wait, so he said, “Look, I am about to die, so what is this birthright to me?” Jacob made Esau take an oath. He took an oath and sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pea soup. At that time he cared less for the birthright though he lived to regret it.. He later lost his father’s blessing to Jacob‘s treachery.
How foolish we think. Yet we also can despise God‘s blessings. One moment of sinful pleasure, a broken promise, a careless act, can lead to years of disappointment and hurt. How many people do you know once served the Lord have now sold out to the world, the flesh, or the devil?
Maybe it was the pursuit of riches, or pleasure, or worldly passions rather than the things of God. Maybe you chose worldly friends over your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Now you live only for self and you have turned your back on the God of your youth. Instead of enjoying the eternal blessings of God, you are wallowing in the temporal pleasures of sin and self-centeredness. You will face days of heartache and regret.
Jesus is of course the firstborn of his heavenly Father. He enjoys all the rights and privileges of the Jewish birthright. All true Christians are His brothers, sharing in His spiritual inheritance (Rom. 8:17). They are counted as “firstborn” by God’s grace (Heb. 12:23).
CONCLUSION: Believers in Jesus Christ are to seek to live a life of peace with their relationship to people and to live a life of Holiness. They are to pursue holiness.
To be holy means (a) to be set apart unto God and unto God alone, and (b) to be separated from the world and its pleasures and possessions. The believer lives in the world but he is not of the world. Believers are not to be possessed by the world, enslaved by its pleasures. Rather he is to be set apart unto God, live for God, and serve God in the world. God has saved us to be a holy people, a different people. No one will ever see the Lord unless he is holy.
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1)
“Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).
“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
