Holiness

[JM]

I've been doing well, very well at work and I'm blessed beyond all measure in the Lord. My family is well and loving God but I've been longing for holiness, true vital godliness for months and months now. Is this a normal part of the Christian life? I've read that it is but do you experience this deep longing for holiness and utter contempt for self?

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[gord44]

Everyone has their ups and downs. Perseverance is the key until your 'fire' returns, which it always does if you're faithful in prayer and the reading of the Word. Don't chase new experiences or knowledge as that will only lead to wickedness.

 

[JM]

St. Gord-dita, my fire is not in questions. I'm burning up for God!

 

[gord44]

St. Gord-dita, my fire is not in questions. I'm burning up for God!

Scuse me then. I'll saunter off to me studies then. Dang baptists.

 

[JM]

PS: I like the avatar. I think he's rolling over in his grave though considering Faith: Buddhist

 

[JM]

Scuse me then. I'll saunter off to me studies then. Dang baptists.

No need to go. I'm just devouring scripture and loving God. All that makes one long for holiness me thinketh.

 

[gord44]

it's a brave new world. VHS players, CD's and 14.4 modems.

 

[gord44]

No need to go. I'm just devouring scripture and loving God. All that makes one long for holiness me thinketh.

you dang spiritualists and your feelings!

 

[Soyeong]

I've been doing well, very well at work and I'm blessed beyond all measure in the Lord. My family is well and loving God but I've been longing for holiness, true vital godliness for months and months now. Is this a normal part of the Christian life? I've read that it is but do you experience this deep longing for holiness and utter contempt for self?

Yours in the Lord,

jm

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” - C. S. Lewis

While the Bible encourages us to follow God's instructions for how to have a holy conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16), it does not pair it with having utter contempt for self.

 

[JM]

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” - C. S. Lewis

While the Bible encourages us to follow God's instructions for how to have a holy conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16), it does not pair it with having utter contempt for self.

"O wretched man that I am!"

Like Paul I find a law that when I would do good evil is present with me. It would probably be better understood as hating the sin within.

 

[Soyeong]

"O wretched man that I am!"

Like Paul I find a law that when I would do good evil is present with me.

Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

You are now in Christ and a child of the living God, so there is no more room for having contempt for yourself.

 

[JM]

Who will deliver you from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Right. I posted that it would be better understood as hating the sin within and having utter contempt for my works. The Valley of Vision is filled with such prayers.

It's called experimental Christianity, where we feel what we believe.

 

[mark kennedy]

I've been doing well, very well at work and I'm blessed beyond all measure in the Lord. My family is well and loving God but I've been longing for holiness, true vital godliness for months and months now. Is this a normal part of the Christian life? I've read that it is but do you experience this deep longing for holiness and utter contempt for self?

Yours in the Lord,

jm

That was one of the advantages the Hebrews had, they had a holiness code. Dietary laws, rules about discharges, clean and unclean things. I have read a few Catholics on the subject and what they talk about is prayer and fasting. If maybe there is a seminary or monetary near you they sometimes rent these little, quite prayer rooms. Maybe start a prayer journal with a singular focus, becoming holy. I'll tell you one thing for sure, God wants us holy, that may well be where this desire is coming from, that usually means He's preparing you for something.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[gord44]

What is holiness? Is it walking upright before the Lord? Turning from wickedness?

I think I feel most holy when I lay face down before God and confess my many sins that I do not deserve forgiveness for and realise that my fate is the flames if it wasn't for the sacrifice of the God's precious Son. As that's when you realise your true standing before God. When you realise your unworthiness, you feel worthy through God.

 

[mark kennedy]

No need to go. I'm just devouring scripture and loving God. All that makes one long for holiness me thinketh.

Being this emersed in devotion I wonder what you mightb discover in Leviticus. It starts with the laws of Levitical sacrifice and the ordination of the priests. There was one special element required before the work of the Levites begin. The sacrificial flame came out of the tabernacle and consumed the oblation, that fire could never be allowed to go out.

This being the fall Pentecost and Tabranacles is coming up and technically you celebrating Passover every time you go to Mass. Since your reading a lot of Scripture I think you might get a lot out of it.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[JM]

A few years ago I did an audit of a course on Leviticus. It was good. Free through Covenant Seminary.

 

[High Fidelity]

Perseverance

Hits the nail on the head.

Perseverance begins a sentence naming one of the most important doctrines I and I am sure you too affirm.

No one is perfect, but to persevere itself is, in my opinion, a level of righteousness that underpins anything consequential.

 

[twin1954]

A desire to live a life that is honorable to Christ is certainly commendable and a consuming fire to be without sin is life in Christ. But never forget that all our holiness is Christ. There are no degrees to holiness or righteousness and anything less than perfect is not holiness or righteous. I don't long to be holy in myself I long to be holy in Christ.