Holiness ^-^

Good Morning.  A cool morning in Southern Connecticut.  I've got the window open and a candle burning (pumpkin spice - getting in that Autumn frame of mind).  The satellite radio classical station is playing one of my favorite composers (Vaughan Williams) - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.  This is such a wonderful piece of reflective music.

Life is interesting here in Church Planterville.  Good news, disheartening news on a daily basis.  I'm thinking of that Jimmy Buffett song where he sings, "I've had good days and bad days, and going-half-mad days...."

In the midst of it all is God's Word that provides comfort and instruction and wisdom.  This morning as I was preparing for a Bible study meeting and for the Sunday morning sermon I read this by John Stott who was commenting on Romans 8:1-4:

Looking back over the whole passage which runs from 7:1 to 8:4, the continuing place of the law in the Christian life should be clear.  Our freedom from the law (proclaimed for instance in 7:4, 6, and 8:2) is not freedom to disobey it.  On the contrary the law-obedience of the people of God is so important to God that He sent His son to die for us and His Spirit to live in us, in order to secure it.  Holiness is the fruit of Trinitarian grace, of the Father sending his Son into the world and His Spirit into our hearts.


Such a fine line--in both preaching and Christian living.  He didn't save anyone because of their good works, but everyone He saved - was saved to do good.  There is a phrase that echoes down through church history:  "Faith alone, but not the faith that is alone."

I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit who helps us live the way God desires.