Grace and Holiness

Introduction:

The original brief for this study came from Dave Holden.  He expressed concern that while we as a movement were strong on the grace message there was evidence that we were weak on the area of holiness. 

Philip Yancey’s book ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace’   had been mentioned as worth interacting with around this subject.  In addition I suggested that we looked at the first epistle of John to help our study of the issue of sin and the Christian.

I am conscious that this is not a new subject for us to study and that many of the leaders of NFI could preach effective sermons on the subject of grace and holiness.  Nevertheless I agree with Dave Holden that the subject is worth re-examining, particularly as many of our people (perhaps not only young people!) seem to be in danger of misunderstanding grace to mean an easy tolerance of sin and worldliness.

I propose to review Yancey’s book in the light of the subject of grace and holiness and in doing so to draw a few conclusions as to its part, if any, in an underplaying of holiness in the modern Christian thinking.  Then I want to explore what it is to be a Christian and while doing this I will briefly address some of the issues David Pawson raised in his discussion on once saved, always saved; I will also look at the evidence of real faith and the New Testament approach to the problem of bad conduct amongst Christians.  I will look at the grace – faith – holiness link and the life complicating factors known as the world, the flesh and the devil.

Finally, I will endeavour to point us to some practical conclusions with regard to individual pastoral challenges and possible solution to weaknesses in our churches with regard to ‘grace and holiness’. >>

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Grace and Holiness