Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
03/04/2014, by John Kincaid
Lesson 165: Discipline, Part 1
Every New Years Eve, millions make resolutions. Most of these are broken by January 2; nearly all are broken by February. The only path to godliness is Christian discipline.
But in our culture, discipline has fallen out of style. These days, the emphasis is on freedom in Christ; most people feel that discipline sounds too strict, too much like harsh legalism.
Yet Scripture tells us to train (discipline) ourselves to be godly. 1 Tim.4:7
1 Cor.9:24-27 in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Athletes use discipline to win a metal cup; the prize for godliness is a crown that lasts forever.
Discipline simply means structured training. To pursue holiness, we must correct our character.
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.