Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
04/25/2014, by John Kincaid
Lesson 217: Genuine Concern for the Lost, Pt. 1
Our concern is not only for our purity, but also for the eternal destiny of unbelievers who want to pollute us.
Our role as salt means that we are to be a preserving power, an antiseptic, and to prevent decay. We fight deterioration.
The world is wicked, but it would be far worse without the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit through the example and prayers of Christians.
The painting above by Holman Hunt, "The Light of the World" (1854) depicts Jesus knocking at the long-unopened door of a hardened heart. A large version of this painting hangs in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
Rev.3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus is the light of the world, and as we reflect Him, so are we.
John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Matt.5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
We are to be a witness to that light as we bear the good news of salvation.
John 1:7-8 [John the Baptist] came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
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.
