The writings of the Church Fathers are also available online for free. Born in Bavaria in 1819, he had the desire to be a priest from the age of twelve. And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.. It is called the Way of Holiness, because its goal is the Holy city of Zion. The apostle Paul traveled on this highway. You yearn to serve Him in all things, at all times, to "live and move and have [your] being in Him" (Acts 17:28). The only way you can be good enough is to receive the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jesus had to come and make a way for us. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16. 5, 638. It is the case today, when God is dealing primarily with spiritual Israelthe Church of God. Human reasoning is offended at it. Angel Seminary. He is the author ofThe Imitation of Christ in the Gospel of Luke: Growing in Christlike Love for God and Neighbor. It is in those that are redeemed, that the power of the Holy Spirit dwells making them the temple of the Holy Spirit. To have fellowship with God, we must not walk in the darkness (1:6, 8, 10). Those who make the mistake of attempting to cover up their sins fail to recognize that one day all of those sins will be revealed. For Gods people living in this present evil world, the route and destination are clear. Every day! 2 Timothy 1:9 grace salvation calling Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Dominic Barberi. Psalm 5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. Only one way is permissible. But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Amen. Holiness is motivated by the grace of Gods love for us and requires the work of loving him by obeying his commands; The steadfast love of God should thrill us as better than life (Ps. Thats a $30 value yours FREE! In classical terms, love for God requires both complacentia (satisfaction) and benevolentia (good will); see David Clyde Jones, Biblical Christian Ethics (Grand Rapids. Holiness in Marriage & Family Life. There are many exit ramps on this highway, and to the natural mind they seem to offer a better travel experience. The rosaryand, by extension, the special intercession of Our Ladyhas far-reaching effects. Current Events Pope Opens Holy Year of Mercy, The Cost of Revival and Reformation A Response to Concerns and Objections. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. When we are full of His love (John 17:26) and obedience to Him, darkness gets purged by default. Many people find it very uncomfortable to humble themselves and admit that they are wrong, for fear that they would be exposed and their reputation be brought to disrepute. Therefore Gods vision for the world, and for his people, also includes frequent retelling of the story of his powerful love. Why is it important for us to acknowledge our sins? Try this calendar for saint feast days and biographies. It is no degradation for man to bow down before his Maker and confess his sins and plead for forgiveness through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. God is present in nature, in the hearts of all of us; there is nowhere we can run from Him (see Psalm 139). Jesus has given us clear instruction as to finding this Way. His footsteps are on it, always facing forward, never backward, and never toward an exit ramp. I find one of the major obstacles to holiness is biting off more than I can chew. And it is the way to what only the true God offerseternal life in the Kingdom of God.The Highway of Holiness is the only way to the true God, to conforming to His character. In reading accounts of the Redemptorist Fathers ministry to the German-speaking immigrants in the United States, he heard the call of the Holy Spirit. Only one traveler at a time accesses this highway. Gut Feelings: Is What Seems Right, Right? Francis passed into eternal life on October 4, 1867, at the age of 48. He is the way. Inspiration brings out the fact that the burden of sin is the cause of the maladies from which many people are suffering. I have no merit or goodness whereby I may claim salvation, but I present before God the all-atoning blood of the spotless Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 1. Root out all inconsistencies, by the grace of the Spirit, and enjoy godly activities. The Scripture states that this path is for those who "walk on that Way.". Isaiah gives us a particularly helpful perspective on holiness. The passage was read earlier in the service, but I want to focus on three of the verses Isaiah 35:8-10 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It was backward progressaway from the Kingdom of God. No longer a slave to sin, but a slave to righteousness. This has been the case since the beginning. The walk with God is not a fast lane, for if it is, many would have already done so. His teachings are still doing that, 150 years later! Is there any good reason not to make the rosary part of our daily lives? You still need to be watchful; you still need to have your eyes fixed solely on Jesus Christ. A certain rich man came up to Jesus "as he was setting out on his journey" ( Mk 10:17). In Hebrews 12:12, it says, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. It is a matter of life or death that we gain that holiness. Spiritual reading targets the intellect and the heart at once, with beneficial effects on the soul. Achan uttered no confession until the finger of God was placed upon him. Francis list: If you stopped into a Mass said in Latin or a language not your own, could you truly attend with devotion? Francis, we have a great model for the New Evangelization. Living in the supernatural means letting go of the natural and giving the Holy Spirit free reign in our own spirits, training us up in the ways of God. To a Holy God, even the smallest of sin is big enough to separate you from God. It is from July 12th to July 15th at Camp Choya in Boxwoods. The majority of the Christian world profess to accept Him as their personal Saviour, but they stumble at following His example of self-denial, and thereby fail to inherit that holiness. Prayer and confession are to be offered only to Him Who has entered once for all into the holy place [the sanctuary]. Ellen G. White Comments, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. When you do this, there is a favour of the Lord as with a shield, meaning that there is a door that is open by the Lord that no can shut. And we must learn to trust Him that He will do all . It offends some people if they are not walking by faith, but instead by sight. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13). Judges 14:6 says Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed on him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. What a picture this passage paints. The sinner must see himself or herself as being exposed to the wrath of God before he or she can realize the need of a Saviour. You were made righteous when you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. To give no opportunity to the devil (Eph 4:26-27). This obstacle has everything to do with the Pioneer who first traveled this highway and who personified it. It is a daily experience. Being saved does not just mean that you have said a few words to accept Christ. As the saying goes, if you stood accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? He personified the way of perfectly yielding to and fulfilling the will of God the Father. That can be accomplished with Bl. The biggest culture shock for me, and the most valuable insight, was what Mike constantly called "walking in a sacred manner.". This future age is the time of restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Is the The Suffering Servant prophecy in Isaiah 53 about Jesus? Psalm 32:5 says, I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. Not only that, but the intention of this highway is particularly for those who are holy. Walking the Christian walk requires belief, faith, and trust. Daily examinations of conscience should lead us to the practice of regular confession. But holiness is another matter. In fact, God gave the Israelites this very choice in Deuteronomy 30:15-18 See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. And that brings us back to where we began . Many people do not know what sin is and think they are okay. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.. This distinctive highway is noted for an important previous Traveler. These are confession of faults to those we have injured or wronged. Lets compare that with the following: The day is coming when all who have committed sin will make confession, even though it is too late for them to receive pardon. Do not tolerate sin. With God there is no such thing as secrets. But if a person stays on this road, he is being led in the ways of true, godly wisdom. It takes faiththe faith of convictionto stay on this highway. David says, I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. He is the way.. When God places us on His highway, He sets us apart from the world, and sets our feet on a brand new path. The diversity of spiritual reading available renders any excuse moot. Francis isnt asking us to fast on bread and water for nine days or wear sackcloth. You can even sign up on a website to receive emails with novena prayers for a variety of feasts. 1. We as children of God, saved by His Grace are called to walk in holiness. 'Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it"' (Isaiah 30:21). No man receives holiness as a birthright, or as a gift from any other human being. God will be better glorified if we confess the secret, inbred corruption of the heart to Jesus alone than if we open its recesses to finite, erring man, who cannot judge righteously unless his heart is constantly imbued with the Spirit of God. If we have in any manner defrauded or injured our brother, we should make restitution. The Faith I Live By, 132. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). The first step on the path of holiness is conviction. There is a vast difference between admitting the facts after they have been proved, and confessing sins known only to ourselves and to God. Patriarchs and Prophets, 497. We want to understand this pathway to holiness. Then this true highway will be accessible to all the worlds inhabitants, not just to a few (by invitation only), as it is today. Bl. Gods masterpieces are on display in order to bring glory to Him and to bring us closer to Him. Holiness is an unpopular topic in our culture and churches today. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Having said that, it is not supernatural experiences we . Whatever preparation we can do ahead of a feast always enhances our spiritual participation in it. We need help! Then John adds (2:2), "and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.". The scripture tells us that the Lord blesses the righteous; in other words, those who walk in the way of holiness and so God covers them with favour as with a shield. Our faults dont just affect usthey affect the people we live with, work with, as well as anyone we might encounter. But, I wanted to touch on these things, really emphasizing that to walk in righteousness is to walk in the love of Jesus and in obedience to Him. Likewise, when God covers you with favour it means that it is set in concrete. He manifests a wonderful forbearance. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21). All those parts of the human person need to be fed when it comes to the faith, not just the last two. Study Gods word prayerfully. Contemplating the Lords passion goes back even further than Bl. The Christian household of father, mother, and children is not an isolated social unit, but is rather one part of the larger "household of God" ( 1 Timothy 3:15; 5:4 ). St. Paul reflected on the subject in Romans, Colossians, 2 Corinthians, and Philippians. It is clear that our confession must be specific to the sin committed. Follow along as two best friends turned modern-day sleuths unravel mysteries and pay tribute to wonderful hometown heroes! How do we know which way to take, how do we identify the Way of Holiness? 5, 645. Why? Confession is so essential in this pathway. That which makes manifest is light. Ephesians 5:14. This highway is not for the world, but for those who . Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21). It is impossible to get lost. Firstly, there is a highway. It will not hurt your dignity to confess your sins. It is powerful enough to awaken the dead: God . There is one particular obstacle that has caused some people not to make progress on this road, or indeed to want to travel on it. Participation in the Mass is first and foremost spiritual. The Highway of Holiness is the only way to the true God, to conforming to His character. He served for nine years in St. Philomena Parish in Pittsburgh, PA, working with the future St. John Neumann. The blood of Jesus is the sinners only cure. Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/christian-living/narrow-path-highway-of-holiness/, Christian Decision-Making: 7 Steps for Making Wise Decisions, Choose Life! This is an important aspect of our life in Jesus Christ. Conviction of sin is the first step and we want to avoid those fatal mistakes of justifying ourselves or hardening our heart. In the world tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to help many others do the same. If we wanted to be even holier, we could add in some regular accountability, small-group participation . By no means does the entire reservation embrace this way of life, but for the Littleboys, religion is pervasive. And a highway shall be there,and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;the unclean shall not pass over it.It shall belong to those who walk on the way;even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come upon it;They shall not be found there,But the redeemed shall walk thereAnd the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing;Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;They shall obtain gladness and joy,And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Amen!! Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. In addition to being a highway on which the ransomed of the LORD shall return to Zion (verse 10), the Highway of Holiness also represents a way of life. It is reserved for those who are righteous in God's sight. The Littleboys, and the Lakota people, live in a fundamentally different way: a sacred way. Then come and worship Me. He raced toward the end pointthe resurrection into the Kingdom of God. Christ wants His people to appear before Him spotless, without stain, with a humble and contrite heart. This isnt only for the sake of our souls; just as much, its for the sake of the Body of Christ. Notice what the Bible says in Leviticus 5:5: And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing.. In Numbers 32:23, it says, be sure that your sin will find you out. There is no running and hiding from our sins. Bl. No sin can enter His presence. He was accepted into the Redemptorists in November 1842 and sailed for New York in April 1843. He was the perfect sacrifice who died in your place to take your sin (however big or small) in order that His righteousness is imputed upon you. Self-justification is a fatal mistake when it comes to being convicted of sin. This is a wonderful promise, a great promise in which we must all have hope. This obstaclethis stone of stumblingthis Christlike way of thinking and doing has caused some people to criticize the Designer of this highway and even its very purpose. But as the case of Jonah reminds us, it is possible for Gods love to become nothing more than a sterile fact that we recite and resent (Jonah 4:2). That is why it tells us in 1 John 1:7 saying But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.. The effort is worth it, however, because Christ Himself is calling us to love as He did (John 13:34). 8, 312, 313. When mankind fell, God didn't change His mind about us being holy. Pine Cove City Day Camp is from June 26th to June 30th. Casting off the flesh with all its deceitful desires and imitating God. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. When we receive the conviction we must acknowledge our sins. Francis recommends half an hour so that we let the Holy Spirit settle into our hearts. A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way (Isaiah 35:8). Furthermore, married couples and Christian parents should follow their own proper path (to holiness) by faithful love. You pray more, help the poor and needy more and accept more readily the crosses God has given you. Jesus similarly warns that in the last days, as lawlessness increases, the love of many will grow cold (Matt. Demario Carter is a former Steps to Life employee and has been a speaker at previous camp meetings. The scripture tells us that the unclean shall not pass over it. . Despite our best intentions, our fallen human nature is inclined to sin. Amen and God bless. It will be everywhere. What this shows us is that those who are on this way of Holiness, it is impossible for them to loose the way. The prophets described this stone of stumbling, this obstacle to the carnal, faithless mind: The apostles also drew attention to how the very foundation of this wonderful highway could also trip many up: Christ, in His holiness and mind yielded to the will of the Father, embodies the foundational principle of the Kingdom of God. You see if you want to make the decision of taking this highway, called the Way of Holiness, the route has been given clearly to the entire world. One fatal mistake is that we fail to confess and then attempt to cover our sins. While some faults rise to the surface, others are buried deeper. A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8, emphasis added throughout). St. Paul reminded the Ephesians to not let the sun go down on your anger. Why? In-fact we see a great example of this in the book of Judges, in the story of Samson. Israels highways were intended for pilgrimage, as people went up them at the feasts to meet the Lord in His holy temple. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14). And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken (Isaiah 8:14-15). No one comes to the Father except through me. Amen! They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. Ibid. Clinging to this erroneous idea, though seeing their faults, many fail to confess them, but rather pass by the wrongs they have done others, so embittering their own lives, and shadowing the lives of others. In His mercy, Jesus gave us the sacrament of reconciliation by endowing the Church with His very authority to forgive sins (cf. Paul tells us to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). John 20:21-23). Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance [cheerful, patient endurance] the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). You are moving toward being more fully centered on Gods will. They should sustain one another in grace throughout the entire length of . Jesus says, if you there remember that your brother has ought against you, first go be reconciled to him. All rights reserved. In the home that God is building, the rooms are furnished with peace . But if your eyes have been opened to recognize the diverging paths before you, choose the narrow way that leads to life. The foundation of his success was his own personal holiness, his willingness to be among his flock, and his ability to tune his message to their frequency without losing any substance. 12K views, 397 likes, 266 loves, 518 comments, 486 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from SonLife Broadcasting Network: Join us for the LIVE Sunday Evening Service in the Family Worship Center sanctuary. Are you willing to confess all of your sins, and not only confess, but turn away from sin and to truly repent, and where necessary, make restitution? 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy . In addition to his parochial duties, Francis also served his order as novice master, the superior of the community in Pittsburgh, and Prefect of Students. Quite simply these are those who have received salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and the unsaved are those who have rejected Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks often about this highway. Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? But Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? The purpose may be formed, the work begun; but its accomplishment will require toil, time, and perseverance, patience and sacrifice. Testimonies, vol. Turns out holiness isnt about how you appear to others, but rather where you are headed. He says there are three ways to look at the local elections. Here again, Bl. As Gods people proceed toward the Kingdom of God, there is a road they must travelan elevated roada highwaythat leads to that destination. Fittingly, his life ended in service. 12:10 ). In this passage in Isaiah, the prophet concentrates on one highway, with a most exalted name. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20. It is these who are the redeemed. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. In a hostile world, surrounded with temptations to idolatry and given to hardness of heart, we can sustain a holy life only through passionate love for God and appreciation of his love for us. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:31, I die daily.. Without Him, we would have been lost forever. Walking in Holiness, Walking in the Love of God The testimony of Scripture is clear: if we want to walk in the way of holiness, the love of God is indispensable to our progress. You can say: I know I am a sinner, and that is the reason I need a Saviour. Passionate love for God will therefore flourish best when we joyfully embrace our utter dependence on his lovewhether as sinners in need of forgiveness or as creatures in need of daily bread. Those traveling on this highway are heading away from evilactions, motivations and thoughts contrary to the will of the one true Creator God. After we have been convicted of sin and have acknowledged our guilt, the next thing is to repent. The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. If we have injured others through any unjust business transaction, if we have overreached in trade, or defrauded any man, even though it be within the pale [or protection] of the law, we should confess our wrong, and make restitution as far as lies in our power. To the mind of natural man, it often seems to be unnecessarily difficult to stay on this highway. If we have done something that has somehow offended or wronged a brother or sister, then we are told again to confess our faults to them. It is a not my will, but Your will way of thinking and doing. 2. What a testimony to have. His blood is the only remedy for sin. The Faith I Live By, 102. By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:20-22). This scripture talks about walking in the way of Holiness. There is a choice to be made, to take this path. 2. Not just any way of thinking or believing or doing is permissible while on this unique highway. Holiness is wonderful and desirable, but the temptation is to go from zero to Padre Pio in the span of a week. The novena prayer (or collection of prayers) can be one of your writing or an existing one. Or, as Vatican II put it: could you fully, actively, and consciously participate? It takes God-given spiritual enlightenment and motivation to have the understanding and commitment and desire to continue to travel on it. He or she is the one who walks in the Way of Holiness.
