Consistent Obedience: Holiness Requires Practice, Not Theory (Leviticus 19:37)

Holiness is not a theological position we hold but a practiced reality we live. It's the daily choice to obey all of God's commands (Lev 19:37), fulfilled through Christ (Matt 5:17-19), demonstrated through action (James 1:22), and proven through consistent walking as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Theory without practice is self-deception; consistent obedience is the mark of genuine faith.

Foundation in the Law

"Keep all my decrees and laws. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:37)

This command concludes the holiness code of Leviticus 19, which covers everything from caring for the poor to honest business practices. The emphasis is on "all"—selective obedience is not holiness.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reinforces this daily practice: God's commands should be on our hearts, taught to children, discussed at home and on the road, bound as symbols, written on doorframes. Obedience isn't occasional—it's woven into the fabric of life.

Jesus Affirms Ongoing Obedience

Matthew 5:17-19: Jesus didn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He warns that anyone who sets aside even "the least of these commands" and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom. Righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (v. 20)—not in external rule-keeping, but in heart transformation that produces genuine obedience.

John 14:15, 21, 23: Jesus repeatedly connects love with obedience: "If you love me, keep my commands." This isn't legalism—it's the natural outflow of relationship. The one who has Jesus' commands and keeps them is the one who truly loves Him.

Doers, Not Hearers Only

James 1:22-25: "Do not merely listen to the word... Do what it says." James compares mere hearing to looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what you look like. Consistent practice makes the difference between self-deception and blessing.

James 2:14-26: Faith without works is dead. Abraham was considered righteous for what he did when he offered Isaac (v. 21). Rahab was justified by what she did (v. 25). Theory and profession mean nothing without corresponding action.

Knowing God Through Keeping His Commands

1 John 2:3-6: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." The one who claims to know God but doesn't keep His commands is a liar. But whoever obeys his word—in that person God's love is truly made complete. We prove we're in Christ by walking as Jesus walked.

Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:17)

1 John 3:7: "The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous." Action reveals identity.

Holiness as Pursuit and Practice

1 Peter 1:15-16: "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This quotes Leviticus 11:44-45, connecting Old Testament holiness to New Testament living.

Hebrews 12:14: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Holiness requires effort—it's pursued, not passively received.

Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you." We work because God works in us—divine empowerment meets human responsibility.

Meditative, Daily Practice

Joshua 1:8: "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Success comes from doing what's written, not just knowing it.

Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) celebrates God's law with phrases like:

• "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin" (v. 11)
• "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts" (v. 45)
• "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long" (v. 97)

Transformation Through Consistent Action

Romans 12:1-2: Present your bodies as living sacrifices—daily, ongoing surrender. Don't conform to the world's pattern but be transformed by renewing your mind. Transformation happens through practiced obedience.

2 Peter 1:5-8: Add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. These qualities, in increasing measure, keep us from being ineffective. Growth is incremental and practical.

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Seek the LORD wholeheartedly, he answers you with grace to follow his instructions (Psalm 119:2,10,34,58,145, Luke 11:9-10)

 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart. Psalm 119:2

With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. Psalm 119:10

Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34

I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise. Psalm 119:58

I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes. Psalm 119:145

So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened Luke 11:9-10

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Lawlessness, exalting self and removing God from the throne (2 Thes 2:1-12)

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2 Thes 2:1-12

Tm Keller explained this really well, sharing that we should be looking - not for a man, but an attitude. The center of the temple of God contains the mercy seat, a place of sacrifice. It's were God reveals the gospel. At the mercy seat and the Cross of Jesus Christ, God says - "my life for yours." When a mother lays down her life for a child to care for the child she says "my life for yours." Everything good in this world comes from people saying "my life for yours" to other people saying the same. It's what Charlie Kirk advocated for. Romans 12, In view of God's mercy, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice - your spiritual act of worship. Then you will know the will of God for your life. 

The Spirit of Lawlessness is "without law" - its cannibalism, it's genocide, it's hell on earth. It says "your life for mine." 

The breath of God and splendor of his coming. We believe the truth, I'm prone to foster iniquity in my life. I get tired and want to relax, be alone in "the secret power of lawlessness" - my true self is a distorted shell of my ideal self. My life for yours feels over whelming when we keep score and shows up in an attitude towards Jesus, "didn't I do all these things." and Jesus says, "away from me your workers of iniquity, I never knew you" 

The Spirit of the Law, the breath of resurrection and the glory of God, when embraced is cause for joy and peace, fulfillment. Life to the full! Resting after a honest days work is best with a sober mind. 

Great start to Alpha this week at Teen Challenge we enjoyed the new film series that includes pause-and-share moments during the video. My friend Jeff from Alpha USA said this was requested from the prison ministries. Jeff shared that Alpha has strong partnerships with various ministries and expanding to Latin America. Keep praying, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

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Purpose in praise and prayer, illustrated in salt and light (Psalms 34; Matthew 5:12-19)

Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose... purpose is achieved...obey God’s laws and teach them... Matthew 5:17,18-19

Blessings and promises have purpose as salt and light have purpose. 

• Accepting/Receiving/follow-through: 
• Remember God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, theirs in the kingdom of heaven. 
• This progresses through mourning and comfort, humble except inheritance, thirst for righteousness and filled/satisfied, merciful shown mercy, 
• Leads to "born again" faith
• Pure heart sees God, peacemaker children, persecuted for righteousness -> theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Reading Blessings of Moses, explained by Jesus (Deuteronomy 28:1-14;Matthew 5:1-19) and enjoying memories of National Day of Prayer, how when we intercede for people we are joining Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father. When I close my eyes I can see heaven, like trees walking - the Lord restores my sight and my soul is filled. I'm blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. Joy comes in the morning. Thank you Lord. 

Psalm 34:1-3) I praise the Lord, time, voice, boast - the helpless take heart, Lord's greatness, exalt his name (oh, magnify the Lord with me, he is worthy to be praised). Matthew 5:12) Be happy, very glad! great reward awaits you in heaven, remember prophets persecuted in the same way. 

• This verse is a reminder of the power of collective worship and the importance of sharing our appreciation and reverence for God with others, as we uplift His name together. 
• This Psalm has been on my heart since Teen Challenge Spiritual emphasis week. "I trust in God, my Savior the One - who will never fail... I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered - that's why I trust Him."
• The world is full of Spiritual believers but not followers of Jesus Christ, yet the Lord is winning people over, restoring hearts, minds, souls, strength when we love God and love one-another. 

Psalm 34:4-7) I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freed me from all my fears. Looking to Him for help makes me radiant with joy, the shadow of shame disappears. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles. The angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 

• Develop a prayerful outlook, Quiet time with the Lords Prayer

Psalm 34:8-10) Taste (salt) and see (light) the Lord is good - joy in refuge, Father/child trust/fear, have all we need, lacking no good thing. Matthew 5:13-15) Salt and Light have purpose

Psalm 34:11-14) children listen, learn to fear the Lord - live a good life, don't speak evil or tell lies, turn away from evil and do good, search for peace and maintain it. Matthew 5:16)- let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Psalm 34:15-16) Eyes of Lord watch over those who do right, ears open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns against evil doers and erases their memory from the earth.

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

    He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,

    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;

    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,

    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.

    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

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Faith is accepting God's promise of freedom from sin through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:15-22)

Key verses: 

But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:22

15) Life example: no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement

16) God's promise to Abraham and his "seed" - Jesus Christ

• Isaac is born, Hagar and Ishmael sent away, Abraham makes an oath (Gen 21)
• God's point in asking Abraham to sacrifice his son (Gen 22:2, Rom 12:1-3)

17) Agreement with Abraham, not cancelled 430 years later by law given to Moses

18) Inheritance not by keeping law, but accepting God's promise

19) Law alongside the promise to show people their sins, Moses a mediator between God and people

20) Mediator is helpful if more than one party needs agreement, but God who is one didn't use mediator when he gave the promise to Abraham. 

21) Conflict between God's law and God's promise? No, obeying the law can't bring new life (being right with God).

22) Scriptures declare we are prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 

Studied Genesis in 2020-2021: God creates everything, Father of humanity for never-ending relationship (Genesis)

Today, I'm accepting the promise. "You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (Heb 3:13)"

using the phrase "as long as it is called 'today. '" This, in more modern terms, could be stated as "do it while you still can." The New Testament often explains that sin is deceptive, destructive, and deadly (2 Timothy 3:13; Titus 3:3). - BibleRef.com

•  But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. 2 Tim 3:13
• Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. Titus 3:3

But: When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence (Con Fide, With Faith) that we will inherit (promise) eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first Heb 3:12-14

(13) While it is called To day.--Literally, as long as the "to-day" is called (to you), lest any one of you be hardened by deceit of sin. As long as they heard the word of God speaking in the Scripture, "To-day if ye shall hear," so long is the way of obedience open to them. Sin is here personified as the Deceiver (Romans 7:11), alluring from God by the offer of "pleasures" (Hebrews 11:25), or persuading that forbearance and "respite" (Exodus 8:15; Ecclesiastes 8:11) imply the absence of a Living God. - Ellicott's Commentary

to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires Eph 4:22

And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. - Heb 10:24

Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:25

Call to persevere, God’s Discipline Proves His Love   Hebrews 10:19-26, 32-39; Hebrews 12:1-18; Hebrews 13:1-20

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Blessings of Moses, explained by Jesus (Deuteronomy 28:1-14;Matthew 5:1-19)

I had discovered this a while ago, but hadn't studied it to find parallels. Then this morning I was dreaming about it as the summer rain was coming down and I was sleeping in later than normal. The NASB has Deuteronomy 28's blessings line by line like Matt 5. This got me thinking about the context in which Jesus taught and what his listeners would think about when he started talking about blessings. As I did this study, the shock between what Moses said and what Jesus was saying would bring tears to the eyes of the hearers.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14;Matthew 5:1-11; Psalm 34, Matt 5:12-19

Deut 28:1-3) Diligent, careful obedience, Lord will set you above nations of earth, blessing will come upon you, overtake you, blessed shall you be.
 - Matt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Deut 28:4) Blessed offspring and work (produce, animals)
 - Matt 5:4) Blessed those who mourn, they shall be comforted. What a shock! Reminds me of the first time I worshiped to Be my Everything- Tim Hughes, "God in my weeping, hurting"

Deut 28:5) Blessed shall be your investments (basket, kneading bowl)
 - Matt 5:5) Blessed are meek/gentle, inherit the earth

Deut 28:6) Blessed when come in and go out
 - Matt 5:6) Blessed hunger and thirst for righteousness, satisfied

Deut 28:7-8) Enemies defeated before you, flee, Lord will command blessing on you
 - Matt 5:7) Blessed are the merciful, they shall receive mercy

Deut 28:9) Lord will establish you, holy people, obey/walk in His ways, the prosperity of heaven,
 - Matt 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Deut 28:10) all people will see you are called by His name, and be afraid of you
 - Matt 5:9) Blessed are peacemakers, called sons of God

Deut 28:11) Lord will make you abound in prosperity (Deut 28:4)
 - Matt 5:10) Blessed are those persecuted for sake of righteousness, theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3).

Deut 28:12) Lord will open His good storehouse, rain in its season, bless all the work of your hand (Psalm 90), lend - not borrow
 - Matt 5:11) Blessed when people insult, persecuted

Psalm 34 goes with Matt 5:12-19, I'll do that another day.

Thank you Lord for guiding me today, blessing upon all who walk in your way, In Jesus name!

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The law given to set us free (Exodus 20 part 1)

Many free people don't live in freedom.
Exodus 20.

Principals
1. Law given because God cares.
- do these things because it's good for you, not to make me happy
- focus on the law giver, not the law
2. Rules without relationship doesn't work
- out of relationship we set rules for children so they don't suffer
3. Laws three types
- moral, civil, ceremony
- Jesus clarified and fulfilled the law
4. True obedience rooted in 10 commandments but lived out in the Spirit
5. Everything points to Jesus

First 5 commands
1. No other gods before God, "who brought you out of slavery"
- 99.9% of importance and value of the law
- one true, living God
- God calls us to exclusivity,  see Covenant, marriage, eternal life, give your spirit, receive His Spirit
- Perspectives of "before", not in front, not in conflict.
2. Keep no idols, no graven image
- what might God think is more important in my life than him
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=idolatry&qs_version=NIV&oq=Idolary

3. Do not misuse the name of God
- we don't name God, he tells us his name
- LORD, 7,000 times in OT
- blasphemy to carry God's name against God's purpose.
- copyright, he owns it
- esteem his name

4. Keep Sabbath holy
- established from creation
- work is not the central focus of your life
- redemptively different, regularly remember God

5. Honor father and mother
- days long in land God's giving you
- get your house right, stop worrying about the white house
- obedience and respect, care for them
1 Timothy 5:8
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever

Trusting Jesus and doing life your way = bondage
Life his way = Freedom

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10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't

My friend Paul has a fabulous sense of humor, he's a talented developer and thoughtful friend. He recently helped me while developing a curriculum called "First Steps" in answering the questions about origins, morality, meaning, and destiny. This idea of two types of people from a binary perspective is from him.

So what would a post of mine be without referencing the Bible? This reminds of the Ten Commandments being in two categories.
1) our relationship with God (1-4), 2) our relationships with People (5-10)

1. I am the Lord, your God.
2. Thou shall bring no false idols before me.
3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shall not kill/murder†.
7. Thou shall not commit adultery.
8. Thou shall not steal††.
9. Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. Thou shall not covet‡ your neighbor's wife (or anything that belongs to your neighbor).

Jesus affirms this notion of two commandments from 10, in Matthew 22:38-40 

Matthew 7:12

In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets.

Galatians 5:14

The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

The Fulfillment of the Law in Matthew 5:16-18

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

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