Attributes of the church - Holiness

Our Call to Cultivate Holiness

Holiness is a noun that relates to the adjective holy and the verb sanctify, which means to "make holy.".The Christian life must be like a cultivated garden in order to produce the fruits of holy living unto God. "Theology," William Ames wrote in the opening words of his classic, The Marrow of Theology, "is the doctrine or teaching of living to God."

Obstacles to Cultivating Holiness

The cultivation of holiness will inevitably meet with numerous obstacles. Much impedes holiness. This article discusses five common problems against which we need to be on guard.

Encouragements for Cultivating Holiness

The cultivation of holiness is demanding. Thomas Watson called it "sweating work." Happily, God provides believers with several motives to holiness in His Word. To encourage us in the pursuit of holiness, we need to keep our eyes focused on the biblical truths discussed in this article.

Holy Living Marks of a Healthy Church 7

This article on Hebrews 12:14 speaks about holiness, sanctification, and holy living.

What Is Biblical Theology – The Church's Setting in the Story

The church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. As such it is to be a preview of what the world is going to become. The church is a beginning of the new temple. In Chapter 12 Hamilton considers this aspect of the church’s identity.

With Reverence and Awe – The Church and the World

Chapter 1 is an exposition of Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 21, Q&A 54. The authors seek to understand from the Catechism what the relationship between the church and the world is in worship. Should the aim of the church be to make worship accessible to the world? Should worship be one occasion where the church displays her otherworldliness?

A Spotless Bride - The Holiness of the Church

Holiness is an attribute of the catholic church that makes her antithetical to the world. This article shows how this holiness is manifested in a particular church, showing the connection between the catholic church and the individual church.

An Empty Building

Many church buildings are not used for what they were made for years ago, but even more important is the question whether the church is still the true dwelling place of God. This article is about the holiness of the church.

Living as the New Covenant Temple

The church is the new covenant temple of God. This article explains the relationship between the heavenly temple where Jesus is as the High Priest and the earthly temple. It shows how the New Testament uses this imagery to morally exhort the church to holiness and to provide hope for sacrificial living.

The Battle against Heresy

The church is called to stand against heretical teachings. What is heresy? This article gives a definition and shows that at the root of heresy is the work of Satan.

Life Together

Unconfessed sin will keep you from the church, yet the goal of the church is to keep you from ongoing sin. Therefore, God made the church to be a place where sin can be confessed together.

A Holy Culture

The church is not just a gathering of people. It is people who have a new way of seeing and doing things; they bring a holy culture. This article shows that it is a culture that witnesses to repentance and faith.

Semper Reformanda

Semper reformanda ("always reforming") is a principle that characterized the Reformation. This article shows that this principle was designed to keep the church faithful to God’s Word and to the application of it in its context.

The Provenance of the Term "Saints": A Religionsgeschichtliche Study

The use of the term "saints" for believers is new in the New Testament; in the Old Testament, it was very rarely used. In the New Testament it is a term applied to men and not angels or heavenly beings. In this essay, the author reflects on this development. Particular attention is given to the book of Daniel.

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