At our recent Men’s Retreat, our teaching time focused on the topic of personal holiness. Through the work of Christ, those who are in Christ have been made holy. In fact, Paul says in Ephesians 1 that God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” However, Scripture also teaches that while we have been sanctified (set apart as holy) we are still in the process of being sanctified (perfected in holiness). While we are still in the flesh, are to battle against sin and pursue holiness. I recently came upon this article by John Piper that I thought would be a good follow-up to the Men’s Retreat, and indeed to all of us who are in pursuit of Christ.
—Pastor Dave