The Real Deal

Embrace God’s Word with us as Elder Dave Shumaker preaches from Ephesians 4:17-32 in the message, Godly Thinking, Holy Living.

Grace, Hope, and Holy Living The essence of Christian living is beautifully encapsulated by the interplay of grace, hope, and holy living. Peter, drawing from his personal encounters with Jesus, expounds on the transformative power of God's grace leading to hope and culminating in a life marked by holiness. Peter, a firsthand witness to Jesus' grace, emphasizes its foundational role in our spiritual journey. Grace, defined as an undeserved merit or blessing, forms the starting point of our relationship with God. Peter encourages believers to praise God for this unmerited love, highlighting its significance as the bedrock of their faith. The trajectory from grace to hope is articulated by Peter as an innate progression. He underscores the idea that the reception of God's grace naturally instills hope in believers. This hope is not a mere wishful thinking but a confident anticipation of a future inheritance stored in heaven. Peter draws a parallel between the joyous expectation of an earthly inheritance and the profound hope anchored in the resurrection of Jesus, promising an eternal communion with Him. Crucially, the manifestation of hope in believers' lives leads to a state of holy living. Contrary to misconceptions, holy living is presented as a dynamic and fulfilling way of life. Peter dispels the notion of it being dull or restrictive, asserting that it mirrors the life of Jesus. As believers grow in faith and follow Jesus, they experience a positive transformation, becoming better at life through the work of the Holy Spirit within them. The connection between hope and holy living becomes evident as Peter addresses the inevitability of trials in the earthly journey. Trials, characteristic of a fallen world, are portrayed as transient in comparison to the eternal life awaiting believers. This perspective shapes the believers' response to trials, demonstrating a unique quality of holy living—a life lived with enduring joy despite temporary challenges. Peter elucidates that trials serve as a refining process, testing the authenticity of one's faith. The believer's response to trials becomes a testament to the genuine nature of their faith, akin to how fire tests and purifies gold. In navigating trials, believers not only grow in their relationship with God but also become a visible testimony to others—showcasing the goodness of God amid life's difficulties. In conclusion, Peter's message resonates with a call to embrace and celebrate the transformative journey from grace to hope and holy living. This journey, marked by praise, confident expectation, and resilience in trials, portrays a life that mirrors the character of Jesus. Peter's words echo through time, inviting believers to experience the profound interplay of grace, hope, and holy living in their daily walk with God.

Series: The Word Of God // The Key To Living Holy (Part 2) Scripture: Psalm 19:10-14 Speaker: Roosevelt Wilson Date Preached: June 4, 2017

The Lord will not look the other way when it comes to our sin. Jesus calls every would-be disciple to pick up their cross and follow Him. He calls them to embrace the Truth, the narrow way of righteous living. God will not set aside His holiness but rather calls us to set aside our sin and be holy as He is holy—to be washed in the blood of His Son and walk by His Spirit. He invites us into a new life. In today’s devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef explains what it means that God is holy.This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way’s monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef’s gift to you.If you would like more insight into today’s devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon series Discipleship 101: WATCH NOW