“No believer can afford to be without consistent, day in, day out accountability to other believers.”- Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
Nancy DeMoss concludes Chapter 6 of Holiness as she discusses the final four means God uses to draw us to Him.
3. Communion. Nancy stresses that Holy Communion provides “a regular opportunity and powerful incentive for self-examination.” Thorough self-examination eliminates any barriers between you and the Lord. It also removes barriers with other believers in your faith community. Hence, you’re free to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
4. The body of Christ. The author stresses the need for every believer to foster a faithful fellowship with a Christ-centered local church. God graciously gives us a body of believers called to look out for one another. In addition, Christians stand together against foes threatening our holiness.
However, each of us bears personal accountability for our holiness. Yet, God never intended that we battle sin alone. Because of our weakness, we need the body of Christ.
5. Church discipline. In a nutshell, Nancy DeMoss states: “Whenever a believer refuses to deal with his sin privately, his sin becomes a public matter that requires the involvement and intervention of others in the body.”
Church discipline, she adds, provides a sanctifying effect in your own life. It also produces that effect in the lives of fallen believers and serves to enhance the purity of the whole body of Christ.
6. Suffering. The pathway to holiness always includes suffering- no exceptions, no shortcuts. St. Peter writes:
“Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”- 1 Peter 4:1
Today’s question: How do faithful Christian friends hold you to day in, day out accountability? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Conspicuous holiness”
