On Grace And Holiness

Exploring Paul's Prayer for a Life of Love and Holiness

Today we examine one prayer of St. Paul, which emphasizes his dual role as a man of action and, more importantly, a man of prayer. To him both aspects of the well-known motto were true: "To pray is to labor," and "To labor is to pray."

Here is a summary of The Prayers of St. Paul: Grace and Holiness, by W. H. Griffith Thomas ¹

The chapter’s focus is on two specific aspects of his prayer: one for himself and another for the well-being of others. Our study begins with the Apostle's prayer for himself, found in 1 Thessalonians 3:11.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.

Guidance through Prayer

The prayer seeks guidance from God Himself—our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. He prays specifically for his return to Thessalonica. There had been certain difficulties in Paul’s way and he had been hindered. Now he asks that God would open the way for him to go back to his beloved friends.

This demonstrates the Apostle's understanding that no aspect of life is too small to bring before God in prayer.

The need of guidance is a very real one in every Christian life, and the certainty of guidance is just as real. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Ps. 37:23); and this is as true now as ever. "I will guide thee with Mine eye" (Ps. 32:8) is a promise for all time, and we may confidently seek guidance in prayer whenever it is needed.

The answer to prayer for guidance, according to Thomas, comes in a threefold way:

1. through the Holy Spirit,

2. the principles of God's Word, and

3. God's Providence working together.

Prayer for Increase in Love

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

Moving on to the Apostle's prayer for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13), the immediate request is for an increase and abundance of love among believers. Love is not merely a sentiment but is a sacrificial and active force.

The measure of the gift is highlighted as an increase in inner capacity for love, and an overflow of that love towards others.

The objects of this love include fellow believers and, significantly, all people, echoing the New Testament emphasis on brotherly love and a universal love that extends also beyond Christian circles.

Thomas addresses the practical challenge of loving everyone (even those seen as unlovable) by distinguishing between loving and liking. While it is impossible to like everybody, it is assuredly possible to love everybody.” This distinction allows for the possibility of loving with compassion, fulfilling Christ's command and the Apostle's prayer.

Holiness as Separateness

The ultimate purpose of this love is to establish hearts as “blameless in holiness.” Holiness, understood as separateness unto God, involves the dedication of one's entire being to God. The standard of holiness is steadfastness, with a heart that is unblameable.

The connection between love and holiness highlights that overflowing love leads to a heart separated unto God, ready for every good work.

Wherever the words "holiness," "sanctification," and their associated and cognate expressions are found, the root idea is always that of separation rather than of purification. (Thomas)

Steadfastness in Holiness

Paul urges us with the great incentive of the future coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. The prospect of standing before God and in the company of fellow believers is a compelling motivation for cultivating love and holiness.

Steadfastness is the standard of holiness--with our hearts unblameable, that is, standing firm in faith, and having an unwavering commitment to holiness. Though we are not free from blemish, it is nevertheless possible for us to live free from blame.

Incentive of Future Coming

This is a powerful incentive for believers to pray for this ideal – that we abound in love and perfect holiness. The simplicity of his message, encapsulated in love and holiness, is acknowledged, yet Paul recognizes the difficulty of consistently living it out.

The simplest things are often the most difficult, and while it is possible for the believer to do great things and to shine in great crises, it is not always so easy to go on loving day by day, and to continue growing in grace and holiness, until the heart becomes so stablished in grace that our Christianity becomes the permanent character of our life. (Thomas)

Therefore we must pray. The Apostle's prayer is evidence that such a life is not only desirable, but attainable through God's grace, and ought to be what we also pray for.

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Until Thursday, grace and peace…

1

William Henry Griffith Thomas was an Anglican cleric and scholar from the English-Welsh border country. He was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, on 2 January 1861, and died on 2 June 1924. Griffith Thomas was a graduate of Christ Church, Oxford, and was principal of Wycliffe Hall from 1905-1910 and then of Wycliffe College in Toronto from 1910-1919. He was an erudite pastor, scholar, and effective educator who influenced the evangelical movement in Great Britain and North America profoundly. Griffith Thomas co-founded Dallas Theological Seminary with Lewis Sperry Chafer. He wrote 21 volumes of books, including "The Principles of Theology."