What Motivates You to Be Holy

Teachers

Richard Sutton Preacher

Clint Davison Preacher

DA

Dan Allegood

Lesson Summary

During the September 5, 2021 class, Richard Sutton revisited the theme of holiness introduced by Clint, grounding the discussion in 1 Peter 1:15‑16 and questioning what truly drives believers to pursue a holy life. He illustrated his point with two sky‑diving anecdotes that highlighted motivations ranging from thrill‑seeking and fear to love and surrender, ultimately encouraging the congregation to consider whether simply obeying God’s command to be holy is sufficient. Sutton argued that authentic holiness must stem from God’s love rather than legalistic fear or external pressure. Sutton then turned to Scripture for deeper insight, reviewing Romans 13 (especially verses 8‑12) to show that love fulfills the law, citing John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 as the ultimate demonstrations of God’s love that inspire holy living, and referencing Ephesians 1:2 and 1:7 to explain how believers are chosen, redeemed, and covered by grace. He concluded that love—both God's love for us and our love for our neighbor—serves as the primary motivator for a life set apart, urging the class to internalize these truths as they prepared to sing “The Sinners Around God’s Holiness.”

Key Scriptures