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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

A sermon on holiness

 

When Should I Be Holy?

Eph. 1:4: cf. 5:27; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet. 3:11: JAM Youth Rally—02.21.10 (or "The Need to Take Time")

Intro:

A.  Song—"Take time to be holy…"

      1.  I have to tell you initially that this first phrase in the song bothered me because it sounded as though it was saying

            that holiness is something you turn on and off like a water faucet. 

            a.  Ex: Sunday morning—turn the faucet on; Sunday afternoon—turn the faucet off

            b.  If we are not careful, we will accept the idea that holiness is somehow confined within the walls of the worship

                 assembly—that an act of worship is holy, but that an act of life is not. 

            c.  Let me let you in on a little secret: It is possible to engage in religious acts and still be unholy.

            d.  An individual can sing without mechanical instruments of music, observe the LS, give of his means, listen to

                  preaching, and pray and not be holy.  (That's why the song says, "…Abide in Him always…").     

      2.  Questions:

           a.  What exactly is holiness?

           b.  Why do we need to pursue holiness?

           c.  When do we need to pursue holiness?

B.  "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before

      Him in love."  Eph. 1:4

 

I.  What is HOLINESS?

 

    A.  The word "holy" is typically used in a derogatory sense today.

 

          1.  Ex:  If you try to live a godly life, you may be accused of being a "holy roller."

          2.  Ex:  If you attempt to correct someone in error/sin you might be labeled as "holier-than-thou."  Ex:

 

    B.  OT examples give us come insight to the concept:

 

          1.  "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had

               created and made."  Gen. 2:3  (The NIV says, "And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy…"). 

               a.  God created the heavens and earth in six days, but on the seventh He ceased from His labor and called the

                    day "holy."  (Why was it called holy?  God didn't create anything that day).

               b.  It was holy simply because it was a special day set aside or separated by God to be different from the

                    previous six days.  Ex: Holy (set apart) Bible (book) verses a history book.  cf. Rom. 1:2

          2.  "Then He said, 'Do not draw near this place.  Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is

               holy ground."  Exo. 3:5  (Why was the ground holy?  Was the ground around the tree somehow more fertile

               the surrounding land, or was the grass greener by the bush?  No). 

               a.  The ground was holy because God was present. 

               b.  Without God's presence, the ground would not have been holy, but because He occupied it, it became holy).

                    Ex:  Within the OT Tabernacle there was a place known as "the Holy of Holies" where the high priest entered

                    once a year to sprinkle the blood of a heifer on the Ark of the Covenant for the people's sins).

                    1)  The Greek word used most often for holy in the NT is hagios and means "separated."

                    2)  Forms of holiness:

                          a)  Positional—when we come in contact with the blood of Christ at baptism. "And such were some of

                                you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord

                                Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."  1 Cor. 6:11

                                .  This refers to the status God grants us when we are born into the family of God.

 

                                .  We are made holy.  "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body

                                    of Jesus Christ once for all."  Heb. 10:10 NIV  Song: "Is Thy Heart Right with God"—"…cleansed and

                                    made holy…"

                          b)  Progressive—as we live a life that is separated from worldly pursuits.  "Therefore, having these

                                promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting

                                holiness in the fear of God."  2 Cor. 7:1

                                .  This is not confined to superficial behavior and vocabulary changes.

                                .  This involves a complete transformation of attitude and a desire to overcome the tendency to be

                                   controlled by sin.

                           c)  Prospective or anticipated—refers to the time in heaven when we are transformed into the likeness of

                                Christ.  cf. Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Jn. 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:53   

 

II.  Why do we need to pursue a holy and separated life?

 

      A.  Disclaimer:

 

            1.  The thought of holiness often conjures mental images of perfection and sinlessness, reserved only for church

                 leaders and far beyond the reach of any normal child of God.  (This isn't biblical). 

                 a.  Often times the word hagios is translated "saint" in our English Bibles.

                      1)  Romans:

                            .  Paul addressed Romans "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints…"  1:17

                            .  He reported that he was on his way to Jerusalem "...to make a certain contribution for the poor among

                               the saints…"  15:26

                            .  He wanted a lady named Phoebe to be received "…in a manner worthy of the saints…"  16:2

                      2)  Corinthians:

                            .  The Corinthians were referred to as "…the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are

                               sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…"  1:2

                            .  Matters of disagreement between brethren were not to be taken to secular courts, but settled by the

                               judgment of the saints.  cf. 6:1-2

                            .  In 16:15, Paul recommended the first converts in Asia, the household of Stephanas, noting "…they have

                               devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints." 

                       3)  Similar usages abound in the other inspired writings of the NT. 

            2.  Someone says, "I'm not a saint!"  (Oh yes you are)!

                 a.  Our Catholic friends have corrupted the term to refer to a person who has achieved a high level of moral

                      and spiritual excellence beyond the grasp of normal people.  Ex: Saint Theresa or Saint Matthew

                 b.  You as a member of the blood-bought body of Jesus Christ are a saint!      

 

      B.  Why should we pursue holiness?  Illust: Blue snow cones

 

            1.  Because God calls for a life of separation.    

                 a.  Paul warned of forming unequal yokes with unbelievers.  "Do not be unequally yoked together with

                      unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with

                      darkness?"  2 Cor. 6:14

                      1)  This passage has often been used to warn against marrying someone outside of Christ.

                      2)  There are times when a spouse's spiritual focus has been squashed by an unbelieving mate, but the

                           unequal yoke is not exclusively applied to marriage.

                           a)  Paul doesn't mention marriage in this context.

                           b)  The unequal yoke refers to any association, commitment, or involvement with unbelievers that

                                 threatens your devotion to God.

                 b.  Verses:

                      .  "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame

                         before Him in love."  Eph. 1:4

                      .  "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."  Heb. 12:14

            2.  Because it is how we influence others.

                 a.  Friendship often precedes winning souls to Christ; therefore our actions are critical in influencing them

                      to obey the gospel. 

                      1)  Like it or not, people are watching—especially if we are trying to live a holy life.

                      2)  Ex:  When I was working at Guardian, a co-worker made this observation of me: "Since I've known Mike,

                            I have never heard him swear…"  (I realized then that people were watching my life for the simple reason

                            that I claimed to be a Christian).   

                 b.  Many Christians live in circumstances where they feel pressure to conform to an ungodly environment.  Ex: 

                       .  A Christian teenager may live in the home of unbelieving parents.

                       .  A Christian may be thrust among ungodly companions as he serves in the military.

                       .  Most Christians who have a job work among non-Christian people in order to make a living.

                       1)  Brethren, it's not possible to leave the world and God doesn't want us to!

                       2)  Jesus prayed, "They are not of this world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth.

                            Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."  Jn. 17:16-18

                            a)  We are engaged in spiritual warfare with the agents of Satan.

                            b)  Through the avenue of temptation, God's holy people are going to be subtly or not so subtly

                                  pressured to abandon their faith.  (Our influence as well as our own salvation depends upon holy

                                  living)!    

 

III.  When do we need to pursue holiness?

 

       A.  The song says, "Take time to be holy…"

 

             1.  Illust:  In the early 1880's, William Longstaff wrote a poem that later became a hymn entitled, "Take Time to

                  be Holy."

                  a.  Note the second verse: "Take  time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus

                       alone; by looking to Jesus like Him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see."

                  b.  It occurred to me why holy people tend to be scarce today:

                       .  "Take time…"  But I don't have time.

                       .  "The world rushes on…"  And I'm rushing with it.

                       .  "Spend much time in secret…"  Secret?  I like to brag about anything I do with and for Jesus.

                       .  "With Jesus alone…"  Huh?  And turn off my iPod and text messaging?

                       .  "Like Him thou shalt be…"  I'd rather imitate my friends in the world.

                       .  "Thy friend in thy conduct His likeness shall see…"  Then don't expect me to be that kind of example.

             2.  Holiness is not a water faucet that I turn on and off—it is a way of life!  

 

          B.  Passages:

                .  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

                     holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."  Rom.  12:1

                .  "If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you

                    are."  1 Cor. 3:17

                .  "That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but

                    that she should be holy and without blemish."  Eph. 5:27

                .  "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct."  1 Pet. 1:15

                  .  "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may

                     proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  1 Pet. 2:9

                  .  "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct

                     and godliness."  2 Pet. 3:11

             2.  When is the time to be holy?  (All of the time; it is a way of life). 

 

Concl:

A.  Review:

     1.  What is holiness?  (It is living a life of separation from the world.

     2.  Why should we pursue it?  (Because God commands it, and because it is how we influence people for Christ).

     3.  When should we pursue it?  (Every moment of every day).

B.  Illust:  Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, dreamed of creating an operating system and software to make computers

      easier to use.  He worked day after day on these goals.  Eventually, Microsoft became the most dominant software

      company in the world.  Like Gates, Michael Dell was dedicated in his business of providing consumers with

      computers.  He began the Dell Company in his college dormitory room, and after years of tweaking, the business

      became the leading provider of computers in the world.  The success of both of these men was due largely to their

      dedication.

      1.  We can learn from Gates and Dell. 

           a.  Each had a long-term and attainable goal in mind.

           b.  Both knew their business would not succeed overnight.  (Success would take sacrifice).

      2.  Holiness is achievable for every Christian, but holiness cannot be attained overnight.

           a.  It takes Bible study, prayer, and meditation.

           b.  It requires the sacrifice of self and worldly pleasures.  (But these sacrifices will someday pale in comparison to

                the holiness we'll enjoy in heaven).   "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see

                the Lord."  Heb. 12:14        

 

--Mike Benson


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