TITLE: OUR CALL TO GOD’S HOLINESS
TEXT: Lev_11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy…
Lev_11:45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
1Th_4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Pe_1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
INTRO: “Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. ” ~ J.C. Ryle
Rom_6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
There is one thing that we must understand. We have all heard that famous phrase used by people who justify their lifestyles by saying, God is Love, and thus indicating that the nature of God is love. This is wrong thinking. The Nature of God is absolute Holiness! He is Holy! That is His Nature! All the other things we say of God, such as being love, and merciful, are His attributes! So now that we understand that Holiness is His Nature, lets find out the definition of Holy and Holiness!
Holy is that which has been dedicated and/or consecrated to God. Holiness is the state of being holy. That which has been sanctified. Pure and having integrity! Before we go any further we must understand what holiness means to the Christian. Thankfully scripture puts it plainly…
2Co_6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Holiness is separation and dedication to God! If we cannot understand this simple definition then we do not understand God.
When we are saved we are called to be separate from them of the world! Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Yes, I understand that we must live in this world, but the bible says that we are to not be of this world! We are to partake of the worlds lust and desires! We are to adhere to what God’s desires are and nothing else! God has called every believer to be Holy as He is Holy! It is not an impossible feat! It is not something that is beyond our reach! We are to strive to be Holy as our Father is Holy!! It must be a habit to choose holiness over unholiness if we are to progress from the old man to the new man.
We are told to be Holy, according to the definition given and according to God’s word, in
I. Thought
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We must bring under subjection every thought that is not of God! If it doesn’t edify your spirit to be more like God then it isn’t worth thinking! Be cautious! We are to show holiness in our thoughts by thinking on the things of God!
II. Word
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Let the words we say be the words that glorify God! Let our words be those of the ones that come from the mouth of God! The bible says that we will be judge by the words of our mouths. We are to show holiness by our words by speaking the things that glorify God!
III. Conduct
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
His essential character is holiness. As His children we are to live lives that reflect that character.
The extent of this holiness is to be seen in all our conduct! Every part of our life is given over to the will of God, not the lustful passions of our ignorant past.
What so many people neglect to understand is the way they present themselves to others, declares what is in their hearts! Our conduct should scream out to who we serve! Our conduct should prove that we are striving for something that is greater than any monetary gain! Our conduct ought to say that I am a Christian and I am striving to be like Him who saved me!
CLOSING: There is so much more that could be said about what God expects from us concerning holiness! And if you want to talk about it I am more than willing to get with you and discuss it. I understand that there have been some people that have wrongly represented what holiness is, but it doesn’t negate the fact that we are called to be holy as He is Holy! In fact the bible says, “Without holiness no man can see God! Heb_12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
We must desire the holiness of God within our hearts and strive to be Holy as He is Holy!
THE LAMPLIGHTERS PROJECT 