Thanks-Giving Series #2

Our Sacrifice Of Holiness

Text: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Introduction

How often have you said, “I can’t believe I have fell for the same temptation again?” Some have declined from holiness to the point it appears as if it is easier for them to step away from it that drawing closer. One person said, “After being born-again, even though you still commit sin, you shouldn’t be good at it.”

Now, we live in a culture that is driven by feelings and obeying out of a legalistic duty. I don’t think any of us what to be the kind of people Jesus warned about in Matthew 15:8 “8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

The Bible speaks so much about the HOLINESS OF GOD. Why is that? Well, I believe it is where we must begin in our learning of Him. If we are ever going to be the kind of bride Jesus deserves to receive we must continue with a lazer focus on a thanks-giving sacrifice of holy living.

1 Thess. 4:7 “7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Philippians 2:13 “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

I want to share with you some key motivations that if received with a desire to pursue God, a reflection of God’s holiness will become more clearly seen and resulting in many seeing their need of a Savior.

1) The God Of Holiness

Due to the scripture describing God as holy, then we must understand that all things holy come from Him.

God is the definition of holiness: Lev. 19:2 “2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” & Isa. 6:3 “3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory.”

Once Isaiah measured himself against the perfect standard, he was morally and spiritually annihilated.

As long as Isaiah compared himself to mortals, he was able to sustain a high view of himself.

He will be the holy One we meet in Heaven: Rev. 4:8 “8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

This truth about God is even embedded in the name he chose for Himself; Yahweh.

Exodus 3:14 “14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Let’s take a few moments to survey the Holiness of the Father.

It would do us good to travel back to where it all began for humanity.

The condition of which the Trinity made man was of perfect holiness.

Gen. 1:26 “26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.....”

The position of which the God head placed man enabled them to collectively say in Genesis 1:31 “31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Quote: “God does not lower His own standards to accommodate us. He remains altogether holy, altogether righteous, and altogether just. But we are unjust, and therein lies our dilemma.” (R.C. Sproul)

We can conclude that it has always been God’s agenda to create man in perfect holiness.

Ephesians 4:24 “24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

2) The Grace Of Holiness

Thank God for His Gospel! It was there over 2,000 years ago when justice and mercy embraced each other.

It was Christ who freed you from sin and positioned you righteous before God the Father.

You must not forget, YOU have been made FREE TO BE HOLY!!!

The redemption of sinners is all based on the work of Jesus to bring you back to a position where you can reflect His moral purity again.

This solution to our need to reflect the Father’s purity rests IN CHRIST.

Notice verses 18-20

The over emphasis of tradition and religion has sadly blinded many souls from seeing the most important thing leading to conversion and the sanctification; THE HOLINESS OF JESUS’ WORK.

Col. 1:15 “15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

Heb. 7:26 “26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”

Quote: “In His human nature, Jesus took on the exact same physical capacities as Adam, but though His divine nature He never ceased to be the impeccable “I AM.” Nothing could pollute the intrinsic holiness and human sinlessness of His divine nature, which is why His sacrifice was acceptable and His resurrection was possible.” (Jerry Wragg & Paul Shirley, Free to Be HOLY)

To grasp this will lead you to flee from a salvation confidence in religion.

Turn to Ephesians 1:4-5 “4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

The work of holiness is an inside job that works it way out to the glory of God for others to Him.

Being IN CHRIST does not free us from pursuing God’s holy law, but it does place within us a deep flowing desire to achieve it.

Romans 12:1 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

You and I are able to live by God’s holy standards.

Romans 8:6 “6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

3) The Urgency To Be Holy

When the writers of scripture dive in to this aspect of urgency, they often speaking of a life of holy service in light of the soon coming return of Jesus.

Notice verse 22

“Seeing you have purified your souls”

“in obeying the truth through the Spirit”

“truth” = truth (statement) n. — a true statement; with the implication that the statement is dependable.

“unto unfeigned (un-hypocritical) love of the brethren.

LISTEN, it is YOU the believer who must sanctify the Lord Jesus in your heart!!!

Eph. 5:27 “27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Titus 2:12-14 “12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Those who are “looking for that blessed hop (Jesus), will be striving to live with a bold holiness.”

If Holiness is going to begin somewhere, it is to begin with the relationship between God’s people.

Notice verses 22-23

Conclusion

Quote: “We may bask in the wonders of gospel grace, but without a proper view of the holiness of Christ, we will inevitable cheapen grace by resisting the call to be conformed to His holiness.”

Are you lifting up a holy life sacrifice of thanks-giving to your loving holy Father? What is standing in your way of living holy before Him?