Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Holiness Defined:

A. Holiness is one of the basic characteristics of God’s nature.

1. “Holy” is the singular most descriptive characteristic of God.

2. God in His very essence or nature is holy.

B. When referring to God, “holiness” denotes absolute perfection and purity.

1. God is the epitome of holiness as well as the source of all holiness.

2. All holiness comes from God and is imparted by Him.

C.

Only God is holy in and of Himself.

1.

We are made perfect or complete in Him, we are made holy by Him.

D. When the word holiness is applied to persons or objects it refers to that which has been separated or set apart unto God.

1.

We cannot possess true holiness apart from the impartation of God’s Spirit in our lives.

2. We can only become holy when we remove from our life, conversation, and thoughts those things that are not representative of Gods nature.

3. We are made holy when the nature of God, in the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the agent of change, takes up residence in our lives.

*We cannot be holy by our own works, we cannot make ourselves holy, we can only become holy as we submit to the Spirit and Word of God.

E. For born again Christians, holiness specifically refers to separation from sin and the world, and dedication to God.

1.

In the Christian life, holiness is obtained by deny our fleshly desires and taking on the nature of Jesus Christ by submitting to the Holy Ghost. .

2. It is only through the submission of our own nature to the nature of the Holy Ghost that we can become holy as God is holy.

a.

The objective of personal holiness is to be Christ like.

i. God expects and requires holiness from those that have received the Holy Ghost.

ii.

The same spirit and grace that brings salvation teaches us holiness.

II.

Holiness is essential to salvation:

A. Hebrews 12:14 is just as strong, as true, and as relevant to salvation as John 3:3, both contain essential elements of salvation.

1.

Neither of these verses gives us the totality of the requirements for salvation, but each gives us another principle of salvation.

2. The whole Bible is a road map to heaven and all directions contained in the scriptures must be followed in order to complete the journey successfully.

3. We have a point of beginning in the journey when we experience the New Birth experience, but we must continue to learn and obey the scripture.

B. After the new birth experience, a conflict arises between the flesh, which is our old sinful nature and the new nature which is the Holy Ghost.

1.

The flesh must continually be crucified in order that we may live to the Spirit, or in obedience and submission to the Spirit.

2. In our struggle to walk with God we are fighting a battle for our souls.

a.

The devil does not want you to be holy, he knows the power of holiness.

3.

This battle is a battle for holiness, and we must win it in order to be saved.

a.

It is the work of the Spirit to crucify the old man and transform our lives.

This is a continuous process.

i. Sanctification is an ongoing process.

b.

Resistance comes from our carnal mind and nature which must be subdued and brought into submission to the Holy Ghost.

i.

Personal holiness is voluntary, you must desire to become holy as God is holy.

ii.

It is only through our submission to the spirit, and obedience to the Word of God that we can change our nature.

iii.

The carnal mind refuses to submit to the law of God- You must be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

III.

The Essentiality of Separation from the World:

A. God is holy and He demands that His people be a holy people so that they will be like Him.

B. The only way to restore the original communion between man and God is for man to be separated from sin.

1. God’s holy nature does not allow Him to commune with the sinful.

C. The choice for mankind is either separation from God or separation from sin.

1.

You cannot be a partaker of sin and of the things of God also.

2. We cannot be spotted with the sinful and ungodly things of this world and expect to find acceptance from God.

3. Holiness is the method by which we separate ourselves from the world and bring ourselves into a right relationship with God.

a.

We cannot be a part of the sinful elements of this world and expect God to accept us.

b.

If we want to have relationship with God, we must separate ourselves from the sinful and unclean, and commit ourselves to holiness.

IV.

Our Lives Should be Offered unto God as a Living Sacrifice:

A. The formation of holiness in our lives demands a sacrifice of our desires and of our will.

1.

Our greatest desire must be to please God and not to serve the flesh.

2. Before we came to God we served our flesh and were servants of sin.

Now we must become the servants of Christ.

B. We must present ourselves in a manner that is acceptable to God.

1.

The only way God will accept us is if we are living in obedience to His Word.

2. In our lifestyle, we are to prove what is acceptable to God.

a.

The word “prove” in Rom.

12:2 means “to test, to approve’.

b.

The word “acceptable” in Rom.

12:2 means “fully agreeable”.

c.

The object of the Christian life is to become fully agreeable with God, God’s nature, and God’s Word.

C. We should be willing to do anything to make ourselves acceptable to God, regardless of the sacrifice.

1.

We should refuse to allow anything to hinder us in living for God.

D. We must be holy and separated in order to be acceptable to God.

V. Holiness is imparted by the Holy Ghost.

A. Man can only become holy through divine assistance.

1.

The works of the flesh cannot make me holy.

2. It takes the power of the Holy Ghost reigning in my life to make me holy.

B. Sanctification (separation) begins with the hearing of the gospel and continues through faith, repentance, and water baptism in Jesus name; but it is accomplished primarily by the infilling and indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

God chooses to write his laws on our hearts through faith by the Holy Ghost.

1.

We do not live for God because of outward ordinances, but because of His Spirit that dwells in our hearts.

2. Our obedience is only made possible when we are in submission to the Holy Ghost.

D. All Holy Ghost filled people who allow themselves to be led by the Spirit have the laws of God written upon their hearts.

1.

The Holy Ghost will teach us the difference between right and wrong.

2. The Holy Ghost will quicken us or warn us when we are erring.

3.

You cannot be following the Spirit and not obeying the Word, the Spirit does not contradict the word.

E. Being led of the Spirit means that we can be led by a conscience, and by the impressions and convictions of the Holy Ghost.

1.

The battle is the submitting of our flesh to the leading of the Spirit.

2. The principle of New Testament salvation is that men will be filled with the Holy Ghost and totally submit their lives to its guidance.

3.

If we were truly holy in our nature, in our mind, and in our attitude the Pastor would not have to preach or teach holiness as often, because the Spirit would keep us living holy.

4. If you will learn to hear and to obey the Holy Ghost it will be easy to live as God desires for you to live.

The Holy Ghost will confirm everything you see or are taught in the Word.

F. We have a fundamental basis for holiness resident within us when we receive the Holy Ghost.

1.

We have God living in us and all we have to do is allow His nature to conquer and change our nature.