The Need for Personal Holiness

OPENING

I shared with you last week that I believe that 2023 is going to be a year of Breakthrough and Increase for Farm Hill Church. And I’m trusting God that breakthrough is going to come in many different forms. This world may not see breakthrough. The economy might not see breakthrough. Our government may not see breakthrough. But breakthrough is coming to the people of God!

And I believe that one area that God is wanting to bring breakthrough to His church in 2023 is in the area of overcoming the destructive power of sin. I believe that God is calling us to the understanding of the difference between The Old Man and the New.

Ephesians 4:22–24 NKJV

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

As believers, there are some things we are to put off, and there are some things that we are to put on. That old corrupt man is to be put off. And the new man in true righteousness and holiness is to be put on. And I want us to look together this morning at a passage in Colossians Chapter 3 that deals with this topic.

SCRIPTURE

Colossians 3:1–17 NKJV

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

INTRODUCTION

I want to talk to you this morning on the subject of The Need for Personal Holiness. Another way to say this would be: What it Means to Live Like a Christian.

The Bible tells us that once a person is saved, there should be a difference in who they are. You should be able to distinguish between a believer and a non-believer. Being saved is more than just identifying with a church or a denomination. Someone who is truly saved will begin the never-ending process of being conformed into the image of Christ.

The problem is that much of those who consider themselves to be part of the church today, and those who call themselves Christians, look nothing like Jesus. They find themselves on either one extreme or the other:

Too Legalistic, or

Too Worldly.

There are many on one side who are more concerned about your hemline than they are whether or not you are saved. They are so much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, who loaded men shoulders up with the burden of man-made laws that no one could keep, but would not even lift one of their self-righteous fingers to help people draw closer to God. That’s one side.

On the other side, there are many in the church today who avoid the whole subject of sin and holiness. And it is because we have many in the church who have itching ears, who will hire someone or follow someone who will tell them what they want to hear. They want to keep practicing sin and feel ok about it.

The problem is that both sides have it completely wrong. Legalism is wrong. And a lack of personal holiness in the church is equally wrong. We can’t be like the Pharisees and forget that God is more concerned about your heart than He is your hairstyle. But we also can’t be like those in the hyper-grace movement that simply ignore sin and the Christian responsibility to personal holiness in the sight of Almighty God.

Look what the writer of Hebrews says about the importance of personal holiness:

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

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

If we have been saved, then there ought to be a change. Personal holiness results in positive change. God is not looking for perfection. But He is looking for direction. God does not expect us to be sinless, but He does expect us to sin less.

That’s why our Scripture text this morning is so important and why I want to spend some time in this portion of the Word of God this morning.

MESSAGE

Three Things You Need to Do Since You Have Been Raised With Christ (vs.1-4)

Seek Those Things That are Above (v.1)

Put Heaven’s priorities into daily practice.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Set Your Mind on Things Above (v.2)

Concentrating on the eternal rather than the temporal.

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

For You Died (v.3)

Considering yourself to be dead to sin.

Romans 6:11 NKJV

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because we were raised with Christ, we should act just as Jesus did when He was resurrected.

After His resurrection, Jesus left the tomb. So should we — we don’t live there in sin any more.

After His resurrection, Jesus spent His remaining time being with and ministering to His disciples. So should we — we should live our lives to be with and to serve one another.

After His resurrection, Jesus lived in supernatural power with the ability to do impossible things. So should we — we should live with the power and the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

After His resurrection, Jesus looked forward to heaven, knowing He would soon enough ascend there. So should we — we should live recognizing that our citizenship is in heaven.

What You Need to Put Off (vs.5-9)

Two Categories of Sins

The Works of the Flesh (v.5)

Fornication (sexual immorality),

Uncleanness (fithiness),

Passion (lust),

Evil Desire, and

Covetousness (Idolatry).

Dysfunction in the Church (vs.8-9)

Anger,

Wrath (rage),

Malice (ill-intent),

Blasphemy (slander),

Filthy Language (dirty language), and

Lying.

Why did Paul have to get so specific?

“It is far easier to drift into a sin which one does not know by name than consciously to choose one whose very title should be repugnant to a Christian.” (Wright)

Two Reasons Why You Need to Put Off Sin

The Wrath of God (v.6)

The Image of God (v.10)

What You Need to Put On (vs.10-17)

Your conduct should match your faith.

Fruit of the Spirit (v.12)

Tender Mercies,

Kindness,

Humility (the opposite of pride),

Meekness (gentleness), and

Longsuffering (patience).

Seven Characteristics of Holiness Every Believer Should Put On (vs.13-15)

Bearing With One Another (Patience) (v.13a)

Forgiving One Another (Forgiveness) (v.13b)

Loving One Another (Love) (v.14)

Having Peace With One Another (Peace) (v.15)

Knowledge of God’s Word (Knowledge) (v.16a)

A Song in Your Heart (Worship) (v.16b)

Thankfulness to God (Thanksgiving) (v.17)

The greatest of these is love.

Five Things We Should Ask in Everything We Do

Will it bring glory to God?

Can you ask Jesus to bless it (Would Jesus participate with you)?

Will it impact the convictions of other Christians (Will it cause someone else to stumble)?

Will it weaken my desire for intimate fellowship with Jesus, God’s Word, and prayer?

Will it weaken or hinder my witness for Christ?

CLOSING

Personal holiness in the body of Christ is not optional. It is a necessity. And it should be the natural result of a life that has been redeemed by the blood of Christ and indwelt by the power of the Holy Spirit. God has called us to put off sin and put on holiness and righteousness. Everyday we should look a little less like us and a little more like Jesus.

Do you feel like you are progressing in your personal holiness?

Do you feel like your progress has been hindered lately or that you’ve reached the point where you don’t feel like you can proceed any further?

Are you still struggling with specific sins in certain areas of your life?

Are you tired of being under the control of those sins?

Are you ready for a breakthrough?

ALTAR CALL