Holiness: The Witness to the World and The Church- Prt. 2

Holiness   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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It is the holiness of Christ in us, expressed in our living that the world needs in order to drawn to Christ.

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Part 2: “The Hole in our Holiness” Holiness, Our Witness to the World- Practical Expressions

How do we possess this longing for purity?

Again we go to the connection/relationship with God, founded in Christ and discovered and within us because of the Holy Spirit living within us. As the Holy Spirit is the “deposit” of God, it is the H. Sp. the presence that declares the holiness we have. Because of this, the longing to be pure is imparted. Ephesians speaks on this. (Chapter 4) 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

How did you learn Christ? Ephesians 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

As Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

The Practical Expressions of Holiness

In Ephesians Paul states a variety of expressions of how this purity can be expressed— it is an inner quality (holy) being lived out in daily life: Parents & children, husbands/wives, language and speaking with one another, anger (emotions and gentleness.

Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (ESV) Here’s why I’m doing this:If you want to find a place of greater holiness in your life:
If you can’t repent, you can’t grow.
If you can’t humble yourself, you can’t give or receive grace.
If you can’t recognize when you’ve been wrong, you can’t be in fellowship with others.
If you have no reverse gear
If you want to find a place of greater holiness in your life, Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
The holiness of God is a critical facet of His character. God desires—(even commands)—that His people seek after His holiness (Leviticus 11:44). Emulating a lifestyle that reflects God’s holiness is so important that the writer of Hebrews urged Christians to “strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, ESV). In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). People who desire to live in close fellowship with the Lord and see Him face to face must turn away from self-seeking, unholy interests. They must “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Believers are called to become like God in His holiness (Ephesians 1:4).
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