Holiness Defined

1 Peter 1:13-15 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,”

PRAY!!!!

Holiness = Set Apart

Dedicated for a specific purpose or use by God

Separated from the world and set apart unto Him

Holiness is:

Becoming more and more like Jesus. Being transformed to mirror Christ, rather than conforming to this world. To live a life that focuses on righteous living, purity and devotion to God.

God chose us, and called us to Holiness

Eph 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

God gives us an awesome description of what this should like in

Col 3:12-15 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Sounds exactly like Jesus! Compassionate heart, being kind, humble, patient, forgiving, loving like crazy and last but not least being thankful

How do we accomplish Holiness?

By refusing to conform to this world and the transforming of and renewal of our minds

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Titus 3:5 “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

It’s the precious work of the Holy Spirit that changes us. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you

James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

It’s simple but not easy.

We owe this to God, who sent Christ for us and all He did for us on the cross

Hebrews 10:10 “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Col 1:21-22 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”

Eph 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

Heb 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Then Why do so many Christians live defeated lives?

Because we lose the battle of the mind

Winning The Battle Of The Mind!

In the KJV verse 13 says to gird up the loins of your mind. What that means is:

1. Gather up all the loose thoughts (2 Cor 10:5)

Paul puts it this way

2 Cor 10:5 “ Take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

Verse 14 tells us:

2. Focus on obedience (Phil 2:5)

Phil 2:5 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

3. Focus On Holiness. (Eph 4:23-24)

Put On The New Man/Woman

Eph 4:23-24 “and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

4. Be Sober Minded (Titus 2:11-13)

Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

As we strive to live a “Holy” life, a separated from the world kind of life, the “old” man gets further and further from us, to the point of not even recognizing that person anymore, and that’s what I mean by being “transformed.”

So what stops us in this pursuit of Holiness? Why are so many Christians not living a Holy, set apart life.

1. Not Obeying The Holy Spirit.

“The Conscience”

Isa 30:21 “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

2. A Luke Warm Life

Rev 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Matt 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

So many people who think they are safe, are sadly going to Hell.

The absolute, most terrifying words you could ever hear:

Matt 7:23 “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

3. Sin in the camp

a. Sex outside of marriage

1 Cor 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

b. Idolatry

very great admiration or respect for someone, often too great: (Cambridge Dictionary)

= Anything you love more than God

Self, Relationships, Success, Money, Health,Food

1 Cor 10:14 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Col 3:5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

c. Unforgiveness

Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.””

Matt 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

d. Pet Sins

Little white lies

Thou Shalt Not Lie

Gossip

“It’s not technically gossip if you start your sentence with “I’m really concerned about __________________ ,” (fill in the name of the person you’re not gossiping about).” ~ Brian P. Cleary

James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

2 Cor 12:20 “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.”

Pornography

Matt 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”

Drinking and Drugs

Gal 5:21 “envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The Occult

Horoscopes, Fortune telling, Tarot Cards, Spiritists (Even the ones who seem to do good)

Deu 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.

Unwholesome Talk

Eph 4:29 “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.”

IN CLOSING..

YOU CAN DO IT!!

To Live a Holy life, which is absolutely what God calls us to do, its going to take effort and discipline.

PRAY!!