A Call To Holiness
The Pathway: A Call to Holiness • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1Thessalonians 4:7; 2Timothy 1:9; 1Peter 1:14-16; 2:9
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Title: A call to Holiness/Un llamado a la Santidad
Many wonder what the difference is between the Pentecostals and everyone else. The fact is, we are different, and that is not to be critical.
Several things separate us from other churches:
The infilling of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues.
Baptism in the Name of Jesus.
Worship is more than coming to a worship service.
By the way we view holiness.
We don’t view holiness as some abstract thing, but as something we strive and endeavor to attain in this life.
Holiness is attainable. If it was not, the Lord would have never called us to be holy.
God’s Word speaks of holiness, defines holiness, and requires holiness.
Often, we don’t understand what holiness is. Holiness means to be separated from sin and unto God.
Holiness is the foremost and supreme attribute of God and the very essence and nature of who He is.
The fact that God is holy is clear in scripture:
Ps.145:17 – The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
Isa.43:15 – I am the Lord, your holy one, the creator of Israel, your king.
1Pet.1:15 – But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy.
Furthermore, anything that has been set apart for His purpose is holy:
His spirit is holy (1Thes.4:8).
His law and commandments are holy (Rom.7:12).
His word is holy (Rom.1:2).
His promises are holy (Ps.105:42).
His name is holy (1Chro.29:16).
His works are holy (Ps.145:17).
His people are holy (Ex.19:6).
When God chose Israel, He called them to be holy.
Deut.7:6 – For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: and he hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Because He set them apart from other nations, they were to be a reflection of His holiness to those around them.
The principle of holiness transcends the ages! In this dispensation of grace, God still desires a holy people.
He’s called us with a holy calling (2Tim.1:9).
We’re to praise the Lord by lifting up holy hands (1Tim.2:8).
We’re to yield our members as servants of righteousness unto holiness (Rom.6:19).
We’re to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness (2Cor.7:1).
We’re to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb.12:14).
As a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, we’re to shew forth the praises, etc. (1Pet.2:9).
Holiness is being separated from sin unto God.
It is not an option but a command we are to obey in all aspects of our life. It means to think as He thinks, love as He loves, hate what He hates. It means to be separated from the world system and unto God.
I believe in holiness for several reasons:
God commands it – “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1Pet.1:16).
It’s our calling – “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1Thes.4:7).
We’re to be participants in it – “We are chastened for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Heb.12:10).
It’s the only way to worship – “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps.29:2).
Without out it we can’t be saved – “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb.12:14).
Holiness is essential to salvation so we begin to see the seriousness of being holy and set apart.
If God requires holiness, then how do we attain it?
*********************
Holiness Comes as a Result of the New Birth.
The Holy Ghost makes us holy. The moment we come to God and are filled with His Spirit, we receive a new nature and become the righteousness of God in Christ.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (2Cor.5:17).
Though we still have to deal with the flesh, the flesh no longer governs us. Jesus said, “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit” (Jn.3:6). When you come to God, He gives you a new nature.
One might ask, “Is it possible to be holy like God?” It is if we have His Spirit in us.
As children inherit the nature of their parents, so we inherit the nature of our Father when we become the children of God.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Pet.1:4).
Holiness is a result of the New Birth and begins when we are filled with the Holy Ghost.
Our new nature is holy because the Spirit that is in us is holy.
Holiness does not come by works but by the Holy Ghost, therefore it is not a “means” of salvation but a “result” of salvation.
Holiness comes by us perfecting It.
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting (finishing, completing) holiness, in the fear of God” (2Cor.7:1).
Perfect – To bring to completion; to make perfect or nearly perfect according to a given standard.
At salvation, God makes us holy but then we spend the rest of our lives perfecting it.
Receiving the Holy Ghost is important, but even more important is what we do after.
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselfers from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).
It is not enough that God gives us a new nature. Now we have to perfect it.
Many after experiencing the New Birth mistakenly believe that that is where it ends. They are ignorant either willingly or through lack of teaching of what God further requires.
After you come to God, you must begin the process of perfecting holiness. We can come to God as we are but He won’t let us stay where we are.
The calling of God leads us beyond the point where we now stand. We must not stop perfecting holiness until we awake in His likeness (Ps.17:15).
Since holiness is a process, we have no right to judge others. Holiness is not a point to be reached but a way to travel.
“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness” (Isa.35:8).
Everyone is at a different place in his or her growth process.
As we perfect holiness, it is going to affect us in 3 areas: our attitude, actions, and appearance…
I. Holiness Should Be Reflected In Our Attitude…
If I had to define holiness in one word, it would be “attitude.” Holiness isn’t perfection, but it is an attitude of one striving to please God. Paul had that attitude (Phil.3:12-14).
We should always be striving to please God:
Rom.8:7 – They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Gal.1:10 – For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 1Thes.4:1 – We exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that ye ought to walk to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2Tim.4:4 – No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Sometimes we talk more about the results of holiness than we do the spirit (attitude) that produces it. Holiness will affect the way we look, but many people put the focus in the wrong place.
True holiness begins in the heart. In scripture, the word “heart” is mentioned over 900 times and is almost never used in a literal sense (organ pumping blood).
Heart – the seat of our intellect, feelings, and will.
When we change our heart, we have the ability to change who we are.
True holiness begins in the heart and ultimately expresses itself in every other area of our life. Starting on the outside and working in will only cause frustration because we cannot impart/produce something we do not possess.
Matthew 23:25-28
Jesus never condemned the Pharisees for their outward appearance but He established a priority when He said, “FIRST cleanse that which is within”.
First (Gk.-Proton) – before, at the beginning, chiefly.
We need to begin the cleansing process where God wants it to begin – on the inside.
How we look on the outside is important to God, but it is only acceptable when accompanied by inward purity.
“Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work” (2Tim.2:20).
David said, “Perfect that which concerneth me” (Ps.138:8).
The presence of Christ in our life ought to reflect His spirit in our attitude. If our hearts are right, we will want God to perfect us so we can reflect His glory.
II. Holiness Should be Reflected in Our Actions…
Holiness is a matter of the heart, but not solely. A true spirit of holiness will manifest itself in how we act, talk, and behave. There is no such thing with God as an inward holiness that leaves the outside un-holy, sinful, and worldly.
Since we are a reflection of the character of Christ, we ought to display (exhibit, show) the beauty of the Lord and not the world. Holiness is not an entirely personal and private matter requiring no outward manifestation.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in ALL MANNER of conversation/lifestyle” (1Pet.1:15).
Of course, a person cannot be saved by his works alone. We know we are saved by grace through faith and not of ourselves” (Eph.2:8). Yet, works (actions) will always accompany a changed life.
James said, “Faith without works is dead.” Jesus said, “Bring forth fruits (works) meet for repentance” (Mat.3:8).
Perfection will never be attained in this life, yet we ought to be reaching for it as the apostle Paul was (Phil.3:14).
We ought to always be striving to be less like the world and more like God.
Romans 6:11-13:
The FEET that led to sin should now be directed in the path of righteousness. The EYES that looked on things that violated God’s law should now be directed toward the Savior. The EARS that listened to impure things should now desire to hear the Word. The HANDS that were swift to shed innocent blood should now be engaged in the service of the Lord. The TONGUE that cursed should now be lifted in praise for His great love. The HEART that was set upon earthly things should now be embracing the things of God.
III. Holiness Should be Reflected in Our Appearance…
That which God begins on the inside and is manifested in our actions, should also be reflected in our dress and appearance. You cannot have a desire to please God and it not affect the way you look. Those who want to please God will allow the Holy Ghost to direct them.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them (body) be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t COPY the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom.12:1-2 - NLT).
It’s important we understand that we belong to God. That includes our bodies.
It is not just our spirit that He desires to be Lord over, but our bodies as well.
“What, know ye not that YOUR BODY is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye (whole being) are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your BODY and SPIRIT which are his” (1Cor.6:19-20).
Paul did not say, “Glorify your body” but “Glorify God in your body.” Our bodies ought to be used to glorify God.
There are those who adhere to a set of rules and equate standards with holiness. Standards are not what make us holy. True holiness cannot be legislated – it is an attitude that is derived from our willingness to please God in every way. But if your heart is right and you recognize Him as owning you, you will want to present your body in a modest way.
Some use 1Sam.16:7 to say that God isn’t concerned about the outside.
“The Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the OUTWARD APPEARANCE, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
First, it is not talking about things that pertain to godliness and holiness. Second, only God can see the heart. Third, all we have to judge someone is by their outward appearance.
If someone is going to judge us by how we look, then it only makes sense that we should dress our bodies accordingly.
The Bible gives us a principle – modesty.
Modesty – having a humble or moderate opinion of one’s self; not displaying one’s body; not extreme or excessive in appearance.
Paul told us we are to dress in “modest apparel” (1Tim.2:9).
The only way we can measure true modesty is by His Spirit and His Word.
It is not our opinion that matters. Often our opinion changes with the culture around us.
We are not going to be judged for what we thought about the Word or even our interpretation of it, but by the Word itself.
Some say we place more emphasis on the outside than Jesus did, but Jesus never said the outside was not important. He was aware that if the outside was going to get right, it had to start on the inside. A true cleansing on the inside will always manifest itself on the outside.
We live in a time when people want scripture and verse for everything. However, the Bible is not a book of rules but a book of principles. If you let the principles get in your heart, then you will not need rules.
The key to being holy is maintaining an attitude all your life of one that wants to please God.
Closing…
To Whom It May Concern:
I heard you were considering a new manager in your life. I’d like to apply for the job. I believe I am the most qualified candidate. I created the heavens and the earth. I AM the only one that’s ever done this job successfully. I was the first manager of human beings. In fact, I made them, so naturally, I know how humanity works and what’s best to get people back into proper working condition. It will be like having the manufacturer as your personal mechanic. If this is your first time considering Me, I would just like to point out that my salary has already been paid by the blood on the cross at Calvary.
What I need from you is the acknowledgment that the price is sufficient to pay for all of your sin and your independence from me. I need you to believe this in your heart. The next thing I ask is the right to change and fix your life so you can learn how to stay close to me. I need your PERMISSION to execute these changes, my way, and in my time. I will change your desires and give you the strength to make the changes. Please keep your hands out of the way. Don’t try and help me and don’t resist me. I really do need your full commitment and cooperation. If you give me your heart, the process can go smoothly, without delay.
Sincerely Yours, God