Growing In Holiness
Growing in Holiness!
How do we grow in Holiness...?
Why should we want to grow in holiness?
What does it take to grow in holiness?
What are some of the benefits of growing in holiness?
First, why should we want to grow in holiness?
To be more like Christ...
Sanctification begins with regeneration, the implanting of spiritual life in us. In Hebrew and Greek languages, sanctification is “to be set apart” from common use, “to be made holy.” The nature of sanctification is twofold in that we have been made holy through Christ and are called to continue to grow into and strive for holiness by cooperating with the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The sanctification process for us never ends while we are on earth in our mortal bodies. It is consummated in glorification when we through death and resurrection or the Rapture stand in God’s presence “conformed to the likeness of Christ.
Romans 8 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Our identification with Jesus Christ by faith is the foundation for our sanctification.
Justification (a positional holiness) is immediate and occurs when we trust Jesus Christ by faith as the atonement for our transgressions. Sanctification on the other hand is progressive. And in today’s text we see that progressive sanctification demands three actions on our part. Paul discusses these actions in this passage, Romans chapter 6 verses 5-23.
What does it take to grow in holiness?
It takes our corporation with the Holy Spirit ...
We need to...
1. Reckon ourselves dead to sin (5-11)
2. Yield ourselves to Christ (12-14)
3. Be slaves to righteousness (15-23)
First, we must Reckon ourselves dead to sin (5-11)
5 For if (since) we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if (since) we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Next, we must yield ourselves to Christ (12-14)
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Finally, we must be slaves to righteousness (15-23)
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, be careful not to underestimate the damage that sin can cause and the destruction that it can leave in its wake.
Instead let us choose to grow progressively in holiness...
Let us grow in holiness, in obedience to God...
1 Peter 1 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]
Let us grow in holiness in our thought life...
"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" Prov 23:7
2 Cor 10 5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; KJV
Phil 4 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Romans 12 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What are some of the benefits of growing in holiness?
The Holy Spirit enables us to obey and follow God’s laws and instructions.
The Holy Spirit’s presence brings us new life and joy.
The Holy Spirit helps us pray more effectively.
The Holy Spirit fills us with His love for everyday living.
The Holy Spirit’s anointing enables us to do the work that we are called to do.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be effective witnesses.
Owe Lord help us to always be growing in your holiness...
By reckoning ourselves dead to sin (5-11)
By Yielding ourselves to Christ (12-14)
And by being a slave to righteousness (15-23)
In Jesus Name... Amen.