Dung Gate, Fountain Gate, Water Gate

Nehemiah 2:17 ESV

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”

Holiness is a Requirement

1 Peter 1:16 ESV

16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

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

you aren’t just saved in your sin you are saved from your sin.

How can we still live in something that we have been saved FROM?!?!

Holiness is a Gift

Romans 6:18–23 CSB

18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. 21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Holiness brings us closer to God

if sin is what separates us from God then Holiness brings us closer

Pursuing Holiness

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

conforming is natural, transforming is super natural

transformation requires a new mind

renewing means:

fix what was broken

subscribe to or commit to again

obedience is greater than sacrifice

transformation gets us to holiness, discernment keeps us there