Top 10 Rules For Holy Living

INTRO: Why is it when we talk about living Holy, it tends to scare people? Lev 11:45 be holy, for I am holy.

Please stand for the reading of God’s word!!

The New King James Version (Chapter 3)

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

PRAY!!!

10. Set Your Hearts And Minds On Things Above

Colossians 3:1–2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Paul tells us in Romans 6:4 “we also should walk in newness of life.”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

9. Put To Death Whatever Belongs Your Earthly Nature

Colossians 3:5–9 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”

Sexual Impurity

1 Cor 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

A principle we can form from this passage is that sexual sin causes inner conflict.

Greed = Idolatry

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Anger

James 1:20 “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.”

Rage

Rage is what happens when anger goes unchecked

Ephesians 4:26 ““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,”

Malice

In the context of the Bible, malice refers to the intention to do evil or cause harm to others

Titus 3:2–6 “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”

Slander

Slander, according to the Bible, is the act of spreading false or malicious statements about someone that damage their reputation12. It is considered a serious sin that violates the 9th commandment, which prohibits bearing false witness against one's neighbor

Exodus 20:16 ““You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Filthy Language

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Lying

Lying covers a multitude of sins—temporarily.

Dwight Lyman Moody (Evangelist)

Baby example

Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

8. Put On The New Self

This “new self” needs constant renewal or refreshing—it is being renewed (pres. tense), in order to keep it victorious over sin.

Norman Geisler

Colossians 3:10 “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,”

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

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

7. Put On Your New Clothes

Colossians 3:12–13 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Compassion

Isaiah 49:13 “Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have compassion on His afflicted.”

Kindness

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Humility

Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.”

Gentleness

Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Patience

Ephesians 4:2 “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,”

Bear With Each Other

Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Forgive One Another

The #1 sneaky sin

Matthew 6:14–15 ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

6. Let The Peace Of Christ Dwell In You

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

5. Be Thankful!!

4x In this the 3rd chapter

4. We Are To Teach And Admonish One Another With All Wisdom

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

3. Wives Submit, Men Love = Happy Christian Home

& Fathers Don’t Embitter Your Children

2. Whatever You Do, Work At It With All Your Heart As If Working For The Lord And Not For Men

Colossians 3:23–24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

1.5 Devote Yourself To Prayer

It’s your superpower!

Colossians 4:2 “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”

Love, Love, Love

Because it “Binds them all together.” and because that's central to being a Christian

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

We actually have 11 commandments!

1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

CALL WORSHIP TEAM!!

In Closing:

This week I challenge you to read the 3rd chapter of colossians every day this upcoming week

PRAY!!!