11. Purpose of Obedience is Holiness part 2

Purpose of Obedience is Holiness part 2

As we move on to the positive command I want to re-read verses 15 and 16

(15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

A literal translation form the Greek would read something like this – but as He who called you is holy, become holy in all your conduct, because it is written you shall be holy, for I am holy

From verse 14 we see repentance from dead works in a negative command to an active pursuit of holiness.

In verses 15 and 16 we have a pattern. The standard of holiness-as he who called you is holy, the command to be holy-be holy in all your conduct, the unchangeable nature of the command-it is written, restatement and/or fulfillment of the command- you shall be holy, restatement of the standard- for I am holy.

B.Our God who is Holy

1. The importance of the Holiness of God.

Sproul, in his book the holiness of God says this, Isaiah 6:

“The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.” This angelic proclamation is also made in the John’s vision in Revelation. Holy, holy, holy.

Holiness is the attribute that is used of God more than any other.

What is it? To be holy is to be distinct, separate, in a class by oneself.

As Sproul puts it: The primary meaning of holy is ‘separate.’ It comes from an ancient word that meant, ‘to cut,’ or ‘to separate.’

This means that the one who is holy is uniquely holy, with no rivals or competition.

Sproul also says

“When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way. The same basic meaning is used when the word holy is applied to earthly things.”

The Scriptures put it this way:

Exo 15:11 "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

1Sa 2:2 "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.

Psa 86:8-10 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. (9) All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name. (10) For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.

Holy also means moral purity

Hab 1:13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness.

Psa 24:3-5 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? (4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. (5) He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Isa 6:3-5 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" (4) And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."

Holy as a divine attribute

When the attributes of God are listed holiness is always among the list. But it is inaccurate to say that holiness is a standalone attribute. Holiness is the attribute with which all the other attributes of God are clothed. It is because of the holiness of God, that ultimately where our strong confidence lies. Could be put our trust in one who has arbitrary scales of justice, mercy, love, who had all the moral certitude of the gods of the Romans and Greeks? It is no wonder people of other religions live in the bondage of fear of the gods they serve, because there is no god like our God.

When man is confronted with the holiness of God 2 examples.

Uzzah and the holiness of God

2Sa 6:5-9 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. (6) But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. (7) And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. (8) And David became angry because of the LORD's outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. (9) So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"

The failure was to do according to what the Lord commanded in moving the ark.

Ananais and Sapphira

Act 5:1-11 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, (2) and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. (3) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? (4) "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God." (5) And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it. (6) And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. (7) Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. (8) And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the price." (9) Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well." (10) And she fell immediately at his feet, and breathed her last; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. (11) And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.

-Their lie was to the HOLY SPIRIT.

Volumes have been written on the holiness of God. But our primary source should be the Scriptures. Will we treat God as common? As someone of no consequence? If we do not see God as holy, we will see our sin in a false light and make little of it. But seeing the holiness of God in the Scripture will cause us to see our sin rightly.

And it is our holy God who has called us and His calling is not without purpose. We do not flit about aimlessly in the course of life but will single minded determination we pursue holiness.

2Ti 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

We have seen the command to not conform ourselves to our former lusts, which were ours in our ignorance. We have seen the holiness of God in His person and in His response to man. Remember Annais and Sapphira, remember Uzzah. God will be treated as holy.

Now I ask you. Can you identify those former lusts? Can you identify the way in which our culture has blurred the lines of Biblical holiness? May God grants us ears to hear and eyes to see that we may walk before Him in holiness and truth.