Transformed: Becoming Who God Created You To Be! (Be Holy)

INTRO:

We are in this series looking at Transformation - Becoming Who God Created You To Be!

3 weeks ago we introduced this series

2 weeks ago we looked at being a priest.

I am not going to repeat that sermon but I will say this, go back and listen to it.

This week we are moving on with the idea of being Transformed!

Opening Line:

“You are to be Holy, because God is Holy!”

I want to repeat this, just in case someone might have thought they heard something different.

“You are to be Holy, because God is Holy!”

Illustration ……..

There was a young boy named Ethan who loved watching his father every morning. Without fail, his dad would wake up early, sit in his chair with his Bible, and pray. Ethan didn’t fully understand what his father was doing, but he knew it was important.

As Ethan grew, he found himself waking up early too. One day, without even thinking, he picked up his Bible and began reading, just like his dad. Years later, when Ethan had children of his own, they also saw him praying and reading the Word. It had become a part of who he was—a natural extension of the faith his father lived out before him.

Just like eye color or a smile can be passed from parent to child, so can a spiritual heritage. When parents live out their faith, their children are far more likely to follow. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." The greatest inheritance we can leave is not wealth or possessions, but a deep-rooted faith that continues for generations.

What we see in this illustration is the understanding that “children inherit the nature of their parents.”

The reason I state this is to make this point:

God is holy; AMEN?

We are His Children; AMEN?

therefore, as His children, we inherit God nature.

As a matter of fact 2 Peter 1:4 tells us this very fact: “2 Peter 1:4 “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” we should live holy lives.

By this inheritance we ought to reveal that nature in godly living.

Church, WE are called to be HOLY!

As a matter of fact, In God’s kingdom, holiness isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

I know some of you might be saying I thought God wanted us to be happy?

Happiness, not holiness, is the chief pursuit of most people today, including many professed Christians.

They want Jesus to solve their problems and carry their burdens, but they don’t want Him to control their lives and change their character.

It doesn’t disturb them that eight times in the Bible, God said to His people, “Be holy, for I am holy,” and He means it.

Yes, God wants His children to be happy, but true happiness begins with holiness.

Our English word “holy” comes from the Old English word “halig” which means “to be whole, to be healthy.”

What health is to the body, holiness is to the inner person.

The related word “sanctify” comes from the Latin sanctus which means “consecrated, sacred, blameless.”

We use the word “sanctification” to describe the process of growing to become more like Christ, and “holy” to describe the result of that process.

MAIN POINT:

God calls us to leave behind our old ways and embrace a life of holiness, reflecting His character in everything we do."

BODY:

(Have them stand for the reading of the word of God.)

Turn into your bible to ….

1 Peter 1:13–16 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

We find the statement “… be holy, for I am holy” is actually referencing Leviticus 11:45 “For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

The word holy is used 91 times in Leviticus.

Another tidbit of information, the Book of Leviticus itself is quoted or referred to over 100 times in the New Testament.

This should be a great indicator of what the Book of Leviticus is about (Holiness).

The Book of Leviticus explains five basic themes that relate to the life of holiness:

a holy God;

a holy priesthood;

a holy people;

a holy land;

and a holy Savior.

Most of you will be pleased to know we will only be looking at one of these ….. A Holy People!

As I shared earlier, God is recorded stating 8 times to His people, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

What does this specifically mean?

I know some people hear this and think, “What in the world does it mean to “BE HOLY.””

Their point of reference is God as a Holy Entity.

And everyone knows we are not, nor can we be, God.

Look at 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”