I Believe

Holy Living

-This series is intended to reveal my heart.

-For the note takers, reference the printer.

-a message like this is not for condemnation it is to teach us that there is something more.

-There are reoccurring themes in the bible.

-Holiness can not be overlooked as one of these themes.

-This is an unpopular message because it is hard to understand.

1 Peter 1:14–16 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

The root meaning of the Hebrew word for holiness, qadosh, is “to cut” or “to separate”. This means being set apart from the profane for God’s purposes.

-Peter is reiterating the Old Testament. He is quoting Leviticus

Leviticus 20:7–8 “So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy.”

-Peter is validating the Old Testament. He is reaching back over 1,500 He’s saying this still stands, this never went away, this wasn't replaced.

Holy living, separating from sin.

-Separating from sinful practices

-Holy living requires us to turn away from actions, habits, and behaviors that God calls sin. Grace does not give us permission to continue in sin; it gives us power to overcome it.

Romans 6:1–2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

-Separating from sinful influences

-We cannot always avoid sinful people.

-Nor should we isolate ourselves from those who need Christ.

-But we must separate ourselves from relationships, environments, and influences that continually pull us away from God.

2 Timothy 2: 22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

-Jesus called us to be the influence, not to be influenced.

-I know from experience when we place ourselves in tempting situations its a recipe for failure.

-Separating from the desires of the old life

-Separation from the old desires is deeper than changing our surroundings

-it involves putting to death the desires, attitudes, and thought patterns of our former life.

-Holiness begins in the heart before it becomes visible in our conduct.

-It begins to grow in our hearts before it ever bears visible fruit

Colossians 3:5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world

-Lurking.… Why do we expose ourselves....TV is trash.

-Holy living means we no longer ask, “How close can i get to sin?” instead we ask, “How close can i walk with Jesus?”

Holy living, obedience to the word.

-Obedience begins with hearing God’s word.

-We cannot obey what we do not know.

-Holy living requires a willingness to read, hear, and receive Scripture.

-Barna 2024, Studies tracking "Bible users" (those who engage with Scripture outside of church 4 or more days a week) highlight significant behavioral changes, including reduced struggles with specific behaviors and temptations: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Pornography: Viewing decreases by 60%.

Anger: Anger struggles decrease by 32%.

Bitterness: Bitterness drops by 43%.

Alcoholism: Destructive alcohol habits decrease by 42%.

Generosity & Love: Over half of frequent Bible readers report showing more loving behavior and being more generous with time and resources. [1, 2]

-Interestingly 3 times a week had almost no effect.

-The Bible app.

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

-Hear the word

-Heart the word

-Do the word

-My life really began to change when my Bible reading habits changed

-Obedience must continue even when it is difficult

-Set the scene

Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

-True obedience is revealed when following God costs us something.

-We obey because God is Lord, not merely when obedience is convenient.

-Tracy story

-Obedience shows our love for Christ.

John 14:15 ““If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”

-Jesus connected love for Him with keeping His commands.

-Obedience is not merely duty; it is an expression of devotion.

-Jesus loves us but do I love him? How do I turn my heart toward him.

Holy living reflects Jesus

-It’s not until we live lives that are consecrated to God that we can truly reflect the love of Christ to others.

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

-When we imitate Jesus we will live lives consecrated to God and we will sacrifice for others.

2 Timothy 2:20–21 (NLT)In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. Holiness seems so out of reach and unattainable for me. That’s because is is. I have no ability to be holy apart from total dependence on Jesus

Hebrews 10:14(NLT)14“For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”

“Being made holy”, how beautiful! God has us in a process, the end of which will not be seen here on this earth. It will be realized when we stand face to face with our Lord! The author and the finisher of our faith. It’s in Christ and him only that we are made holy.