Rooted in Holiness

Review/Intro

We are continuing our journey through growing with strong roots in our Christian walk. Maybe new roots, or being reminded of our roots.

Rooted in Scripture

We learned that God’s word nourishes our faith, guides our decisions, and transforms our lives.

Key truth: A rooted believer is anchored in God’s Word.

Rooted in Prayer

We discussed that prayer is our lifeline to God, cultivating trust, dependance, and peace.

Key truth: A rooted believer remains connected to God through consistent prayer.

Rooted in Worship

Here we saw that worship extends much further than Sunday assembly and it involves every aspect of our lives, in living for God.

Key Truth: A rooted believer honors God through a lifestyle of worship.

Rooted in Community

Last week we took some time and looked at the early church whose faith flourish through fellowship, encouragement, accountability and shared life with other believers.

Key Truth: A rooted believer grows stronger through biblical community.

I’ve Got A Question for You

What comes to mind when you hear the word Holy?

(pause for answers) be ready to give one yourself.

Follow up question: Why do you think many Christians find holiness difficult to pursue consistently?

(Transition) Many have the view that holiness as something only a few exceptionally spiritual people have or get. Scripture teaches us though that holiness is God’s calling for every believer.

Today we are turning our attention to God’s call for every Christian to pursue holiness. Holiness is not about perfection, or legalism. It is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ by putting off sinful practices and putting on godly character through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Good note: Our conduct should reflect our new identity.

Big Idea

Because we belong to Christ, we are called to put away sinful practices and pursue a life that reflects His character.

Holiness Begins with a New Identity in Christ

Join me in looking at our new identity in Christ turn with me to Colossians 3:1–4

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

Believers have been raised with Christ

When they believed, confessed, repented, were baptized they were born again and were raised up as Christ was raised from the dead; believers, they are born again!

Our lives are now hidden with Christ in God

He is in us and we are in Him. This spiritual birth is sealing of the Holy Spirit in us until the day the Lord calls us home

Holy living begins with understanding who we are in Christ

We are a child of God, a son of the living God, made in His image, no longer a slave to sin or a slave to this world, but a light to the darkness to this world, a light bearer like Jesus, a living testimony of His love.

Transformation flows from identity, not merely willpower

We cannot be transformed by shear willpower, we need God power, God’s Holy Spirit to do the work. It is God’s Spirit and our surrender that allows God’s fruit to be produced in us and us to produce holiness through a transformed life.

Key Point: You cannot live like Christ until you understand that you belong to Christ.

Discussion question: How does knowing your identity in Christ motivate holy living?

Holiness Requires Putting Sin to Death

So we have our new identity, now we need to be sure to keep sin away, consider it dead, so let us continue to read in Col3:5-9.

Colossians 3:5–9 “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,”

Paul uses very strong language “put to death”

in some versions or “consider the members dead.”

Remember this is who we “were” it is not who we “are”

Sin is not something to manage but something to mortify.

Different “M” manage and mortify

Paul identifies behaviors that belong to the old life, the life that is now dead

Sexual immorality, impurity, evil desires

Greed, anger, malice, slander and dishonesty

Sanctification requires intentional choices.

We are to live with intention

Key Point: Holiness requires a decisive break from sinful patterns

God has given you what you need to do this, His Spirit in you! You are fully equipped. 2 Peter 1:3 “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Discussion question: Why is it dangerous to tolerate “small sins” in our lives?

Holiness Involves Putting on Christlike Character

Can you see this flow happening when it comes to holiness here as Paul is writing to the church at Colossi? Lets read on Col3:10-14.

Colossians 3:10–14 “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Christianity is not simply removing sin

God calls for us remove and to replace. Replace sinful behaviors with godly virtues

Paul identifies qualities that should characterize believers in the passage

He ties it all up neatly with love that serves as the bond that unites every Christian virtue

Key Point: True holiness is not merely avoiding wrong; it is actively becoming like Christ

Discussion question: Which Christlike quality do you find most challenging to develop and why?

Holiness is Sustained Through Spiritual Discipline

So far, we have looked at our new identity, and with that our journey to holiness requires putting to death sin in our lives. And then putting on Christlike character and now it is sustained through spiritual discipline, so we need to continue in Col3:15-17.

Colossians 3:15–17 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

God’s peace should rule our hearts

This is not peace as the world knows it, it is God’s peace only made possible through Jesus Christ.

God’s Word should dwell in us richly

Hey, there is nothing richer than that is there?

Worship strengthens spiritual growth

Gratitude guard the heart from sin

When you have a grateful and thankful heart for all that God has done and is doing you are thanking not thinking about or sinning.

Spiritual disciplines position us for continual transformation

They put us in the right place, give us what we need to be transformed, yet we must participate!

Key Point: Spiritual disciplines help cultivate the soil where holiness can grow

What is Sanctification?

We have talked about holiness, which is sanctification, but how about if we go further into sanctification and we now define it.

Sanctification: It is the ongoing process through which the Holy Spirit transforms believers into the image of Christ.

It begins at conversion, it continues throughout life of the Christian

It involves both God’s work and our obedience

It is progressive growth, not instant perfection, it is about direction not perfection

It results in increasing Christlikeness

Supporting Scriptures (Php2:12-13, 2Cor3:18, Rom8:29)

Philippians 2:12–13 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

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 from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

Key point: Holiness is not achieved overnight, but it should be pursued every day.

Discussion Point (time permitting; be careful with time, need to get to the application) What does it mean practically to be holy as God, as Christ is Holy?

(Below not on the outline; watch the time, if have time cover this briefly, if not skip this and go to application; This is a slide though)

Practical Rhythms of Holiness

Begin Each Day with Surrender

“Lord, help me to honor You in my thoughts, words, and my actions today.”

Practice daily self-examination

Take a few moments each day to evaluate your spiritual walk.

How did I honor God today?

Where do I need to repent?

What lessons is God teaching me today?

Journaling is a great tool here

Fill your mind with scripture

God’s truth crowds out worldly thinking and renews the mind.

Remove sources of Temptation

Be intentional about guarding your heart, mind, and influences in your life.

Sometimes holiness requires avoiding situations that lead to compromise.

Pursue accountability

Invite trusted believers to encourage your growth and help you remain faithful.

Application for Daily Life

Identify One Area Needing Growth

Ask God to show you one specific area where holiness needs to increase such as, attitudes, speech, purity, forgiveness, pride, maybe anger, or your thought life.

Put off a sinful habit

If you have been trying to hide a sinful habit, or struggling with one that hinders your walk with Christ. Be willing to develop a practical plan to address it this week.

Put on one Christlike virtue

Read Col3:12-14 again and select one quality and intentionally practice it this week.

Strengthen one spiritual discipline

Commit/devote to deeper consistency in a spiritual disciple such as: Bible study, prayer, fellowship, service, lifestyle of worship.

Remember your identity

Daily remind yourself “I belong to Christ, therefore I want my life to reflect Christ.”

(Conclusion) Holiness is not an optional pursuit for just a few, it is a calling for all of God’s people, for every Christian. Because we all have been raised with Christ, we must put off the old life and put on the new character of Christ. Believers that become rooted in Christ, holiness becomes more than avoiding sin, it becomes a joyful pursuit of Christlikeness through the power of the Holy Spirit and the consistent practice of spiritual disciple.

Holiness is not about becoming better than others. It is about become more like Jesus.

Major Takeaway: A Rooted Christian actively puts away sinful practices and intentionally pursues Christlike character through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.