Sanctification series message 6 Life of Holiness

The Practice of Holiness: Modeling Jesus

about RELIGION. The central part of the Disciple’s

Cross is the practice of HOLINESS which, when

Real Christianity is about LIFE CHANGE, not just about RELIGION. The central part of the Disciple’s Cross is the practice of HOLINESS which, when present in the believer’s life, indicates that a real change has indeed taken place. In addition to

present in the believer’s life, indicates that a real

change has indeed taken place. In addition to

glorifying God, holiness has the effect of testifying to others around us.

to others around us.

It is possible to keep the “rules” on the habits and practices of Bible study, prayer, tithing and fellowship through sheer human effort. However, the habit of holiness (especially its inner aspects) can only be manifested through the enabling of God’s Spirit.

practices of Bible study, prayer, tithing and fellowship

through sheer human effort. However, the habit of

holiness (especially its inner aspects) can only be

manifested through the enabling of God’s Spirit.

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HOLINESS

1. The Bible teaches that holiness is one of the basic CHARACTERISTICS of God’s nature.

God’s nature.

God does not "have" holiness. He "is" holy.

(KJV)

Psalm 99:9 KJV 1900

Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at his holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.

2. Personal holiness is absolutely essential in maintaining our SALVATION .

Hebrews 12:14 KJV 1900

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’” (NLT)

1 Peter 1:15–16 KJV 1900

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

3. Holiness involves both the negative concept of SEPARATION and the positive concept of DEDICATION .

positive concept of DEDICATION .

Separation:

Then I will welcome you and be your Father. You will be my sons and my daughters, as surely as I am

God, the All-Powerful.’ My friends, God has made us these promises. So we should stay away from

everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being clean. We should honor God and try to be

completely like him.”

2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1 KJV 1900

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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Discovery 602: Discovering The Practice of Holiness The North Jersey United Pentecostal Church Secaucus, NJ

Dedication:

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be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

this too much to ask?” (NLT)

4. The power to live holy lives does not come from our flesh, but from the HOLY SPIRIT .

love that you have in Christ Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard

what has been entrusted to you.”

2 Timothy 1:13–14 KJV 1900

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

5. We are motivated to live holy lives not merely by enforced rules, but by our LOVE FOR GOD .

E.g. of a marriage relationship--they are "rules" to the relationship, but the foundation is love.

1 John 5:3 KJV 1900

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

."

Psalm 25:10 KJV 1900

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

belong to God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the

1 John 2:3–5 KJV 1900

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

truth. But those who obey God’s word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we

live in him.” (NIV)

6. God gives us three HOLINESS TEACHERS to show us how to live a life that pleases Him:

pleases Him:

• The BIBLE

word…so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any

Ephesians 5:25–27 KJV 1900

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

other flaws.”

• Spiritual LEADERSHIP

Someone read:

pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of

the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of

God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no

longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery

Ephesians 4:11–15 KJV 1900

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow

up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ… (NKJV)

• The HOLY SPIRIT

in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey

Hebrews 10:16 KJV 1900

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

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Discovery 602: Discovering The Practice of Holiness The North Jersey United Pentecostal Church Secaucus, NJ

them.” (NLT)

7. Our righteous works are not the MEANS of us receiving salvation, but they should be the RESULTS of us receiving it!

they should be the RESULTS of us receiving it!

(KJV)

works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (KJV)

these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to

(KJV)

Titus 3:5–8 KJV 1900

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

maintain good works” (KJV)

8. The Bible teaches that a genuine Christian will exhibit a noticeable witness when INTERNAL HOLINESS is present in the heart.

HOLINESS is present in the heart.

(KJV)

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

is in heaven.” (KJV)

actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone… it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t

James 2:14–24 KJV 1900

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless… ‘I can’t see your faith if you

don’t have good deeds but I will show you my faith through my good deeds’… So you see, we are

Three Components of Holiness

made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.” (NLT)

Bible Principle Eternal An unchanging, objective truth

that we must live by

that we must live by

Personal Conviction Internal A scriptural principle that you

personally apply to your life

Standard for Living External Your personal code of Christian

ethics which ultimately controls

your behavior

that we must live by

personally apply to your life

ethics which ultimately controls

your behavior

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Discovery 602: Discovering The Practice of Holiness The North Jersey United Pentecostal Church Secaucus, NJ

I. Three Elements/Components of Holiness

A. Bible Principle

2. There are definite and explicit statements found in the Word of God that gives us insight

into holiness.

These come from the Bible.

2. There are definite and explicit statements found in the Word of God that gives us insight into holiness.

into holiness.

3. There are also implicit principles that we can apply to our modern situations of life.

4. The principles are eternal, unchanging, objective truth that we must live by.

B. Personal Conviction

1. Where do convictions come from?

a. Prayer? Our prayers can be subjective and we can have difficulty knowing the difference between our spirit and the Holy Spirit.

difference between our spirit and the Holy Spirit.

b. The Word of God! Its mandates and principles are the standard in which I live my life.

c. Often we may use the term, “I was convicted of that.” The connotation was “a feeling” or “while in prayer.”

feeling” or “while in prayer.”

d. Clarification: God definitely speaks to us and challenges us to grow and change into His holiness. But the point is that these inner promptings must be rooted in the Word! They will not contradict the Word of God.

His holiness. But the point is that these inner promptings must be rooted in the

Word! They will not contradict the Word of God.

· Nature of holiness; internal promptings in time of need

· It is the “Holy” Spirit within us!

e. We need to understand what a conviction is!

2. What is a conviction?

a. A basic command of scripture which I have purposed to follow in my life whatever the cost.

cost.

b. A scriptural principle which I have applied to my life personally.

c. This conviction becomes an internal persuasion and is also unchanging.

3. What are the qualifications of a conviction?

a. It must be seen in your life.

b. It must not change.

c. It must be consistent throughout one’s lifestyle (It cannot be practiced or refrained from in one area while you violate the principle via another medium).

from in one area while you violate the principle via another medium).

4. Anything that does not meet the above qualifications is a preference, not a conviction.

C. Standard for Living

1. What are standards?

a. The external things that govern our life.

· The way we dress, the way we act, and the activities in which we are involved.

b. Our personal code of Christian ethics which ultimately controls our behavior.

c. Standards are where we live out the inner convictions we have developed from Bible principles.

principles.

2. Aspects of holiness standards (taught )

Standards)

Note: Principle # 9 below is an expansion of this third component of Holiness, "Standard for Living."

Discovery 602: Discovering The Practice of Holiness The North Jersey United Pentecostal Church Secaucus, NJ

The word ‘standard’ is defined as “a simple test for determining the authenticity of something intangible.” Holiness standards therefore are not the principal part of holiness, but they are an external sign that an authentic work of salvation has taken place!

something intangible.” Holiness standards therefore are not the principal part of holiness, but

they are an external sign that an authentic work of salvation has taken place!

E.g. Many years ago, there was a widespread fire in Baltimore. When fireman from New York came to help with their equipment, they were of little use. Their hose would not fit the hydrants in Baltimore. Thus, standardization of hydrant and hose size was implemented.

came to help with their equipment, they were of little use. Their hose would not fit the

hydrants in Baltimore. Thus, standardization of hydrant and hose size was implemented.

9. There are three kinds of Standards for Living (Holiness Standards) that God expects every

MATURE Christian to adhere to:

• BIBLE standards

These are life principles that are explicitly commanded in the Word of God. They demand immediate obedience upon salvation. The principles are non-negotiable for all Christians!

immediate obedience upon salvation. The principles are non-negotiable for all Christians!

Clear Teachings of Scripture

· These things are immediately apparent to all. In regard to these commands, there should be no difference of opinion.

there should be no difference of opinion.

· The new believer should begin to obey them immediately.

· Examples: fornication, lying, drunkenness

• CHURCH standards

These are life principles that are established by spiritual leadership to deal with the practical application of Scriptural principles in modern situations. They are usually understood and implemented gradually as a believer matures.

application of Scriptural principles in modern situations. They are usually understood and

implemented gradually as a believer matures.

Practical Applications of Scriptural Principles

· These are applied to modern situations which are usually understood and implied gradually as the new believer grows in grace and knowledge.

gradually as the new believer grows in grace and knowledge.

· In regard to specific applications, there can come some legitimate differences of opinion among Christians.

opinion among Christians.

· Examples: different aspects of adornment and godly dress

• PERSONAL standards

These are life principles that are prompted by the Holy Spirit in individual lives due to the unique background of each believer. These will never contradict those standards established by the pastor that God has given. Personal convictions are above and beyond what the church already teaches.

background of each believer. These will never contradict those standards established by the

pastor that God has given. Personal convictions are above and beyond what the church already

teaches.

10. There are many levels of MATURITY in God’s family, just like a natural family, and each member is valuable to God in their present STAGE .

family, and each member is valuable to God in their present STAGE .

try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them…”

Romans 15:1–2 KJV 1900

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

people would be better off thrown into the deepest part of the ocean with a heavy stone tied around

their necks!”

Matthew 18:6 KJV 1900

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Discovery 602: Discovering The Practice of Holiness The North Jersey United Pentecostal Church Secaucus, NJ

11. The more mature I become in my lifestyle of holiness, the more God can USE ME.

are his,’ and ‘Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness’ …some

2 Timothy 2:19–21 KJV 1900

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

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 utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the

Master to use you for every good work.” (NLT)

Joseph's motivation to not sin:

1) He said it was "against God.";

2) He had a dream to protect

12. SUBMISSION to spiritual guidance is an important part of my growth in holiness.

holiness.

Warn that some matters are not a lack of revelation, but a lack of submission to God.

You must intentionally and actively "educate your conscience."

Titus 1:15 KJV 1900

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

“Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they

know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That

Hebrews 13:17 KJV 1900

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

would certainly not be for your benefit.”