Holier Than You Can Imagine - Combined

Max Fernandez

Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Isaiah 6:1–4

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Introduction:

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 127: Unholy Americans

UNHOLY AMERICANS

Topics: Believers; Holiness; Purity; Redemption; Repentance; Sanctification; Self-condemnation; Self-image; Shame

References: Leviticus 11:45; Matthew 7:13–23; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; 7:1; Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 3:12; 1 Peter 1:15–16; 1 John 3:3

Most Americans don’t consider themselves to be holy, said a survey published by the Barna Group in 2006.

Three out of four Americans (73 percent) believe it is possible for someone to become holy regardless of their past. Only half of the adult population (50 percent), however, said that they knew someone they considered to be holy. That is more than twice as many as those who considered themselves to be holy (21 percent).

The views of born-again Christians were not much different from the national averages. Among believers, three-quarters (76 percent) said it is possible for a person to become holy regardless of his or her past. Slightly more than half of the group (55 percent) said they knew someone they would describe as holy. And roughly three out of ten Christians (29 percent) said they themselves were holy, which is marginally more than the national norm.

—“The Concept of Holiness Baffles Most Americans,” barna.org (February 20, 2006)

What the holiness of God means:

God, holiness of

The moral excellence of God that unifies his attributes and is expressed through his actions, setting him apart from all others. Believers are called to be holy as God is holy.

Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

Two dominant aspects of the holiness of God:

God’s holiness means that he is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor. This definition contains both a relational quality (separation from) and a moral quality (the separation is from sin or evil, and the devotion is to the good of God’s own honor or glory). The idea of holiness as including both separation from evil and devotion to God’s own glory is found in a number of Old Testament passages.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 201). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Proposition #1: Because God is incomparably holy , He justly requires holiness from men.

Comparisons that help us to understand the holiness of God

Comparing God to "holy" humans (v. 1)

Isaiah sees another king in the year that his earthly king died. This heavenly king is monumental, filling, and exalted in presence. See

App: implicated: we allow "holy" humans to have equal status with "holy" God[i.e. we allow humans with status to have equal influence to us as our God]

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 606: Shrinking in God’s Light

SHRINKING IN GOD’S LIGHT

Topics: Acceptance; Arrogance; Body of Christ; Cooperation; Envy; Neighbors; Pride; Relationships; Self-righteousness; Unity

References: Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 8:9–13; James 2:1–4

When we see ourselves as “pretty good,” we misunderstand the gravity of sin and our desperate need for grace. We place ourselves above others, become their judges, and give them the power to disappoint us.

A physicist friend uses this analogy: Each of us is like a lightbulb. One shines with fifty watts of holiness, another has only twenty-five watts. Maybe the most stellar Christians are two hundred watts. But these comparisons become trite in the presence of the sun.

In the face of God, our different levels of piety are puny and meaningless. It makes no sense to compare ourselves with one another, because we are all much more alike than we are different.

—Mark McMinn, Why Sin Matters (Tyndale, 2004)

Comparing God to unfallen beings (v. 2 - 3)

App: implicated: we think that God is holy in relation to our sinfulness - but this is not the case - God is holy in relation to unfallen creatures too. (v. 2)

God’s power is sometimes manifested in a physical tremor (cf. ; ) and his presence in a cloud of smoke (cf. ; ). So the God who normally hides himself from the senses occasionally made himself known in a form accessible to them, and he ultimately did so in the consummate unveiling of himself in his Son ().

Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 56). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

App:

How can this truth help us see God as more holy than we ever thought possible?

Think scripturally through your comparisons.

Some never make these comparisons because you are never setting the right standard with time in the scriptures.

Others of you are setting time aside, but you are not really investing yourself.

Practical - Ask, "What does this passage teach me about God?" as you do your reading. Sample Passage:

Key Text: Remember that there are two major parts to the holiness of God: (1) God is separate from sin(2) God is devoted to his glory In this passage we see this prophet being made aware of the immense holiness of God. God is revealing himself to him. It is as if, God has pealed back the curtain of heaven and shown something that he was previously fully unaware of.

Recapitulation:

Remember that there are two major parts to the holiness of God:

(1) God is separate from sin

(2) God is devoted to his glory

Illustration: Zumbo’s just desserts - smallest dessert…example with magnifying glasses.

Illustration:

So it is today that there are some who are not aware of God. Oh, we have an idea about God, but do we really recognize God for how holy he is? Do we recognize God for how worthy he is of praise? Applications from first lesson:App: implicated: we allow "holy" humans to have equal status with "holy" God[i.e. we allow humans with status to have equal influence to us as our God]App: implicated: we think that God is holy in relation to our sinfulness - but this is not the case - God is holy in relation to unfallen creatures too. (v. 2)Think scripturally through your comparisons. Some never make these comparisons because you are never setting the right standard with time in the scriptures. Others of you are setting time aside, but you are not really investing yourself. Practical - Ask, "What does this passage teach me about God?" as you do your reading. Sample Passage: There is more. HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN TIME TO SEE HOW GOD HAS MANIFESTED HIMSELF? Maybe we don’t have the right response towards God because we have never taken time to really consider how God has revealed himself! When we take time to see how God has revealed Himself, we will see how He is holier than we could ever imagine!

So it is today that there are some who are not aware of God. Oh, we have an idea about God, but do we really recognize God for how holy he is?

Do we recognize God for how worthy he is of praise?

Applications Recap:

App: implicated: we allow "holy" humans to have equal status with "holy" God[i.e. we allow humans with status to have equal influence to us as our God]

App: implicated: we think that God is holy in relation to our sinfulness - but this is not the case - God is holy in relation to unfallen creatures too. (v. 2)

Think scripturally through your comparisons.

Some never make these comparisons because you are never setting the right standard with time in the scriptures.

Others of you are setting time aside, but you are not really investing yourself.

Practical - Ask, "What does this passage teach me about God?" as you do your reading. Sample Passage: There is more.

HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN TIME TO SEE HOW GOD HAS MANIFESTED HIMSELF?

Maybe we don’t have the right response towards God because we have never taken time to really consider how God has revealed himself! When we take time to see how God has revealed Himself, we will see how He is holier than we could ever imagine!

Considering how God manifested himself (v. 4)

Considerations about how God has manifested himself (v. 4)

The powerful presence of God manifested

“God’s power is sometimes manifested in a physical tremor (cf. ; ) and his presence in a cloud of smoke (cf. ; ). So the God who normally hides himself from the senses occasionally made himself known in a form accessible to them, and he ultimately did so in the consummate unveiling of himself in his Son ().” God manifests himself in ways that man could understand and in ways that he could relate to man and get man's attention:

God manifests himself in ways that man could understand and in ways that he could relate to man and get man's attention:

Illustration: the game that works with babies all around the world, worked with Cyrus the other day - “Peek-a-boo”

Illustration:

the game that works with babies all around the world, worked with Cyrus the other day - “Peek-a-boo”

The personal presence of God manifested

* The presence of God is ultimately manifested in Jesus Christ:

The glory of God is manifested in the Jesus Christ - The glory of God was veiled, but there were glimpses through miracles - The holiness of God is seen in the exaltation of Jesus above angels - The manifestation of the holy God is so that mankind could partake in that holiness - It is an initial sanctification that happens by the word (, , )

The glory of God is manifested in the Jesus Christ -

In Isaiah’s account, the glory is manifested in the Temple. This is the place where man came to meet with God.

It is this Temple that Jesus spoke of symbolically tearing down, but he did so with reference to his own body…why?

It is because now Jesus is the place where God and man meet.

The glory of God was veiled, but there were glimpses through miracles -

The holiness of God is seen in the exaltation of Jesus above angels -

The manifestation of the holy God is so that mankind could partake in that holiness - It is an initial sanctification that happens by the word (, , )

Illustration: We play this game called “I Spy” - you never pick a dominant color because it’s usually against the rules of that game. Why? It’s so obvious, it would make the game too hard.

Just the Way It Is

Topics: Children; Holiness; Human Condition; Lostness; Sin; Sinful Nature

References: ;

We play this game called “I Spy” - you never pick a dominant color because it’s usually against the rules of that game. Why? It’s so obvious, it would make the game too hard.

I was sitting at my desk in my study after having scolded my daughter, four, for misbehaving. I heard a gentle knock on the door. “Come in,” I said.

Bethany matter-of-factly said, “Daddy, sometimes I am good, and sometimes I am bad. And that is just the way it is.” Then she left the room, acting as though she had completely explained her misbehavior for all time.

I later commented to her that she had described the problem we all face. We all do bad things, and the Bible says even the good things we do are not good enough to meet God’s standard of holiness. That is why we need a Savior.

—Tony Smith, Gainesville, Georgia

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (pp. 129–130). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

implication: We often miss the most obvious place to look to be wowed by the holiness of God: Jesus Christ. We miss the most relatable way that God has communicated to us His presence. With this, we miss too how he continues to relate to us his presence: the HOLY Spirit. How can this truth help us see God as more holy than we every though possible? App: (1) Be sure that you have believed upon Jesus Christ. He is God's ultimate message to you. This “holy” God requires holiness to be in his presence. Jesus Christ, the holy God, took your sin so you could have this holiness. (2) Intentionally study the life of Christ - asking questions, "How does Jesus reveal that he is God in this passage?" (3) Living a holy life requires that you willingly yield to the Holy Spirit. How? Manifest holy living in your physical passions (internally and outwardly) Manifest holy living in Christian brotherhood () Manifest holy living toward the unbelieving world.

implication: We often miss the most obvious place to look to be wowed by the holiness of God: Jesus Christ. (why? because we are often comparing ourselves to the deeds of other people)

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 719: When I Was a Pharisee

WHEN I WAS A PHARISEE

Topics: Attitudes; Convictions; Entertainment; Faultfinding; Holiness; Humility; Hypocrisy; Judging Others; Legalism; Lifestyle; Presumption; Respect; Self-righteousness; Tolerance

References: Isaiah 65:5; Matthew 7:3, 13–14; 23:1–3; Romans 2:1; 8:33; 1 Corinthians 11:28–32; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:16

When our children were young, my husband and I decided we wouldn’t watch R-rated movies. We made this decision in good conscience and never regretted it. I found, however, that it made me feel judgmental toward other parents who watched R-rated movies. I began to feel they weren’t fully committed to Christ because they watched things I’d decided not to watch.

I realize how ridiculous it is to judge someone’s relationship with God by what movies he or she watches, but my evaluation was so subtle at the time. As I made this judgment, I never thought about my own sin or all the things the person I was judging was doing right. Instead, I focused on this one thing I thought they were doing wrong.

Being a Pharisee is so easy. It’s great to make rules to guide our own behavior, but when we extend those rules to everyone around us, we’re in danger of becoming like the Pharisees, whom Jesus denounced as hypocrites.

—JoHannah Reardon, in newsletter introduction at ChristianBibleStudies.com

We miss the most relatable way that God has communicated to us His presence. With this, we miss too how he continues to relate to us his presence: the HOLY Spirit.

Christianity which genuinely reveals the sanctifying work of God

J. C. Ryle, a nineteenth-century Bishop of Liverpool, was right: “We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world. . . . Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer’s sin, he does more—he breaks its power (; ; ; ; ).”1 My fear is that as we rightly celebrate, and in some quarters rediscover, all that Christ has saved us from, we are giving little thought and making little effort concerning all that Christ has saved us to. Shouldn’t those most passionate about the gospel and God’s glory also be those most dedicated to the pursuit of godliness? I worry that there is an enthusiasm gap and no one seems to mind. - DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Locations 121-127). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Locations 121-127). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Holiness is a state of being before it is the activity of doing.

App:

(1) Be sure that you have believed upon Jesus Christ. He is God's ultimate message to you. This “holy” God requires holiness to be in his presence. Jesus Christ, the holy God, took your sin so you could have this holiness.

When God saves us by the righteousness of Christ, he saves us so that we too should be marked by righteousness. As J. I. Packer put it, “In reality, holiness is the goal of our redemption. As Christ died in order that we may be justified, so we are justified in order that we may be sanctified and made holy.”2 - DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Locations 312-315). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Locations 312-315). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

(2) Intentionally study the life of Christ - asking questions, "How does Jesus reveal that he is God in this passage?"

(3) Living a holy life requires that you willingly yield to the Holy Spirit. How? , ,

One reason God’s holy people do not pursue holiness is that they have not yet been born again by the Holy Spirit. - DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Location 218). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Location 218). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Holiness is a state of being before it is the activity of doing.

Manifest holy living in your physical passions (internally and outwardly)

Manifest holy living in Christian brotherhood ()

Manifest holy living toward the unbelieving world.

As A. W. Tozer put it, “Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no difference to God either, and it is an easily observable fact that for countless numbers of persons the change from no-faith to faith makes no actual difference in the life.”10 - DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Locations 221-223). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

App:

Proposition #1: Because God is incomparably holy , He justly requires holiness from men.

DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Kindle Locations 221-223). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

(2) Intentionally study the life of Christ - asking questions, "How does Jesus reveal that he is God in this passage?"

(3) Living a holy life requires that you willingly yield to the Holy Spirit. How? , ,

Illustration:

The Holy Spirit is the treasure we often forget that we have been entrusted with. This year when I put on my winter coat for the first time, I found something in my pocket. It was 2 Visa gift cards for a total of $200.00.

Concluding Thoughts:

Thus:

(1) We conclude that God is more holy than we ever thought

(2) He has manifested this holiness, most notably in Jesus Christ

(3) He has empowered us by His Spirit to live a holy life that reflect Who He is

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 229: Drifting from Holiness

DRIFTING FROM HOLINESS

Topics: Compromise; Holiness; Self-control; Spiritual Disciplines; Tolerance

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:1–10

People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.