HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD

Sermon Title: Holiness unto the Lord

1 Peter 1:14–16 (NKJV)

14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

What do we mean when we say a thing is holy? Look at your Bible and it says, “Holy Bible.” What makes it holy? The land of Israel is called “The Holy Land,” and the city of Jerusalem is called “The Holy City.” Why? There is a quality about all three that they share in common. They all belong to God. The Bible is God’s book; Israel is God’s land; Jerusalem is God’s city. They are all God’s property! That is why they are holy; they belong to God

Now we may think that we are Holy. That we have arrived and are just waiting for the Lord to take us home to glory.....

BUT....

There are also many trees appear to be healthy when we see them in summer. But, in the winter, after their leaves have all fallen off, we sometimes find that hidden underneath was a plant called mistletoe, which had been slowly sucking away some of the tree’s vitality.

We as Christians sometimes have hidden sins, that we have tucked away for no one to see, which—like the mistletoe—slowly suck away our spiritual vitality. Although not always evident in times of outward spiritual health and fruitfulness, we must always examine ourselves for those small, often unseen, parasites of sinful habits that will sap our vitality. And we must also remember that just because they are not apparent now does not mean that in another season of our life God will not reveal them for all to see. Be sure, that your sin will find you out!

I. THE PROMISES OF HOLINESS

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved …” (2 Cor. 7:1).

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The promises of Holiness are conditioned on our consecration. Holiness is what God does and consecration is what we do as we are in this partnership with God. We find these conditions of the Promises in.....

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 (NKJV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

A. People—v. 14. Don’t join with those who are not Christians.

B. Partners—v. 15. How can there be harmony between the sinner and the Christian?

C. Person—v. 16. Live differently than the sinner.

D. Purity—v. 17. Don’t be part of the unclean things of the world.

E. Promise—v. 18. God will be our Father, and we will be His sons. The Christian is not better than the sinner—he’s different.

II. THE PURITY OF HOLINESS

“… Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit …” (2 Cor. 7:1). Sins of the flesh (Gal. 5:19–21).

A. Sexual sins

1. Adultery—Exod. 20:14; Matt. 5:28.

2. Seduction

4. Lust

B. Separating sins

1. Idolatry—Exod. 20:1–5.

2. Witchcraft—1 Sam. 15:23; Exod. 22:18.

3. Hatred—Matt. 5:22–24; 1 John 3:15.

6. Anger—James 1:19. Anger is not of God.

7. Slandering—

8. Gossip

9. False teaching

C. Selfish sins

1. Envy—Exod. 20:17. Contentment is necessary for Christians.

2. Murder—Exod. 20:13; 1 John 3:15.

3. Drunkenness—1 Cor. 6:10; Prov. 20:1; 23:29–32.

Now whens I think about the purity of holiness, I think about the prophet Isaiah and how through his broken-ness that He became usable and fit for service for the kingdom of God.....

Paul says this in 2 Timothy 2:20-21.....

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work (2 Timothy 2:20–21).

Paul’s figure of speech describes a king’s house or a wealthy man’s dwelling. In it are vessels of gold, silver, wood, and earth, all of which are illustrative of people in the church—some honorable, some dishonorable. A distinction is made between the comparative lasting value of gold and silver, vessels over the more perishable wood and clay ones. There is also the beauty of gold and silver compared to wood and clay. The text speaks of sanctified vessels, further described as honorable, and the process by which this sanctification takes place.

*Show picture of Japan-Broken equals beautiful*

Vessels that Are Separated

We are vessels that are to be seperated from worldly things

Vessels that Are Sanctified

The Apostle Paul prays an interesting prayer, which is recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can a cleansing or sanitizing of a human being be more all-inclusive than that which takes in spirit, soul and body? The thoroughness of this sanctification is so effective as to render the believer “blameless” before God. No wonder that Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8).

We must not forget that the separation from the world of sin is an act on our part. But the work of sanitizing and cleansing the human heart is an act of God.

Vessels Equipped for a Purpose

The Scripture says that these honorable and sanctified vessels are useful to the Master.

Who will use these gold and silver vessels? Who is to receive glory from the utility of any or all of their gifts? The answer is, the Master. The word master speaks of an absolute ruler who requires the submission of our entire volitional nature. That sanctified vessel is anxious also to do the whole will of the Master. Such a vessel becomes a usable, pliable, and delightful tool with no purpose but to be used of the Master. It is consecrated.

The Beauty of the Vessels

The language here is expressive of ornamentation, beauty, and attractiveness when it speaks of vessels of gold and silver. We read a special command in Psalm 29:2: Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

God created our world and other worlds so massively beyond our comprehension that all we can do is strain our minds in thinking about the greatness of God. But God’s creation of worlds holds no comparison with the greatness of His plan of salvation, which provides for the redemption of men—His created vessels.

May we, as His chosen vessels, not grieve the Holy Spirit by failing to avail ourselves of that beauty of holiness so generously provided by a loving heavenly Father.

III. THE PERFECTION OF HOLINESS

“… Perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).

A. Perfecting Holiness isn’t saying that we are sinless. But that Christ is cultivated in us in such a way a way that our desires, motives and inclination is bent more toward righteousness then it is toward sinfulness.

Adam Clarke says “it’s getting the whole mind of Christ brought into the soul”

1. It’s Resisting and avoiding sin, in all its inviting and seducing forms.

2. It’s Setting the fear of God before our eyes, that we may dread his displeasure, and abhor whatever might excite it, and whatever might provoke him to withhold his manna from our mouth.

Sanctifying grace is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that changes us so that our lives are increasingly conformed to the mind of Christ. John Wesley called this lifelong process sanctification or becoming “perfected in love.”

Sanctifying grace draws us toward Christian perfection, which Wesley described as a heart "habitually filled with the love of God and neighbor" and as "having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked."

APPLICATION

What if all of God’s people were truly Holy as He is Holy and we loved God each other with pure hearts and minds? Can you imagine the difference it would make in our lives?

What is the evidence of God’s Holiness that is displayed in your own life? Does your attitudes and actions show the you are Holy as God is Holy?