We believe in Holiness of life & conduct in obedience to the command of God
Doctrine • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
Morning
my name is Stuart Vickers, i’m the senior pastor here at Restore Church in Boston, England. As a church we are here to restore people, Spiritually, Physically, emotionally & Relationally to God.
We are family, if you have been here physically or are with us online you are now family & we welcome you.
Today we take a break from our series on Esther, for such a time as this, to dip back into our Doctrine series to look at what we believe as a church, which we do every 3 months.
Today
We believe in holiness of life and conduct in obedience to the command of God.
1 Pet. 1:14-16
Heb. 12:14
1 Thess. 5:23
1 John 2:6
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
God alone is holy, objects or persons can be classed as holy only by participation in His Holiness. When we are brought into relationship with God, His holiness creates holiness in us in a purifying, sanctifying action. God’s holiness makes a stringent demand upon us; we must humble ourselves before Him and become marked with the qualities that mark His own life. Holiness is not an optional extra but as the verse in 1 John says “whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
We need to understand it’s not just about us or me, we so easilyget caught up in the self bubble, but we need to understand we all have responsibilities for others.
I have a responsibility for my family, my church, the people who listen to me online, God has called to a Holy life, how we live matters not just to God but others around us.
the definition of Holiness is being set apart from Sin, my old life the flesh, but also set apart for all that God has called me to.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Part of living a Holy life is to live a life of Grace because of the grace which has been poured out all over us.
The definition of Grace, quite simply it is God’s unmerited favour, we deserve hell but because of God’s grace we receive eternity with God Not hell without him.
Titus 2:11 ‘The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared’
So the law of Holiness is if you are not Holy you will not see God
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
But Grace does not take away the law but fulfills the law. It doesn’t give us an excuse to live how we want but rather it is active love, because of Grace we are able to be Holy. Because of Grace we don’t abandon the law it allows us to fulfill the law even in our imperfection.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Paul emphasises this essential ingredient of holiness in the Christians life when he wrote to the Colossian church in colossians 3:1-4
What is your vision, your focus set on, where are your eyes fixed, is it on this world, all that it offers, all the troubles it brings or is it on God.
My gaze sometimes wanders of God & i see what others are doing, how successful they are, how big there church is, how many facebook likes they had for thier post or tweet on twitter or instagram & it unsettles me, should i be doing what i do, should i be where i am but when my focus is on Him, i know who i am & what i am called to, Colossians 3:5-12
God calls us to be Holy, we need to put away the things of our past, you are not your past, if you were violent your not now a violent Christian, you are a Christian a Christ follower with a new Spirit put within you, you are no longer restrained by who you were, those chains bound you no more, they no longer bind you.
Abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Talk about my past behaviour)
Church isn’t a behaviour modification centre, it’s not a place to tell you your skirts to short, your tops to low, your hairs to long, to short, trousers or jeans to long, those things don’t make you Holy, saying the right things, being on your knees, being on your knees, closing your eyes or not in prayer, praying for 10 minutes or praying for 24 hours a day doesn’t make you Holy.
His Grace poured out for you which you have said thank you for, God’s sacrifice, his willingness to take it all on Himself for you, his Holiness makes you Holy, there’s nothing you can do to earn it, it’s just given.
On many occasions we are told in the New Testament that we are in Christ and Christ is in us. The world is in dire need of people who live out a holy life, to see it demonstrated in their everyday lives. Holiness for Christians is not being perfect, but rather a desire to live lives that are pleasing to God. Christian holiness is separation from sin and separation to God.
This world needs to be true Christ followers not religious, pointing finger but open handed, loving people.
To be holy is the opposite of being “common” or “profane.” God is holy in that He is utterly different and distinct from His creation. His people must also be distinct, separate from the attitudes and actions which characterized them as unbelievers.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
We need to be in the world but not of it.
As we finish, this scripture says abstain, have nothing to do with evil for Jesus came to set us free from that when he went on the cross.
Communion