Yahweh-Mekoddishkem
God By Name • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
We have been studying through the theme “God By Name” wherein we have been examining God’s name found in different forms throughout the O.T. and today we find ourselves looking at “Yahweh-Mekoddishkem” (mekod-diskim).
This is name is found in two different places in the Old Testament, Exodus 31:13 and Leviticus 20:8.
13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.
The word “sanctification” is also translated as “holy” and means set apart but what does that mean “The LORD Who Sets Us Apart?”
Have you ever notice that our bibles are called “Holy Bibles” or how the land of Israel was called the “Holy Land” or even how Jerusalem is called “The Holy City?”
What do these all have in common…they were set apart to belong to God.
What an honor it is then, as God’s chosen people, to be his “holy nation.”
But how does that happen, how are we sanctified or made holy?
God sanctifies us or makes us holy first through…
Healing
Healing
Christ’s Wounds.
Christ’s Wounds.
From the first book of the Bible to the last book of the Bible we read and find scripture depicting “wounds” the Messiah would suffer (O.T.) and did suffer (N.T.).
Whether it be Genesis 3:15 talking about the “bruise his heel” would endure” or Revelation 5:6 talking about the “Lamb standing as though it had been slain” we find references to the “wounds” the Messiah would endure.
26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.
31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.
There is no doubt God the Son who became flesh endured many “wounds” for you and I.
However, we find here in this idea a paradox wherein the Messiah’s wound actually produces our healing.
Our Health.
Our Health.
You see when Christ, the unblemished lamb of God, was wounded it was for the purpose of making all those sick with sin healthy again.
What a paradox indeed yet Peter wonderfully explains this very thing in 1 Peter 2:23-24.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
The word “wounds” here is actually in the singular not the plural and it specifically speaking of the flogging Jesus endured as read in Matthew 27:26 where the many wounds were so severe it looked like one singular wound.
Peter, of course, is simply relaying that which had been prophesied 800 years earlier by Isaiah.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Jesus, the Christ, heals us from our sins through the washing of regeneration.
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Summary
Summary
God sanctifies us or makes us holy through the healing of our soul by way of Christ’s wound.
If Christ was willing to be wounded for us “his enemies” at the that time how much more should we be willing to put everything on the line for our Lord & Savior?
God not only sanctifies us or makes us holy through healing but also through…
Obedience
Obedience
God’s Righteousness.
God’s Righteousness.
Again throughout God’s holy writ there are passages after passages that point this truth out.
137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules.
4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.
There is no doubt that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are righteous but what does that have to do with “our sanctification or holiness?”
The reality is, it has everything to do with it.
There is no righteousness for us without God being righteous which means our righteousness is directly tied to God’s.
So what about…
Our Righteousness.
Our Righteousness.
Your righteousness and my righteousness is based on our conformity to the holiness of God through obedience.
Peter declared in 1 Peter 1:14-19…
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
God’s righteousness or holiness created an avenue by which we could be found holy in the sight of God.
That avenue was Jesus’ sacrifice and our obedience to the holy and merciful action.
With an obedient heart we are sanctified or made holy.
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
Summary
Summary
God sanctifies us or makes us holy through the healing of our soul by way of Christ’s wound and God’s holiness paved the way for such, leading us to holiness by way of an obedient heart committed to the Bible.
Let us seek holiness by way of the standard, God’s holiness.
God not only sanctifies us or makes us holy by way of Jesus’ wound and our obedience but searching the scriptures we find there is but one reason behind all of it which is…
Love
Love
God Is Love.
God Is Love.
There is no more a pure statement than that which we find, “God is love.”
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
This unequaled truth bears an interesting reality when it comes to our sanctification or holiness.
As already seen God has done everything he can to bring about our holiness because he loves us and this love…
Demands Reverence.
Demands Reverence.
To love someone is to revere them.
The word revere means to “honor and admire profoundly and respect fully.” 1
The more we learn about God’s love the more love we have for him and the more reverence we recognize and give toward our God.
This reverence for God not only leads us to sanctification or holiness but keeps us holy as well.
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
Summary
Summary
God sanctifies us or makes us holy through the healing of our soul by way of Christ’s wound, God’s holiness paved the way for this by leading us to holiness through an obedient heart committed to the the word of Christ, and this love shown motivates us to holiness.
How can we study and see everyday the love of God so clearly and not revere and adore him.
How can we see this each and everyday and not want to stay holy to be with our God for eternity.
It’s these things that allow us to be sanctified or holy but none of that is possible we don’t…
Yield
Yield
Jesus’ Restraint.
Jesus’ Restraint.
The word yield, in context, means “to relinquish one’s possession of (as a position of advantage or point of superiority).”
Jesus is the perfect example of yielding or “relinquishing one’s position” in humility.
Jesus humbled himself by giving up heaven, coming to this physical earth, and dying on a tree he created.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus, God the Son, humbly washed his own creations feet!
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus, deity in the flesh, entered “his holy city” humbly upon the back of a donkey.
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
The amount of restraint or humility it took for God to do this is mind boggling.
Again, what does have to with us being sanctified or made holy by God?
Yes, God has made every provision possible for us to be holy it is up to us to have the proper attitude of yielding to God.
In other words…
We Must Have Restraint.
We Must Have Restraint.
Seeing Jesus yield and come to this earth for “my sanctification” should have an absurd impact on our yielding to the will of God.
If that wasn’t enough we read…
Yielding to God grants us God’s grace.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Yielding to God grants us exaltation from God.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The point is our God has given us every reason and some to show restraint concerning our ego and live hidden in Christ.
Summary
Summary
God sanctifies us or makes us holy through the healing of our soul by way of Christ’s wound, God’s holiness paved the way for this by leading us to holiness through an obedient heart committed to the the word of Christ, and this love shown motivates us to holiness.
Through yielding to God and humbling ourselves we can not only become sanctified but stay holy as well.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Thanks be to our God whom we are here to worship today that we, who have obeyed the gospel and are walking in the light, have been justified and thus sanctified, set apart, and made holy by the Ancient of Days.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Endnotes
Endnotes
Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003.
Ibid