"Separated From the World"

Discussion:

Genesis 12:1–5 KJV 1900

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

How do you think Abram must have felt when God asked him to leave all he has ever known?

In what way is leaving our sinful past like Abram leaving Ur of the Chaldees?

What do you think motivated Abram and how does that compare to our lives?

Genesis 11:31–32 KJV 1900

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Family and going all the way despite of what they do.

The Holiness of God

God is holy (set apart) from everything else.

To live a life in Christ is to live a life that is set apart.

Leviticus 19:1–2 KJV 1900

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.

Which part of the congregation of Israel was commanded to be holy? (verse 2) ___________________________________________________________

Why were the children of Israel commanded to be holy? (verse 2) ___________________________________________________________

Why do you think holiness is a key attribute of God? ___________________________________________________________

Reflecting His Holiness

Being made free from sin, we have fruit unto holiness.

Righteousness and holiness are born of purpose.

We do not seek holiness for its own merits, but rather for fruit in our lives.

Romans 6:20–23 KJV 1900

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What are servants of sin free from? (verse 20) ___________________________________________________________

What is required before we can be assured eternal life? (verse 22) ___________________________________________________________

Why do you think holiness is compared to fruit? ___________________________________________________________

At Odds with the World

Being holy puts us in conflict with an unholy world.

As the world around us separates further from a holy God, we must draw ourselves closer to Him.

1 Peter 2:11–12 KJV 1900

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

What did Peter say that Christians are in this world? (verse 11) ___________________________________________________________

What will Gentiles (unbelievers) say about Christians? (verse 12) ___________________________________________________________

How should we respond when spoken evil of? (verse 12) ___________________________________________________________

Does it feel like your beliefs and lifestyle as a Christian sometimes conflict with society at large? Why do you think that is? ___________________________________________________________

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Our New Identity

God has set us apart and given us a new identity.

We are called to be saints, called out ones (sanctified).

Romans 1:7 KJV 1900

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

1. What have we been called to be? ______________________________________________________________

2. Who are we sanctified in? ______________________________________________________________

3. What name do saints call upon? ______________________________________________________________

4.How should we live as saints? ______________________________________________________________

Closing

How has your daily life changed since you followed Jesus?

Why do you think change begins with a renewing of your mind? (Romans 12:2)