Pefecting Holiness

Perfecting Holiness - Scripture reading: 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1

Friday, September 23, 2016

10:29 AM

Check out Dr. Alan Brown's ideas on perfecting holiness.

Introduction

The term "holiness" has probably been one of the most widely defined words amongst the Christian church in particular, and the world in general.

The three most popular definitions are:

the state of being holy.

"a life of holiness and total devotion to God"

a title given to the Pope, Orthodox patriarchs, and the Dalai Lama, or used in addressing them.

noun: Holiness; plural noun: Holinesses

denoting a Christian renewal movement originating in the mid 19th century among Methodists in the US, emphasizing the Wesleyan doctrine of the sanctification of believers.

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=holiness&oq=holiness+&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60j69i65j0j69i60j0.10859j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

But what do we mean by the word "holiness?" There are several different ways to approach a definition, but one of the best ways we as Christian's can define holiness is to study the life of Jesus.

Jesus is the full and final revelation of what God wants us to understand about holiness as it applies to us. We cannot be any more holy than Jesus, so I think it is safe to say that "The Fruit of Holiness" is Christlikeness.

But what about Holiness? In our text this morning Paul is admonishing his readers to "perfect holiness." He is talking to Christians who are already holy. It is not talking to unbelievers or people who need to be saved, might I even add I don't believe he is talking to Christians who were unsanctified.

This word, "perfecting" is a present participle, that just simply means it is a continous activity. Paul is telling these Corinthian saints of their need to make continual progress IN holiness, they are to become more and more like Jesus.

When Moses was in on the backside of the desert in Exodus 3 and sees the burning bush and hears the voice tell him to take his shoes off he was on holy Ground, we are shown five elements that give us the Biblical concept of HOLY.

In order for anything to be holy, it must be connected to the Source of holiness – God.

All holiness finds its origin and source in God alone.

Nothing is holy in a biblical sense until it is connected to the origin and source of holiness—God himself.

There is no holiness independent of His holiness.

The holiness of persons, things, days, and places is derived and sustained only by being in a special relationship with the holy God.

In order for anything to be holy, it must be separated from the common or ordinary. That which is holy is separated unto God as His possession.

When God brought His redeemed people to Mt. Sinai, God said to them, “You shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people … a holy nation” (Exod. 19:5‐6).

We now come to the fourth element of holy.

To be holy, requires that I be separated from all that is sinful or defiles. To be holy, I must obey God’s Word.

A holy person is a person who is obedient to Scripture. You can't knowingly be violating the Word of God, and say, "I am holy." It's a contradiction of terms.

So what is holiness? I think the simplest explanation of holiness as seen in the life of Jesus is "separation."

Holiness (or sanctification) begins the moment you are born again, you should from that moment grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

There comes a moment somewhere along your Christian walk, individually determined by your exposure to truth, your background, your understanding of scripture, that the Holy Spirit will show you the need for heart cleansing, subsequent to being born again. This is what 1 Thessalonians 5:23 calls being sanctified entirely. Entire sanctification is “entire” in that it involves every part of you: spirit, soul, and body. After you are entirely sanctified God is able to preserve you blameless (not faultless) from God’s point of view, because He’s looking upon your motives, and your desires, and knows the thoughts of your heart. Other people can only see the outward responses, but God sees the intent of the heart.

After you’re entirely sanctified, you are better able to hear what the Spirit would say to you and to see what the Spirit would have you see and grow and develop in the fruits of the Spirit and mature as you ought to mature (Heb. 5:11‐6:1). This is why it is so crucial that we have our hearts cleansed completely from the self‐centeredness which we inherited from Adam after he sinned (Psa. 51:5; Isa. 53:6).

After we are entirely sanctified, we continue to grow in Christlikeness – that is the fruit of holiness.

ith this background, we come to the fact that the life of holiness is grounded in God’s promise

With all of this I now want to focus briefly on three things from this text I have read this morning -

The Life of Holiness is Founded on God's PromisesThe Life of Holiness is Furthered by Heart PurityThe Life of Holiness is Fostered by a Process

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NET1)

1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves[1] from everything that could defile the body[2] and the spirit, and thus accomplish[3] holiness out of reverence for God.[4]

The Life of Holiness is Founded on God's Promises 7:1

A. We have an Identity to Recognize (6:16)

“You are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:16). God wants us to learn our identity and start thinking of ourselves as a spiritual temple. Have you seen the large cathedrals in a city that tower up out of the city? In some cities the most prominent landmark is this huge cathedral or church. God wants you to understand that you are that beautiful representative as a temple – walking down the sidewalk, going into the stores, driving on the highways. You are not your own. You are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19). God lives in you. You must view yourself as what you are. God wants us to think of ourselves as this beautiful representative. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. People ought to be seeing something of God in you.

1. In this Temple, God is Resident

He said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them.” He is resident. He resides. Are you cognizant of the fact of whether you feel it or not, whether you are emotionally aware of it or not, if you are a born again Christian, God is in your life. He is resident.

2. In this Temple, God is President

Not only is God resident, but he resides as president. I want to talk about the concept of his presidency. I am not separating His salvation and His Lordship, but as you walk with God there should be a dawning awareness of what it means for God to be God. He has the right to make all of the decisions. For me to have reservations in my loyalty and love to Him is not allowing Him the right of way in my life that He deserves as God.

We not only have an identity to recognize, but we have an incompatibility to maintain.

B. We have an Incompatibility to Maintain (6:14‐15)

Because we are the temple of God, and because God dwells in us, we need to recognize that there are incompatibilities that must be recognized and maintained. In verse seventeen we read: “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing.” (2 Cor. 6:17) We have an incompatibility to maintain.

There are four incompatibilities mentioned in our passage.

1. Righteousness and Unrighteousness are Incompatible (6:14)

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”(2 Cor. 6:14)

Righteousness and unrighteousness are incompatible. What is righteousness?

Righteousness is a measuring term. Have you ever used a ruler? Why do you use a ruler? You use it to determine the exact length of what you are working with.

Righteousness is measuring up to God’s Word. When you obey the Word of God, that obedience is termed righteousness.

When you are in a right relationship with God, that obedience is termed righteousness. If you aren’t in a right relationship what you do is not righteous.

It is unrighteous because you are unrighteous. Isaiah teaches us that in reference to sinners, “all of our righteousness is as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). The term righteousness is applied only to people who are born‐again.

What uniting of common interests can a righteous person have with a sinner? There is a basic incompatibility between the righteous and the unrighteous. We must always side with and choose for righteousness.

What Belongs to Christ and What Belongs to Satan are Incompatible (6:15)

“What concord hath Christ with Belial?” (2 Cor. 6:15) Belial is the devil in this reference.

Light and Darkness are Incompatible (6:14)

“What communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14)

4. Believers and Unbelievers are Incompatible (6:15)

“What part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Cor. 6:15)

What is the point of these incompatibilities? These principles demand that we separate ourselves from anything that will keep God from exercising His Lordship in our lives or we will mar His control in our lives.

The continuance of your relationship with God, looking at verses 17‐18, as a born again believer and as sons and daughters depends on this radical severance with anything associated with unrighteousness, darkness, or uncleanness.

Notice verse 17. He will receive us if we meet the conditions stated: “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing…” And verse 18 says, “And I will be a Father unto you, and you will be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

The life of holiness, the call to be Christlike in every area is grounded upon God’s promises to us. God has made us some beautiful promises in this passage.

II. The Life of Holiness is Furthered by Complete Heart Purity

2 Cor. 7:1: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Holiness is furthered by complete heart purity. Heart purity began when you were born again and develops as you walk in the light. Since this passage is written to Christians, Paul is calling for Christians to allow God to cleanse their heart and life of any remaining impurity.

B. There are Distinct Areas that Must be Cleansed

“From all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Cleansing of the flesh calls for self‐denial personal discipline.

Cleansing of the spirit calls for a death to self‐centeredness and a thorough cleansing of ego‐centricity.

III. A Life of Holiness is Sustained by a Process

2 Cor. 7:1: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

I want to say to everyone that is hungering and thirsting after God: do not buy into a wrong conception. Do not believe that entire sanctification is an automated process that will automatically work on its own. It is not automatic. Entire sanctification involves the purifying and strengthening of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ that was begun at the new birth. After one is entirely sanctified, that relationship must be continually nurtured, developed, and grown.

What is the meaning of perfecting holiness? “Perfecting” is a present active participle, indicating an ongoing, continuous activity. That means we must keep on perfecting holiness— meaning we must continue to grown and produce the fruit of Christlikeness.

The motivation, after you are entire sanctified, to continue development in holiness, is the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1). There is a life‐long process of perfecting holiness.

What is the fear of God?

1. I am to Adopt God’s Attitude toward Sin

You need to learn Proverbs 8:13 – “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” f you don’t have a proper hatred for evil, you don’t have the fear of the Lord.

2. I am to Maintain the Fear of the Lord All Day Long

“Let not your heart envy sinners but be in the fear of the Lord.” (Proverbs 23:17) The fear of the Lord is a deterrent to sin. When you feel yourself being attracted to wrong things you should pray, “O God if I really hated sin like I should hate sin, the attractiveness of this thing would lose its attractiveness.” How many believe that? I know people who grew up in a drunkard’s home and they hate alcohol with a passion. They are not being tempted. The antidote is asking God to develop in you a growing fear of God. It is God I want to adopt your attitude towards sin. Help me to hate it. Increase the fear of the Lord until I hate sin. “By the fear of the Lord men and women depart from iniquity.”

3. The Fear of the Lord is Demonstrated by Obedience to All of God’s Commandments

The fear of the Lord must be actively chosen. Proverbs 1:29, “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.”

The fear of the Lord must be taught. Psalms 34:11, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” 2 Kings 17:28, “Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.” Psalms 86:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”

“Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves,” let’s take availability of the cleansing blood and the cleansing Word, “from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness,” (Christlikeness), with the motivating factor of “the fear of the Lord.”

I have found that when we want to perfect Holiness, the Lord gives guidance and help. I hope that this has helped someone this morning. Don't be trapped by the temptations of Satan, and don't be discouraged by his suggestions of failure, and shortcomings, and whatever else he lies to you about, You are God's child and he will guide you and help you on this journey.

This sermon was compiled from Dr. Alan Brown's Doctrine of Holiness Class Lectures Tape 1 & 10 5/7/2017 7:58 AM

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