Holy What Part 3

Holy, What?

Part 3

Philippians 3:12-16 NIV

Thesis - Holiness destroys carnality not humanity.

Sanctification Objective - To cause people to be holy.

            (Read Philippians 3:12-16.)  The question of what as applied to holiness demands, at least, one more answer.  We've answered the questions, what does it mean to be holy? (separated, dedicated, filled) and what does holiness bring to our lives? (power and purity)  This morning I want to answer the question, what won't holiness do for me? 

            I'm going to give you ten things, I'm sure there are more, that holiness won't do for you.

            First,

I.  Holiness won't place you beyond temptation.

A.  “Temptation is possible in the highest state of grace.  Jesus was sinless, yet He was assailed by temptation at the beginning of His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).”  -Donald Metz

B.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  1 Corinthians 9:27

            C.  “Because man's temporal existence is a state of probation, temptation is          always a possibility.”  -Metz

            D.  “... the act of entire sanctification does not isolate a person from temptation.    The power of God can insulate a person from the power of temptation.”  -Metz

            Next,

II.  Holiness won't destroy your free moral agency.

            A.  Men may backslide.

            B.  Men may apostatize.

                        1.  “No person, no power, no thing can separate a soul from God.  But

sin is not a person, power or thing.  It is a choice, an act of the will, an attitude of the soul.  Sin can and will separate the sinning soul from the grace of God.”  -W. T. Purkiser

                        2.  Jude 24, 25

.           Further,

III.  Holiness won't dehumanize you.

            A.  Holiness won't change the personality or remove its flaws.

                        1.  “Sanctification refines and purifies the personality, but it does not                                  endow a person with a different temperament.”  -Donald Metz

                        2. “There is still the power to choose, and there is still the individual                                                personality with all its quirks.  It was apparently differences in personality                          and choice, for example, which caused the sharp contention between Paul                  and Barnabas over John Mark (Acts 15:36-40).”  -Norval Hadley

            B.  Holiness won't make us all alike - John Towle.

            Fourth,

IV.  Holiness won't free you from infirmities.

A.  But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:9 

            B.  Infirmities are due to non-ethical and non-volitional states or actions.

                        1.  “Christian perfection extends chiefly to the will, which is the capital                               moral power of the soul; leaving the understanding ignorant of ten                                                 thousand things.” -Fletcher

                        2.  “The highest perfection which man can attain, while the soul dwells in                                     the body, does not exclude ignorance and error, and a thousand other                               infirmities.”  -John Wesley

3.  A few weeks ago when I was preaching I said Augustine when I meant to say Alexander!

            C.  “Holiness does not eliminate such infirmities as slowness or weakness of       understanding, dullness of perception, illogical and confused reasoning, erratic      imagination or daydreaming, nor absentmindedness.”  -Donald Metz

            D.  “These are the infirmities which are found in the best of men, in a larger          or smaller proportion.  And from these none can hope to be perfectly freed,      till the spirit returns to God that gave it.”  -John Wesley

            Additionally,

V.  Holiness won't free you from trials and afflictions.

            A.  Personal - 1 Peter 4:12, 13

            B.  Physical - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

            C.  Financial

                        1.  Jerusalem saints (2 Corinthians 8, 9)

                        2.  Philippians 4:10-13

            Sixth,

VI.  Holiness won't remove all your doubts.

A.  The songwriter penned an inspirational but incorrect line when he wrote: “All my doubts and fears are gone forever.”

B.  “It can be safely said that the majority of doubts come from sin and unbelief.”  -Donald Metz

            C.  Other doubts come from intellectual and emotional struggles (Job).

            D.  “God's will is that His people live in a state of grace which is not a          perpetual question mark, but a grand affirmation.”  -Donald Metz

            Next,

VII.  Holiness won't deliver you from all fear.

            A. “‘Perfect love casteth out fear’ (that is, fear that results from a wrong heart         relationship to God), but it does not save the Christian from sudden trepidation       when anything startling occurs.  This is instinctive.”  -Norval Hadley

                        1.  Luke 1:28-30

                        2.  Acts 27:23, 24

            B.  “Neither is he saved from the kind of fear that keeps him from jumping off a     high building or touching a hot stove.  These things are not carnal, but are     essential to humanity.”  -Norval Hadley

            Also,

VIII.  Holiness won't make you always giddy with joy.

            A.  Joy is a part of the Spirit-filled life.     

1.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Romans 14:17

                        2.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy … Galatians 5:22

B.  “It is not necessarily a state of perpetual rapturous joy.  There may be times of heaviness, but the holy soul has an indwelling principle of praise (1 Pet. 1:2-9).”  -Norval Hadley

                        1.  Matthew 26:37, 38

                        2. 1 Peter 1:6-9

            Ninth,

IX.  Holiness won't eliminate the need for further spiritual growth (Philippians 3:12-16).

A.  “[Holiness] is a state in which the hindrances to growth are removed and the soul is freed to grow much faster than before, as flowers in the garden grow better             when the weeds are dug out.”  -Norval Hadley

B.  “The quality of holiness is something which does not change, although           the quantity of holiness constantly increases.  To illustrate, the health of a baby enjoying sound physical development would not differ in quality from the health of a 25-year-old man.  Both could enjoy perfect health.  But the quantity, growth, or strength in the case of the man would be vastly superior to that of the baby.  To state it another way, purity should not be confused with maturity.  Purity is the result of an act of the Holy Spirit.  Maturity is the result of growth in grace.” 

-Donald Metz

            Finally,

X.  Holiness won't insure “automatic” victory in your service.

            A.  Love will be our perfect motive for service.   

            B. “Many of Paul's efforts in the Jewish synagogues were without great victory    (Acts 13:44-46).”  -Norval Hadley

            Now to sum up succinctly: Holiness destroys our carnality not our humanity.  As a matter of fact, the holy are the most human of all. 

Portsmouth, RI – 08/01/99

Jackson, MS – 02/02/03

Bangor, ME – 02/01/09