Called to be Holy

Preparing for resurrection Sunday.

We have looked at the holiness of God and the depravity of man. This is all to show us our need for a savior.

What about after we know Jesus? How are we called to live?

We are going to be speaking about the call of Holiness today. To live rightly for God.

Remembering that living rightly doesn’t save us, but this is how God expects us to conduct ourselves in this world.

The Call Of Holiness

1 Peter 1:13-16

God has called us.

Imperfect as we are, detestable sinners daily breaking His rules. God calls us to Himself to be His special possession.

He saved us by His marvelous grace alone and calls us to live now as obedient children.

Though we have a sinful nature, God calls us to be holy, as He is holy.

Just as God is transcendent, He is far greater than anything in this world. Far more majestic than anything we could want or expect.

God calls us to be set apart from this world. We should not be sucked into the same sins that this world gets sucked into.

Being Set Apart

Exodus 19:5-6

Exodus 19:5–6 ESV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

They were called to be a special possession. Set apart from the rest of the world.

Directly after this God gives the people the 10 commandments, then later he would give them other laws.

Rules to live by that will separate them vastly from the nations around them.

Showing the God whom they serve was far different than the gods of the surrounding nations.

That was the point of civil law and ceremonial law.

As believers, we are still called to live set apart.

Peter here is writing to both Jew and gentile Christians who are suffering persecution.

Peter reminds them that just as Israel lived as exiles in Babylon, we are exiles in this world.

Wandering and waiting for our eternal home.

In this passage Peter is reminding them of the same things that God stated in Exodus.

That they are a holy people here in this world. Set apart for God.

LIVE LIKE IT!!

Exodus 19:9-11

Exodus 19:9–11 ESV

9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

God is getting ready to meet with them. What are they called to do?

To dedicate oneself for a holy use.

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We are not to be conformed to this world.

Our minds must be transformed from the way that the world thinks, to what God desires of us.

Why Are We Set Apart?

Because our God is Holy.

We are called to be different than the rest of the world.

To demonstrate our hope is not in ourselves, but in God.

The Bride

Jeremiah 2:1-2

Jeremiah 2:1–2 ESV

1 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

The imagery is the love between a husband and a wife.

It didn’t change in the new covenant

Ephesians 5:25-27

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

The command is for a husband to love his wife. But the example that is used is how Jesus loved His bride, the church.

We are to be set apart, for we are the love of Jesus, He is cleaning us with the word.

We must do our part in loving and living for Him.

The Temple

The idea of the temple is that God may dwell among His people.

This began with the garden of Eden where God walked with Adam in the garden.

Then they were called to build a temple

2 Chronicles 7:1-2

2 Chronicles 7:1–2 ESV

1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.

The glory of God, filled the temple.

The priests couldn’t enter because of the holiness of God.

This was the purpose of the tabernacle and the temple.

That there would be a holy place that God may dwell with His people.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Once again, we are the temple now of the Holy Spirit.

God in the Old Covenant’s dwelt among them in the Temple, he said they must be holy for He walked among them.

Now God tabernacles or dwells within us.

This is why we are called to be holy for God has made his home in our lives.

Paul Goes on in v.20

SO GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY!!

What If We Aren’t Set Apart?

What about when the people of God, don’t follow the commands of God.

What happens when one who is supposed to be holy, isn’t.

Ezekiel 36:23

Ezekiel 36:23 ESV

23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Because of the actions of Israel. The name of God was profaned among the nations.

God had called them to be holy, to be set apart.

Because they weren’t set apart. God was mocked.

Romans 2:24

Romans 2:24 ESV

24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

When we don’t follow the call of God. Unbelievers blaspheme His glorious name!

2 Peter 2:2

2 Peter 2:2 ESV

2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Many will follow what they want to do.

Live in a way contrary to God.

Exploiting people.

Because they desired to do what they want. God will be blasphemed.

I don’t want to be the reason God is blasphemed.

Our Holy, good, awesome God who has poured out His grace and mercy on us.

Do we want to be the reason that people hate Him?

Ephesians 4:24

Ephesians 4:24 ESV

24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Put on the new self.

Live for God that He might be glorified in us.

So as we approach the holiday that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord; consecrate yourselves.

Examine your life.

Are you different from the rest of the world.

Are you living in a way that God is glorified, or that God is blasphemed?