Holy?

HOLY?—Deuteronomy 26, 29-30 (read 26:16-19)

Deut. 26:19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.
Dt. 7 and 14: you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
Deut. 28:9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.
What we say in baptism of child: holy child
1 Cor. 7:14 (even) the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
Look at most kids: holy terrors! Most adults: holy? Wonder about baptism!
Arrogant, presumptuous? (think you’re better…? Think kids little angels…?)
As adults, sit back, got it made (“Sure, I go to church—I was raised that way”)
Lucky few? (“holier than thou”?) feel good about belonging to such an exclusive group?
Is that how we should think about being holy? You might be surprised!
I. Holy: chosen (set apart) for a noble purpose (29:9-15)
Purpose: Pass on covenant (What is a covenant, anyway?)
Covenant: God reaches out to us with promises…we respond with obedience of faith
Covenant was around long before we were—passed on to us
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob…N.T.
1 Cor. 15:3-4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
saints—lives transformed by gospelàheritage of faith, goodness, family, work
Covenant for us: “that he may be your God”
Intended for children…aliens (employees) “those who are not here today”
1 Peter 2:9 you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
If people (in this part of Magic Valley and beyond) are to know God…
What do they see and hear?…
…at baseball game, somebody’s party, golf course, river or pool or lake
…beauty shop, restaurant, bar…auction, private business dealings, at work
…if come to church: when hit parking lot, at potluck, basketball, meal on Wednesday night
Romans 2:24 As it is written: "God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (sadly…)
2 Cor. 2:14-15 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
What do you want them to see and hear about you?
What do you want to be?
2 Tim. 2:20-21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared