Sermon Central
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True Holiness
Contributed by Scott Carroll on May 21, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: describes holiness as the scripture does. True holiness comes from the Holy Spirit
TRUE HOLINESS
5/21/2011
“Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and . . . put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NKJV).
*** Man does not have the ability to produce holiness.
John 1:12 says: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:5
*** It is God Who saves us and makes us holy
*** We cannot add to God's holiness or righteousness by our own works.
*** The Spirit of God in us will bear fruit in good works, but it is not according to God's Word for us to make our list of self-righteous rules, try to add them to His great Salvation, and call it holiness.
*** Holiness comes from God not man
*** People need to be taught to be led by the Spirit of God in them concerning their manner of living.
*** Many saints are kept babies forever, with pastors telling them every thing they should or should not do.
*** The Spirit is given to guide each individual.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (KJV)
*** Some people in their walk with God may do or not do certain things, and other people may lay aside other things.
*** Every one will not be exactly alike. (Read Romans chapter 14)
*** In understanding, people need to concentrate on their heart relationship with God and showing His love to others, instead of only concentrating on what they appear to be, which does not necessarily relay the state of their hearts.
*** Holiness is a result of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.
*** Just as we must be born again to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5), so we must pursue holiness, or sanctification, in order to see the Lord.
“Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV).
“Make every effort to live
in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no
one will see the Lord” (NIV).
*** The new birth will have no eternal value unless the born-again person continues to walk by faith and live after the new nature of the Spirit, allowing God to complete the process that began at the new birth.
*** Holiness is not an option: it is a command that we are to implement in all aspects of our lives.
“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (I Peter1:15-16, NKJV).
1. Definition of Holiness.
God is holy; holiness is an essential aspect of His nature.
With respect to Him, it means absolute purity and moral perfection.
With respect to humans, holiness means conformity to the character and will of God.
*** It means thinking as God thinks, loving what He loves, hating what He hates, and acting as Christ would act.
*** It means having the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5).
The Old Testament concept of holiness was “separation from and dedication to.
*** For example, the Sabbath was holy because it was separated from work, travel, and other mundane activities, and dedicated to rest.
*** The Tabernacle vessels were holy because they were separated
from all ordinary use and dedicated solely to sacred use.
*** God commanded His people to be holy (Leviticus11:44; 19:2; 20:7)—separated from all other peoples and dedicated to the worship of the one true God.
*** The Levitical laws separated the Israelites from all other nations in diet, clothing, appearance, farming practices, Sabbath observance, sanitation, and morality.
*** These laws taught a clear distinction between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane (Leviticus 11:47; Ezekiel 22:26).
*** The doctrine of holiness made Old Testament Judaism unique among ancient religious, particularly in its concept of separation and in its linkage of morality with religion.
*** The ceremonial law foreshadowed greater spiritual truths, teaching spiritual principles by physical types(Galatians 3:24-25; Hebrews 10:1).
*** The new covenant abolished ceremonial types, while retaining moral law and spiritual holiness (Colossians 2:16-17).
