Holiness

HOLINESS?

Thesis: Because God is Holy, we must hold onto His gift of holiness which he gave us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Text:

Lev. 19:2

2 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: `Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Lev. 20: 7,8

7 "`Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

Lev. 22:9

9 "`The priests are to keep my requirements so that they do not become guilty and die for treating them with contempt. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.

Lev. 22:32

32 Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

Introduction:

The word holy is used 77 times in Leviticus and implied over 150 times. Morgan states, "The holiness of God shines like a white, fearful light upon the whole book." (51)

Leviticus explains and unveils the holiness of God and why man is apart from Him. Yet, it gives instruction on how to become acceptable to God and therefore, holy.

In Leviticus 19:2 Moses introduces this passage by quoting God: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” For most Christians, “holiness” is a rather mystical and somewhat puzzling term. We’re willing to be holy, but we don’t quite know what holiness is. We know that God is holy. We realize that we are to be holy, as He is. But how are we to be like Him? The laws in Leviticus 19 are an expression of God’s holy character. If we want an insight into the nature of holiness, all we need to do is to meditate on some of these verses, and consider what they tell us about God.

Leviticus explains and unveils the holiness of God and why man is separated from God. He is unholy. But it also gives instruction to mankind on how to repair the separation of God and sinful individuals. In Leviticus it is repaired with a sacrifice to God, which in turn brings temporary relief and gives that person a position of holiness before God. The New Testament itself tells us how to repair the separation between sinful mankind and God. It’s by buying into the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we turn our life over to Jesus we then receive a new standing in the presence of God called holiness.

Quotes on holiness:

Holiness is a state of soul in which all the powers of the body and mind are consciously given up to God."

-- Phoebe Palmer

Billy Graham on revival.

Billy stated, “Evangelism, fine as it is, is not revival.” After a signally successful meeting, Billy Graham was asked, “Is this revival?” Graham replied, “No!” When revival comes, I expect to see two things which we have not seen yet. First, a new sense of the holiness of God on the part of the Christians; and second, a new sense of the sinfulness of sin on the part of Christians.”

T.S.- In our society today many would ask the question, ‘What does holiness mean?” Well lets find out as we explore this term from the Bible and history.

I. What does the term holiness mean?

a. The term means to be sacred – pure in the sight of God who is holy!

i. That which is unholy is profane- evil and can not be in the presence of God.

b. Throughout history men and women have tried to pursue their views of holiness as it relates to their relationship with God Almighty.

i. To better understand this state of being lets discover what holiness is not.

1. From Jewish history and the teaching of the Pharisees we discover that holiness was related to following all the rules and regulations set up by the Jewish leaders.

a. In other words you became holy by following all the 1,000 plus laws in the Torah.

b. Paul fought against such teachings in his New Testament writings.

i. Colossians 2:20-23: 20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

c. These religious leaders wrongly associated holiness with following a bunch of rules and regulations.

i. These people taught and equated holiness with rules about diet, observing festivals, holy days, sexual abstinence and the like.