Living In Holiness Series

“LIVING IN HOLINESS” Psalm 15

FBCF – 6/15/25

Jon Daniels

INTRO – “Living in Holiness” – When you think of holiness, what comes to your mind? Maybe your idea of holiness is like the sweet family I saw eating in lobby of hotel in Dallas this week – dad, mom, 3 boys from Deridder, LA – mom was wearing a very plain dress that went below her knees – no makeup – hair pulled up into a bun on back of her head in a black “prayer cap.” Most likely Mennonites.

Maybe your thoughts about holiness center around a bunch of things you can’t do. Depending on which group you are a part of, the list of prohibitions might include drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco. We Baptists have been known to say it this way: “We don’t drink or smoke or chew or go w/ girls who do.” Might also add to your list of “no-no’s” – no dancing, no mixed swimming (When I was a kid at Lake Forest Ranch), no going to the movies (got yelled at going into movie theater in B’haven), no listening to certain types of music (always thought it was funny that rock & roll music got such a bad rap but country music didn’t, even though you could clearly understand the country song about cheating on your wife or husband or getting drunk w/ your buddies a lot better than the rock & roll song), no wearing caps in church (Shane Everett of Shane & Shane), no working on Sunday, no preaching w/out a tie on, & the list goes on & on. Folks who see holiness in this light tend to get real Pharisaical & judgmental.

Maybe you think of some type of moral or religious perfection when you think of holiness. Since deep in your heart you know that perfection in this life is unattainable, then you tend to believe that living in holiness is also unattainable. Jon Bloom: “In our ongoing battles with sin, God is not looking for perfect, externally performed behavior or perfect, internally performed motivation from us. God is looking for love and faith, knowing full well both will be imperfect, no matter how much we grow in them.” (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lay-aside-the-weight-of-perfection) Still some folks equate holiness w/ perfectionism.

But no matter what your thoughts about holiness, one thing is abundantly clear: The Bible talks a lot about holiness & the necessity of living in holiness for all those who belong to Jesus. The word “holy” in various forms occurs more than 600 times in the Bible. OT book of Leviticus devoted to subject of holiness, & the teaching of holiness is woven throughout the entire Bible.

- Leviticus 11:44 – “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”

- 1 Peter 1:14-16 – “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Back to “Life Songs” series – “Living in Holiness.” Today is Father’s Day but doesn’t mean I’m preaching to the dads only today – that they’re the only ones who need to be living in holiness. But I’ll say this: When dad is striving to live & walk in holiness, it has a huge impact on the rest of the family. And when he’s NOT striving to live & walk in holiness, it also has a huge impact on the rest of the family.

EXPLANATION – Psalm 15 (& Psalm 24:3-6)

David wrote 75 of the 150 Psalms, & Psalm 15 & 24 both written by him. David was known as the “man after God’s own heart” who loved the Lord w/ a deep, passionate love. He also had a deep love for God’s Word. And he was also an imperfect man who sinned greatly by committing adultery w/ Bathsheba & having her husband murdered. He showed deep, true repentance for his sins w/ a heart that was pointed toward God. Set a great example for us in so many ways – how to live for the Lord – how to respond to the Lord after we’ve sinned – how to praise & worship God deeply & authentically.

In these 2 Psalms, David expressed a deep desire to stand, walk & live in God’s presence by asking questions:

- 15:1a – “Who may sojourn in your tent?” – Idea of an intimate visit to enjoy fellowshipping w/ God.

- 15:1b – “Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” – More permanent than 1st question. Drawing closer to the Lord. As if David is saying, “Who may be received as a guest into God’s tent, enjoying all the protections of His hospitality? Who may live as a citizen in His holy hill?”