Nothing In Between Series

American Idols – 4 “Nothing in Between”

Ps 14:1

1The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary gives this definition: “In Scripture the ‘fool’ primarily is the person who casts off the fear of God and thinks and acts as if he could safely disregard the eternal principles of God’s righteousness.”

“How much more of a fool is the man that says there is a God and doesn’t act on it, rather than the man that says there is no God?”

It is because we know of God, but don’t know God.

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As Paul said in Acts 20:26-27 –“ I am not going to be guilty before God to not declare unto you the full council of God.”

So today we are going to investigate God’s word concerning Holiness – Holiness is intimidating and misunderstood.

What do you think of when you here the word Holy?

• Clothes?

• Holy Water – not supported in Scripture and started by the catholics in the 4th century.

• Rules - Regulations

• No life - Boring

• Feel like a cat on a leash

Webster: Holiness is associated with a divine power – form of Godliness but no power…

Holman: HOLY - A characteristic unique to God’s nature which becomes the goal for human moral character.

Is Holiness our Goal, that which we are striving for?

Leviticus 19:2

”…Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.”

Ephesians 1:4

”… we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NIV)

7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Hebrews 12:14 (English Standard Version)

14Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (New International Version)

7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

1. Holiness is: Nothing in Between.

Wh0000000000000000000000000000000000000000at is Holiness?

• Power.

• Purity – not outward appearance but heart!

• Transparency – nothing to hide.

• Striving for perfection (Not perfection).

• To have no will of my own - Humility –

• It is being a peacemaker at all costs.

Exodus 3 - Moses

• When Moses yielded and removed the barrier God used him greatly. – Knew of God – until he removed the barrier could he come close to God.

• Holiness is removing the barriers of Sin and disobedience.

• Sin and Compromise separates and distances us from God

2. Holiness is a process, not a destination.

As Christ followers we should do all we can to grow everyday.

To go beyond the experience of accepting what Jesus did for us.

Hebrews 6:1 (AMP)

1THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (Strive for Perfection kjv) advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,

Salvation is the believer, caught in between what God has begun and what God is yet to complete.

Philippians 1:6 (King James Version)

6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

“Salvation is instantaneous but it is also progressive.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (King James Version)

23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation and Holiness is almost interchangeable.

By faith are we saved, yet the manifestation of our salvation is fulfilled when we God says “enter in”

1 Peter 1:9

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Revelation 12:10

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Salvation and Holiness is a process that brings us to a destination. Living in Sin is a process that brings us to a destination too.

Philippians 2:12

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

James 2:19-20 (New Living Translation)

19Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! 20Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?