Dedication to Holiness
Lesson 2 from Leviticus
I. Introduction
A. God’s Holiness and Ours
1. Holiness demanded by God
a) Leviticus 11:44 – “…You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
b) 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “…let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
2. Holiness defined
a) The Old Testament word has a primary meaning of pure and devoted.
b) The New Testament word implies separation from sin and dedication to God.
3. Holiness demonstrated in the book of Leviticus
a) Original Hebrew title, “And the Lord Called.”
b) The book is God’s call to His people to access Him, worship Him, and dedicate themselves to Him.
c) Finding fellowship with God by a pure and devoted lifestyle.
B. How Holiness Comes About
1. Three Keys from Leviticus
a) Personal Sacrifices (1-6)
b) Priestly Service (6-10)
c) Personal Purity (11-22)
d) Perpetual Commitment (23-27)
2. Tonight Six Keys to a Devoted and Pure Life – Leviticus 19:1-10
II. Six Keys to a Devoted and Pure Life
A. Following God’s Word (2a)
1. “Speaks to the all the children of Israel, and say to them…”
a) Over 50 times in the book of Leviticus, God spoke directly to Moses or Israel with specific commands.
b) Leviticus 20:8 – “And you shall keep my statutes and perform them. I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”
2. The word of God is that which sets us apart.
a) John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth.”
b) Ephesians 5:26 – “…that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word…”
c) John 15:3 – “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
3. The word of God only sets us apart if we adhere to it.
a) 1 Peter 1:13-15 – “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…”
b) Leviticus 19:37 – “Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments and perform them. I am the Lord.”
c) We are to be doers of the word – James 1:22-23
B. Imitate God’s Character (2b)
1. “…You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
a) Six times in the book of Leviticus declares Himself to be holy – 11:44, 45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26, 21:8
b) We are to imitate God as dear children – Ephesians 5:1
2. Imitating the Holiness of God
a) His name is Holy – Leviticus 20:3, Therefore we are to have a name that is set apart – Proverbs 22:1
b) His character is Holy therefore our character is to be holy – Chapter 18
c) His word is holy therefore our speech is to be holy – 1 Peter 4:11, Ephesians 4:29
d) His judgments are pure and impartial (Galatians 2:6) therefore our judgment is to be pure and impartial (James 2:9)
C. Honor God’s Family (3a)
1. “Everyone of you shall revere his father and his mother…”
a) Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and mother…” (The first commandment dealing with human relationships).
b) Ephesians 6:1-2 – “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother…”
2. God instituted the family.
a) Marriage – Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:5-6
b) Then children – Genesis 1:28, Psalm 127:3-5
c) He then protected it with His commands – Ephesians 5:22-25, 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21, 1 Peter 3:1-7, 2 Corinthians 12:14
D. Worship God Consistently (3b)
1. “…And keep My Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.”
a) God’s Sabbath was a Holy Sabbath – Exodus 20:8
b) God’s Sabbath was to be observed each and every week.
2. Consistent Worship
a) Must be truthful – John 4:24
b) Must be regular – Acts 2:42, 20:7
c) Prepared for – Exodus 19:9-11
d) Sincere and without hypocrisy – 1 Corinthians 11:28
e) Reverent
f) Discerning – 1 Corinthians 11:29
E. Serve God Loyally (4)
1. “Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods, I am the Lord your God.”
a) The very first commandment was to have no other gods – Exodus 20:3-5
b) Jesus confirmed this idea in Matthew 4:10
2. Whatever we put before God, we make our God.
a) Some put money or possession before God – Matthew 6:24, 19:22
b) Others place their own lusts and desires above God – Romans 1:24-25
c) Others place their own importance above God – 3 John 9, Acts 5:1-11
d) Some place their intellect and philosophy above God – Acts 17:21
e) Some allow the cares of the world to occupy the place of God – Matthew 13:22
f) Some place the opinions of man over God – Mark 15:15
3. Remember all that we do is for Him – John 17:4
F. Sacrifice to God Willingly (5)
1. “And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will.”
a) The offerings of Leviticus 1-7 were to be free-will offerings.
b) God never compels us to do anything.
c) However, the love of God motivates us to give of ourselves freely – 2 Corinthians 5:14
2. We are to be living sacrifices – Romans 12:2
a) Giving ourselves first to the Lord – 2 Corinthians 8:5
b) Loving the Lord with all that we have – Mark 12:30
c) Serving the Lord heartily – Colossians 3:23
d) Keeping ourselves pure – James 1:27
e) Giving to God purposefully and cheerfully – 2 Corinthians 9:7
III. Conclusion
A. Without Dedication there is no Sanctification
1. We must be committed to the concept of holiness.
a) Devoted to God in all ways.
b) Separated from sin.
c) Being different from the world.
2. Following the pattern of Jesus – John 4:34
a) Imitating Him – 1 Corinthians 11:1
b) Imitating His Father – Ephesians 5:1
B. Invitation
