Holiness Colossians 3:1-17
What is Holiness?
It’s been debated, twisted, misunderstood, rejected and frowned upon.
Man has diluted and distorted its true meaning by creating man made doctrines that place emphasis on a person’s outward appearance more than their inward being.
If you have a Christian upbringing, depending on your brand, you were taught the doctrine of holiness more than likely through the eyes of your brand.
I was taught that you basically were never good enough and that you were progressively becoming holy a little at time and when you went to heaven THEN Christ would make you completely holy.
That left us with wondering if we were ever heaven ready.
The only way to understand holiness is to look to the word of God.
Holiness is not about outward appearances although there is outward evidence of inward change.
I believe you should dress modestly but dressing a certain way does not make you holy.
When I am saved Christ makes me holy and righteous.
It’s not a progressive get a little holiness along the way.
I am fully 100% holy through Christ Jesus.
When I am saved I am heaven ready.
Let’s read some scripture.
Hebrews 10:1-18
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[b]
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”[c]
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Washed – to wash away FULLY
Sanctified – to make holy, purify and consecrate.
Justified – to render righteous.
Were – you were/past tense and you still are/present tense.
1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Sanctified – to make holy, purify and consecrate.
Called to be holy – invited and appointed.
Why would God invite me into Holiness and then withhold it from me?
1 Corinthians 1:30
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
We are because He is.
Isaiah 64:6 says that OUR righteous acts/righteousness is like filthy rags.
I can’t be good enough, holy enough, righteous enough and that’s the way God set it up. HE wants me to receive it all from HIM.
Holiness is not a legalistic controlling mean spirited doctrine that makes people not sin.
Those atmospheres usually push people into some of the deepest places of rebellion.
Rules without relationship always equals rebellion.
You cannot guilt people into righteousness and good behavior.
You can only introduce them to a loving savior who offers it all freely.
Holiness is not progressive its instantaneous and happens the moment you get saved.
Holy living however IS progressive.
You change the way you think then you change the way you live.
Realizing that Christ has freely given you HIS holiness should produce a heart that’s willing to change.
Holy living is a constant transformation in your attitude and actions.
Holy living is progressive ongoing transformation.
You should NOT have the same attitude and actions that you had before you met Christ.
Attitude and actions change after I met Christ and some of my attitudes and actions take longer than others.
What does holy living look like?
Colossians 3:1-17
V.1-4
Your old self died, past tense.
You have been/past tense raised to a new life. Resurrected to a new life.
Now/present tense – life is hidden in with Christ in God.
You are COVERED. I have received holiness.
I’ve been resurrected to this new life with new responsibility.
Since Christ has given me HIS resurrected life I must set my heart and mind on things above.
I keep my heart and mind looking upwards.
I keep my heart and mind on HIS kingdom.
I keep my heart and mind on this resurrected lifestyle.
I set, I make a conscience choice daily to keep my heart and mind in the right place.
Keeping my heart and mind set on things above is holy living.
V.5-8
Put to death – do not give your old nature any power whatsoever.
Just because yours is not listed here doesn’t make it ok to keep living in your old ways.
You used to walk in these but now RID – throw away and cast off.
Changing my lifestyle is holy living.
V.9-11
Taken off the old self with its practices – I have made a change in my attitude and my actions.
Put on new self – image of Christ.
Image of Christ – new self, the new me.
The new me is being renewed – daily, HOW through my knowledge of Christ.
The more I know about HIM the better I can reflect Him.
Reading His word and spending time with Christ is holy living that produces a new attitude and Godly actions.
Neither Greek or Jew – why did he throw this in under the Holy living instruction section? In Christ were all one. You’re not better than the other person, you’re not Hollier than the other person, Christ makes us one.
IOW –
Humility and unity are holy living.
Now
He has told us who we are in Christ, what to get rid of, how to do it – keep your hearts and minds on things above.
Now – he is going to instruct us on holy living.
What my attitude and actions should be.
Ready?
V.12
Identity again
Chosen, holy and dearly loved.
Identity is sooooo important when it comes to holiness.
Knowing who you are produces holy living.
Clothe yourselves – sinking into a garment, wear these, put it on, invest.
Compassion – pity, bowels of mercy, emotions and longings, manifestations of pity.
Kindness – moral goodness, integrity, usefulness, excellence in character treating people better than yourself.
Humility – having a humble opinion of one’s self, modesty.
Gentleness – meekness, submissive.
Patience – endurance, longsuffering, constancy, steadfastness, slowness in avenging wrongs.
V.13-14
This may be the one a lot of people struggle with because we’re a selfish people.
Bear – hold up
Forgive
Put on love
Love is the glue that holds all other spiritual fruits together.
If love is not your foundation and motive then whatever your doing is not HIS kingdom.
Holding people up, forgiving people and loving unconditionally is holy living.
V.15-17
Let God’s peace rule your heart.
Be a peacemaker and a peacekeeper
Keep the word of God in your heart.
Be full of thanksgiving.
Overflow with praise.
Do everything as unto the Lord. This is holy living
