“Holy God – Holy People”
October 13, 2019
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy... I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45
“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:1-2
Our God is an awesome God! He is all powerful! He is all knowing! He is always present. Omnipotent; omniscient; Omnipresent. All Christians in every church would agree with that. They would agree that our God is a holy God – pure and perfect in word and deed and intent. Who could disagree with that? If you read God’s Word just a little bit you can easily see that. If you know God or even know a little bit about Him – you would see that. I didn’t. I grew up in the Church but if I thought about God at all – I thought of Him as a stern, angry old Man who was waiting to bop me over the head for my mistakes and imperfection.
Why did I, and why do many others, have that idea of God? Because of our sin. Our sin separates us from God. We know we don’t deserve love. We live in this verse,
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Hebrews 10:26-27
When we live in sin – we live as enemies of God. Sin is willful rebellion against God. We know, intuitively, or perhaps through the conviction of the Holy Spirit that we are deserving of hell and separation from God. And we have this fearful expectation of judgment and punishment. And that is a good thing. Fear and respect is required before we can learn to love.
But I wasn’t afraid of God. Truth be told – I thought very little of God. He wasn’t in my thoughts and had little to do with my choices and actions. But the day came when I sought God – and He found me. I confessed my sin and committed myself to serving Him. WOW! Everything was different. The grass literally seemed greener and the sky bluer! It was amazing! I felt so loved and clean. And I was.
Before long, though, I discovered I had a problem. I would stub my toe and out would come the foulest language. I immediately asked forgiveness – but I hated that. I would see a pretty girl on TV or maybe on the street – and I would find myself thinking ungodly thoughts; sexual, impure thoughts. And I hated it. I knew something wasn’t right. Living the Christian life; living the life the Bible demanded – was impossible. I was frustrated. I read in the Word,
“…be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
I knew I was not holy. I knew I was saved – because I had the witness of the Word and the witness of the Holy Spirit about that – but I was not holy. That was not God’s fault. He did everything He could to provide holiness for me. Jesus died for me – not only to bring salvation – but to make me right with God and to make me holy. The Scripture says,
“…we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Most Christians stop right there. They say they are made righteous through Christ and there is nothing they can – or need to do. They receive the Holy Spirit at Salvation and go on and live their defeated lives in a sinful state with God – always falling and repenting in an endless cycle that is described in Romans 7 – knowing God’s will but unable to do it; hating sin, yet doing it over and over.
Friends, that is not the Christian walk that God wants for us. We are not saved to sin! We are saved to have a loving and pure and sinless relationship with God. And God did His part in this relationship. Jesus did His part in this relationship – but a relationship takes two willing participants. Both have to agree to it and work at sustaining it. God did His part – what do we need to do. The Bible tells us,
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
A covenant takes two willing parties. Our part is to offer ourselves wholly and completely to God. Paul pleads, “I beg you… to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.” He didn’t say to offer your ‘spirit’ – because you probably did that at the salvation experience. He says, “bodies”. The Scripture says,
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Why would Paul say that if we got it all in that one experience at salvation? The fact of the matter is that there are two kinds of believers – those that are Spirit-filled and those that aren’t. Most Christians are not Spirit-filled. They haven’t offered their bodies completely to God. They are still calling the shots and are in control of their lives. The Bible says,
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“... Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.” Romans 6:19
Do you see that we are to offer ourselves to God and thereby purify ourselves? God did His part. We need to do our part in perfecting holiness by surrendering body and soul to the King – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
That is a definite second work of grace. The first work of grace is the act of making Jesus our Savior. Most Christians never get beyond that stage. It IS a wonderful place. But Jesus wants to be MORE than your Savior. He wants to be your Lord. Sadly, most Christians don’t get to that place in their relationship with Jesus. Many deny that it is necessary or needed. I think that is because they have never experienced that second wonderful experience and stage in our relationship – or they are intellectually ignorant of it. Some experience total surrender and call it something else – and that is okay as long as they make Jesus their Lord as well as their Savior.
Jesus total a story about some virgins. What do you thing virginity means spiritually? Innocence? Purity? Listen to the parable.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:1-13
In my book, “Revealing the Revelation” I talk about this parable a little more in depth – but let me point out a couple of things about it. All ten maidens were virgins. They were pure and innocent. But five were foolish and did not have oil for their lamps. Oil in the Bible usually represents the Holy Spirit. I think the virgins represent Christians. The five without oil represent Christians who are not Spirit-filled; who have not made Jesus Lord of their life. The five wise ones did. They had oil. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.
John Wesley wrote that he believed less that 10 percent of Christians were entirely sanctified or filled with the Holy Spirit. I tend to agree with him. Jesus made it 50-50 so maybe that is more accurate. Nevertheless, many ‘virgins’ will not be let into the wedding banquet. When is the banquet? When Jesus returns to set up His earthly kingdom. So what happens to the virgins who are shut out of the banquet? They do not rise up in the air to meet Jesus. I think they retain their earthly bodies and are the ones who remain on earth for the thousand year reign of Christ. But that is another subject for another time. What I wanted you to see in this parable is that some Christians are Spirit-filled and some are not. All have received forgiveness of sins and are ‘virgins’ in God’s sight – but only half have the Holy Spirit. Why is that? Because the Holy Spirit is only given to those who are living in obedience and who have purified themselves.
“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:32
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth…”
1 Peter 1:22
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” Titus 2:11-12
How do we purify ourselves? By obeying the truth; by walking in obedience. We are purified by offering ourselves, sacrificially, to God. He then renews our minds. Listen again to the Word of God.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” Romans 12:1-2
Who do you think Paul was writing this to? It was to Christians. There is a second work of grace we need. First, we confess our sins – and are forgiven - then we need to come to Jesus, forgiven of our sins, and lay our wills down at His feet. We are to surrender Lordship of our lives to Him. We lay our ‘crowns’ before Him. This is illustrated in John’s revelation.
“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne…” Revelation 4:10
Have you done that? If you haven’t received Jesus as your Savior – you need to do that first – but if you have – you need to surrender everything to Him. You need to get off the throne and lay your crown at Jesus’ feet and make Him Lord.
It is a simple prayer. What makes it work is if it comes from your heart.
Jesus, thank you for forgiving me. I ask now that you would fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I surrender my will to You. I ask that you give me power and grace to walk in obedience to you. Be the Lord of my life. As You lead – I will follow.
