2023.08.06. SERMON NOTES_TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY – PART 2
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: Be Holy, for I AM HOLY. How can we, who are of a sinful nature, be holy? GOD calls you to grow in Holiness and equips you to do so through HIS SPIRIT in every believer.
Scriptures: Colossians 3:1-17, Titus 3:5-7, Romans 12:1-2, Leviticus 11:44-45, 1 Peter 1:15–16
Titus 3:5-7
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
WHAT IS THE HOLINESS OF GOD?
Throughout the Bible we are confronted with GOD’s incomparable Holiness — HIS moral perfection, absolute purity, and impeccable righteousness.
ALMIGHTY GOD IS HOLY—set apart, different, and distinct from everyone and everything else…
1 Samuel 2:2 “No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
BECOMING HOLY LIKE GOD (intends for us to be)
The Book of Leviticus teaches us about holiness, and it’s there that we see GOD’s command to “be holy; for I AM holy”
Leviticus 11:44-45 (NKJV)
44 For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
But this is not a one-time command. It’s emphasized again in Leviticus (11:45; 19:2; 20:7, 26) and also in 1 Peter 1:15–16.
1 Peter 1:15-16 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Since GOD is HOLY, it is impossible to be accepted by HIM on the basis of what we do to attain holiness; why? Because we all fall short.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
It’s impossible for fallen man to produce absolute righteousness because we are like an unclean thing, and our attempts of righteousness is like a filthy rag.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
The best that sinful man can produce is still defiled.
Absolute Purity and Holiness is beyond our capabilities…
So, what can we do to stack up?
That’s the wrong question…
It’s not about you or me…
Titus 3:5-7
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
GOD SAVED US BECAUSE HE IS MERCIFUL.
MANKIND CAN ONLY BE MADE HOLY IN GOD’S SIGHT THROUGH THE HOLINESS OF JESUS CHRIST.
THE REPENTANT (CHANGING) SINNER WHO PUTS THEIR TRUST IN JESUS’ ATONING DEATH ON THE CROSS IS MADE RIGHT WITH GOD.
IT IS ONLY THROUGH THIS JUSTIFICATION, (BEING MADE RIGHT), THAT THE BELIEVER RECEIVES THE HOLINESS OF JESUS CHRIST, BY THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND CAN APPROACH A HOLY GOD IN A LOVING, FATHER-AND-CHILD RELATIONSHIP.
A corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit, and GOD cannot go against Himself when it comes to Holiness. One speck is all it takes to tarnish the whole lot.
But that which HIS Holiness demands, “be Holy for I AM Holy”, HIS Grace has provided in JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
And to the praise, honor and glory of HIS Grace, every sinner who trusts in CHRIST, is made acceptable in the “Beloved”, because of CHRIST JESUS. And it’s in CHRIST, that we have that forgiveness and redemption which comes by HIS Blood.
Ephesians 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
WHILE GOD’S GRACE DOES IT ALL FOR US, WE ARE NOT GIVEN A FREE RIDE.
Romans 6:1-4
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
AND WHILE GOD ACCEPTS US AS HOLY THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST,
GOD CALLS EVERY BELIEVER TO GROW IN HOLINESS
IT REQUIRES FOR US TO MAKE RIGHTEOUS CHOICES AND GROW IN HIS HOLINESS.
WE ARE TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS
Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
A GLORIOUS, HOLY, PURE, CHURCH (not a building, but believers together)
Ephesians 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
HOLY, “IF” YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, GROUNDED AND STEADFAST
Colossians 1:22-23 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
LIVING STONES, BELIEVERS COMING TOGETHER TO FORM/BUILD THE CHURCH
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
A HOLY NATION
1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
SO, WHAT MANNER OF PERSON SHOULD YOU BE IN HOLY CONDUCT AND GODLINESS?
2 Peter 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
PURSUE PEACE AND HOLINESS
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
WE CULTIVATE HOLINESS AS WE ALLOW GOD’S SPIRIT, WHO DWELLS WITHIN US, TO HAVE CONTROL SO THAT WE BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS
(Rom. 12:1–2; Col. 3:1–17; 1 John 2:6).
PRESENT YOUR LIFE AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BY BEING TRANSFORMED AND RENEWED IN YOUR MIND
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
HOLINESS, BEING RENEWED IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT BY JESUS.
Colossians 3:1-17 (BEING HOLY)
SEEK AND SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE.
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
KILL THE OLD SINFUL WAYS THAT YOU ONCE WALKED
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
PUT OFF THESE THINGS
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
PUT ON THE NEW MAN, RENEWED IN HIS IMAGE
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
PUT ON THESE THINGS. (The Character of the New Man)
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
AND LET GOD’S WORD DWELL IN YOU
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
EVERYTHING YOU DO OR SAY, DO IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
IF YOU SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, WALK THE TALK
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
THEREFORE, BE DILIGENT
2 Peter 3:14-15a, 18
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
AS FOLLOWERS OF THE HOLY ONE, JESUS CHRIST, LET US EARNESTLY PURSUE HIS HOLINESS.
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:21-23 (NLT)
21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
Let's Pray,
FATHER, we come into YOUR Holy Presence with thanksgiving. For YOU are HOLY and by YOUR Grace, have made us to be Holy through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. We are in awe of YOUR Mercy and provision for our souls, that we may be Alive and in YOUR Presence for all eternity. Thank YOU LORD for saving my soul, making me whole, and Holy. In JESUS’ Name, Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
