“LIVING IN HOLINESS” Psalm 15
FBCF – 6/15/25
Jon Daniels
INTRO – “Living in Holiness” – When you think of holiness, what comes to your mind? Maybe your idea of holiness is like the sweet family I saw eating in lobby of hotel in Dallas this week – dad, mom, 3 boys from Deridder, LA – mom was wearing a very plain dress that went below her knees – no makeup – hair pulled up into a bun on back of her head in a black “prayer cap.” Most likely Mennonites.
Maybe your thoughts about holiness center around a bunch of things you can’t do. Depending on which group you are a part of, the list of prohibitions might include drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco. We Baptists have been known to say it this way: “We don’t drink or smoke or chew or go w/ girls who do.” Might also add to your list of “no-no’s” – no dancing, no mixed swimming (When I was a kid at Lake Forest Ranch), no going to the movies (got yelled at going into movie theater in B’haven), no listening to certain types of music (always thought it was funny that rock & roll music got such a bad rap but country music didn’t, even though you could clearly understand the country song about cheating on your wife or husband or getting drunk w/ your buddies a lot better than the rock & roll song), no wearing caps in church (Shane Everett of Shane & Shane), no working on Sunday, no preaching w/out a tie on, & the list goes on & on. Folks who see holiness in this light tend to get real Pharisaical & judgmental.
Maybe you think of some type of moral or religious perfection when you think of holiness. Since deep in your heart you know that perfection in this life is unattainable, then you tend to believe that living in holiness is also unattainable. Jon Bloom: “In our ongoing battles with sin, God is not looking for perfect, externally performed behavior or perfect, internally performed motivation from us. God is looking for love and faith, knowing full well both will be imperfect, no matter how much we grow in them.” (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lay-aside-the-weight-of-perfection) Still some folks equate holiness w/ perfectionism.
But no matter what your thoughts about holiness, one thing is abundantly clear: The Bible talks a lot about holiness & the necessity of living in holiness for all those who belong to Jesus. The word “holy” in various forms occurs more than 600 times in the Bible. OT book of Leviticus devoted to subject of holiness, & the teaching of holiness is woven throughout the entire Bible.
- Leviticus 11:44 – “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”
- 1 Peter 1:14-16 – “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
Back to “Life Songs” series – “Living in Holiness.” Today is Father’s Day but doesn’t mean I’m preaching to the dads only today – that they’re the only ones who need to be living in holiness. But I’ll say this: When dad is striving to live & walk in holiness, it has a huge impact on the rest of the family. And when he’s NOT striving to live & walk in holiness, it also has a huge impact on the rest of the family.
EXPLANATION – Psalm 15 (& Psalm 24:3-6)
David wrote 75 of the 150 Psalms, & Psalm 15 & 24 both written by him. David was known as the “man after God’s own heart” who loved the Lord w/ a deep, passionate love. He also had a deep love for God’s Word. And he was also an imperfect man who sinned greatly by committing adultery w/ Bathsheba & having her husband murdered. He showed deep, true repentance for his sins w/ a heart that was pointed toward God. Set a great example for us in so many ways – how to live for the Lord – how to respond to the Lord after we’ve sinned – how to praise & worship God deeply & authentically.
In these 2 Psalms, David expressed a deep desire to stand, walk & live in God’s presence by asking questions:
- 15:1a – “Who may sojourn in your tent?” – Idea of an intimate visit to enjoy fellowshipping w/ God.
- 15:1b – “Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” – More permanent than 1st question. Drawing closer to the Lord. As if David is saying, “Who may be received as a guest into God’s tent, enjoying all the protections of His hospitality? Who may live as a citizen in His holy hill?”
- Same idea in 24:3 – Ascending means moving higher & closer to God until we are standing permanently in His presence.
Our walk w/ the Lord needs to be actively growing & deepening, no matter how long we’ve known Him. We go from visiting to dwelling – from ascending to standing. As we progress, we see some specific areas where we are to live in holiness. We see that it encompasses our whole life! Christian life compared to worn out bed: Headboard & footboard are solid, but sags in the middle.
- Our Walk – (24:4 – pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false)
- Our Deeds – (24:4 – clean hands)
- Our Words (24:4 – does not swear deceitfully)
- Our Money – v. 5 specifically referring to unscrupulous financial activities of charging exorbitant interest on loans to needy people. Of course, greed can become a controlling force in our lives & will harm our walk w/ the Lord.
APPLICATION – Living in holiness is not an option for the Christ-follower.
Since we talked about what holiness is NOT at beginning of sermon, let’s define what holiness is. To be holy means to be set apart from sin & set apart to God. Jerry Bridges: “To be holy is to be morally blameless. It is to be separated from sin, & therefore, consecrated to God…To live a holy life then is to live a life in conformity to the moral precepts of the Bible & in contrast to the sinful ways of the world.” (Pursuit of Holiness, p. 19-20) Doesn’t mean a perfect life, but certainly means a life that is going hard after God & the things of God.
LIVING IN HOLINESS STARTS WITH OUR SALVATION – Track meet – runners line up in blocks – starter fires pistol & they’re off. Spiritually speaking, the moment that you call on Jesus for salvation, the starter’s pistol for your Christian life is fired. And from that moment until you take your final breath in this life, you are to pursue holiness. David was a man after God’s own heart. He knew the Lord & had an intimate relationship w/ the Lord & set a great example for us. We, too, should be men & women after God’s own heart. That begins when we say “Yes” to Jesus. At that very moment, we are instantaneously & eternally MADE holy by God & are to begin LIVING in holiness for God. We are indwelt by the HOLY Spirit who empowers us to LIVE a holy life.
- We have a DECLARED holiness that leads to a DAILY holiness.
- We have God’s IMPUTED holiness that leads to God’s EMPOWERED holiness.
- “Holy” is who you are, & “holy” is how you live.
LIVING IN HOLINESS GROWS AS WE DESIRE GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES – One of the greatest blessings that is available to EVERY Christ-follower is to experience the presence of God in your life. As our friend, Bill Elliff, wrote: “There is nothing more important or valuable than the presence of God” (https://billelliff.org/blogs/news/preparing-for-god-s-presence). We are all in need of God’s peace, God’s joy, God’s guidance & leadership in our lives. And as the days grow darker & the times grow more evil, we need His presence more than ever. We need to be living in holiness to experience His presence in our lives.
Elliff: “If you long for God, consecrate yourself [i.e., live in holiness]. It is the first & best thing you can do to draw near. James would reiterate this as he speaks to the church – “Draw near to God & He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; & purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8) Lay aside all that might be displeasing to Him. Deal with all known sin as God reveals it. Let go of any false god that you have adored & turn your full attention to Him. The man or woman who draws near with a humble, holy heart will be rewarded with the highest prize for God says, ‘I will draw near to you.’”
Great tragedy is that so many of us are content to do just enough religious & spiritual activities to soothe our consciences for an hour on Sunday but live our entire lives never truly desiring or pursuing God’s presence. Many of us live our lives the same as the world around us & it never bothers us. But it bothers God! For us to go our own way instead of His way is sin, & He hates sin!
When we are in His presence through time in the Word & time in prayer, we will see His holiness, His absolute purity & hatred for sin. We will be gripped w/ how awful it is to sin against Him. And we will recognize our absolute total dependence on Him & fall on our faces in brokenness & repentance.
LIVING IN HOLINESS IMPACTS OTHERS AROUND US – I just want to pick up on 1 word in Psalm 24:6 – “generation” – “Such is the generation of those who seek Him.” – Think about the word “generation”
We call those who were born between 1901 & 1927 the “Greatest Generation.” Youngest who are still alive are 98 yrs old. Shaped by Great Depression & millions of them served our nation in WWII. Owe a lot to those men & women.
But I submit to you that the greatest generation is whatever generation that seeks God & goes hard after Him. We have opportunities before us like never before. And no matter what your age, you have been put on this earth to seek the Lord, to live in holiness, & to impact the lives of those around you.
- May be family members – spouse, kids, grandkids
- May be total strangers – Addie at pizza joint
- May be someone who is sitting in this room with you right now – someone who needs you to come alongside them to help them grow in their walk w/ Christ & living in holiness.
Back to dads: Kids may give you a gift today for Father’s Day. You living in holiness is the greatest gift you can give to them!
