Sermon Central
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Why Be Holy
Contributed by Mark Richardson on Sep 18, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Reasons we should live a life of commitment to Christ.
Why Be Holy:
Text: I Peter 1:13-24
Why be Holy? Why should I go to the trouble of living for the Lord? Holy means, “Different”! God is most Holy, or most different! Most people don’t want to be different, they want to be like everybody else. They really don’t want to stand out! But God calls His people to “Come out from among them and be ye Holy” But why should I want to be Holy? First—
I. Because Jesus is coming back: V.13
a. Not coming for everyone
b. A prepared place for a prepared people
c. Hereby do we know that we know Him
II. Because I want to be like my Father: V.14-16
a. Earthly father, I look like him.
b. Heavenly Father – Holy, Gen. 1: 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: Ist John 3: 2 but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;
But what about in-between then and now?
c. A new born baby takes time to resemble his father, so a new born child of God. But the Holy Spirit will "conform" him.
III. Because of the fear of the Lord: V.17
a. Psm. 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:
b. Not just a Holy reverence
c. No real fear of God today. Lack of respect for authority in general, parents, law, etc.
IV. Because time is short: V. 24
a. James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
b. Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
V. Because of the cost of my salvation: V.18-19
a. God bankrupt Heaven.
b. Most think of the cross when they think of the price Christ paid for their sin, but it was much more than that! His sinless life.
c. The Love of Christ constraineth us. II Cor.5:14
Story of the father and son on the draw bridge. As the father worked raising the bridge for a train, the little boy was caught in the gears. The father raised the bridge knowing his son was dying. The people just waved as they went by. Not knowing the price that had been paid for their passage!
