Principles of Holiness
Hebrews 12:14, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
A. Holiness is not an option. Hebrews 12:14 declares that without it no man shall see the Lord.
B. Paul in Romans 12:1 said, that we need to present our bodies a
living sacrifice, acceptable unto God, and that this sacrifice was our
reasonable service.
1. Reasonable = fair, tolerable, moderate, rational, conformable
to reason.
2. Can we come to the conclusion that "reasonable service"
means it's the least we can do? Or could it mean it's the least
that we can offer to God, in return for salvation?
C. Unfortunately, holiness has become a topic of heated debate in
recent years. Societies moral decline has reached into the hearts and
lives of our generation. The thought that "No One can tell me how to
live" is prevalent today.
1. It's "MY" life. "I'll" live it.
2. "Don't tell me what to do."
3. "Who are you to tell me how to live."
What is holiness?
A. Holy = Free from sin, immaculate, consecrated, sacred.
1. Consecrate = set apart. It is the act of setting apart any thing
or person to the worship or service of God. 1 Peter 2:9
2. 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28, 2:20-21
Vow = to promise; defined as a religious undertaking, either
positive, to do something, or negative, to abstain from doing a certain
thing. Vows were entirely voluntary but once made were regarded as
compulsory and evasion of performance of them was held to be
contrary to true religion. "Ungers Bible dictionary."
"No man putting his hand to the plow and looking back is worthy of
the kingdom"......Luke 9:62. Look at, Deut. 23:21, Ecclesastes 5:4
B. Holiness is a vow or a consecration unto God, a commitment
between yourself, and He who has saved you. Holiness is setting
yourself apart for His use.
1. 2 Timothy 2:1-26
2. 2 Tim. 2:21. This verse refers to the individual being useful
to the master.
a. Is it possible that some people could be saved but not
useful to God?
b. Could it also be possible that some vessels (people)
could actually be a dishonor to God? 2 Tim. 2:20
"Let us go on unto perfection" (Hebrews 6:1).
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
Definition and General Principles
"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2).
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (11 Corinthians 5:17).
2 Cor. 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,… 7:1 HAVING therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (11 Corinthians 6:17; 7:1).
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Abstain from all appearance of evil" (I Thessalonians 5:22).
"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (I Peter 1:15-16).
"Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.... Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (11 Peter 3:14, 18).
1 John 2:1 MY little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (I John 2:15-16).
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Legalism Verses Faith, Love, and the Spirit
"If ye love me, keep my commandments.... If a man love me, he will keep my words" (John 14:15, 23).
"A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28).
Sanctification
A. Separation from the secular and sinful and setting apart for a
special purpose.
1. Though people and things were set apart for God's use yet,
inward cleansing is the work of God.
2. What makes us holy is God. Apart from God, there is no
holiness.
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