THESIS: To encourage believers to be more like Jesus, the Holy One of God (Mk 1:24; Jn 6:69), through Whom we are perfected.
TEXT: Leviticus 11:44-45
Lev 11:44 because I, the LORD, am your God. "Set yourselves apart and be holy, because I am holy. You are not to defile yourselves with any of the swarming creatures that swarm the earth.
Lev 11:45 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Be holy, because I am holy. (ISV)
INTRODUCTION:
1. In the book of Leviticus we see God giving commandments, ordinances and statutes to Israel that would set them apart from all the nations.
a. They were to be a holy people. In this context one way that that would come about would be through God’s defining of what was clean and what was unclean for them food-wise. These specific restrictions were lifted by our Lord in the New Covenant (Mk 7:18-19) . . .
Mar 7:18 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
Mar 7:19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
b. We need to understand that the law of Moses was but a shadow or a type of the truth that was to come through Jesus (Heb 10:1), it is to teach us certain things in an elementary manner, then once learned, that teaching is to be applied spiritually, which is the pinnacle of our perceptions, it is the truth, as Jesus is the truth, that makes us free, it is like His people were little children under that law, but in Christ we are to be full-grown family members and fellow heirs, able to spiritually discern and learn the true lessons that God is teaching us through these things He made.
2. In the New Covenant we see that we, like wise, Christ followers, Christ imitators, are to be a holy people.
a. Peter, writing to the church in his first epistle, presented the challenge of holiness (1 Peter 1:14-19).
1Pe 1:14 Because you are children who obey God, don't live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn't know any better.
1Pe 1:15 But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life.
1Pe 1:16 Scripture says, "Be holy, because I am holy."
1Pe 1:17 So if you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth in fear. He is the God who judges all people by what they have done, and he doesn't play favorites.
1Pe 1:18 Realize that you weren't set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
1Pe 1:19 Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections. (GW)
b. Peter here is quoting from Leviticus 11 and making the proper application being inspired by the Holy Spirit.
3. The penman of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote of the need for those to whom he wrote to strive for, follow after, or pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14).
Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
4. In 1 Pet 1:14-19 we have the command to be holy, along with the steps by which holiness is obtained, actually this entire epistle of 1 Peter is a lesson in holiness.
A. Let’s look at each one in its order.
BODY:
1. BE HOLY
a. What is the meaning of holiness?
b. Literally it means to “be separated” (2 Cor 6:14-7:1) . . .
2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial (a synonym for Satan)? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among (in) them and walk among (in) them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst (among them), and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
2Co 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, (perfecting holiness) bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
c. This section of scripture defines holiness, it is being separated from the ways of the world and unto the Way of God, in other words being undefiled in body and spirit, dedicated, pure, according to God’s unchanging standards.
2. Holiness has three aspects to it, and that is what we will be looking at . . .
1) The positional aspect,
2) The practical aspect, and
3) The perfectional aspect (completion of holiness).
I. POSITIONAL HOLINESS
a. There is a sense in which every believer is holy as is seen in the inspired words of Paul as he writes to both the Corinthians and Colossians – 1 Cor 1:2; Colossians 1:21-23.
1Co 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Col 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
Col 1:22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
b. Let us look at how this idea of “positional holiness” has come about (Heb 10:5-14)
Heb 10:5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
Heb 10:6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Heb 10:7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"
Heb 10:8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),
Heb 10:9 then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Heb 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
Heb 10:13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
Heb 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
c. Thus, Jesus by doing the Father’s will to sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world has made every believer in Christ holy in the positional sense.
d. We could say, it is the natural result of being in Christ.
e. One cannot be in Christ and not be holy, in the positional sense.
2. But, there is the practical sense of holiness as well.
a. Positional holiness is holiness before God, practical holiness is the practice of holiness before men, it contains both inward and outward aspects.
3. Let us continue looking at “positional holiness”
a. God’s plan and Jesus’ sacrifice made it possible for us to be holy in this way (positionally), our belief, obedience, and faithfulness to the gospel puts us, and keeps us, in Christ, where this perfected positional holiness takes place, let us look into being “in Christ” (Mk 16:16; Jn 3:16; 5:24; Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27, Eph 4:15).
Mar 16:16 Whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
b. The process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15) takes place “in Christ”
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into (eis) Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (LITV)
c. “Believing into (eis) Him” (Jn 3:16; LITV), this if the first step of “believes and is baptized” (Mk 16:16; Jn 5:24).
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
d. Therefore “belief” “faith” is the crossover point of being “out of Christ” and being “in Christ” (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27), that is why Mk 16:16 states “whoever does not believe will be condemned” that first step belief/faith, the crossover point must be made.
Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into (eis) Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into (eis) Christ have put on Christ.
e. Thus we see that baptism also puts us into or in Christ (Eph 4:15)
Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into (eis) Him in all things, who is the Head, the Christ, (LITV)
f. It starts with Jesus and His work on the cross, then our believing “into” Him, then our being baptized “into” Him, then our growing up “into” Him in all things like “speaking the truth in love” therefore our positional holiness actually is a process getting us more and more “into” Him, becoming more and more like Him (1 Cor 6:9-11) . . .
1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
g. Some at Corinth practiced these sins, but after belief in the gospel, they turned from these sins, this is a warning to them to stay away from them, to not practice them, but rather fight against them, through God’s power, the gospel, but note that they “were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God,” this is a reference to water baptism and receiving God’s Holy Spirit upon belief (Eph 1:13) which made them positionally holy or sanctified.
2. I think it would help us if we understand the mechanics involved in our inter-reaction with the gospel,
a. When we first hear or read, or in whatever way learn of the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and is our Forerunner, our Living Hope of Heaven, and believe these things to be true, we receive the promised Holy Spirit (Gal 3:2;Eph 1:13)
Gal 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, (ESV)
b. But before this we were spiritually dead (Eph 2:1-13)
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Eph 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
c. But after belief in the gospel (manifest faith), we receive God’s Spirit, which sheds God’s love in our hearts (Rom 5:5), Jesus states “if you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15), so therefore, in actuality, it is no longer us, for our old person was, is, and will always be, spiritually dead, but rather it is God, now working in us, through His Spirit (Phili 2:12-13)
Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
d. Also not only is it God working in us enabling us to do his will, repenting, confessing Christ, being baptized, but without God’s Spirit one actually cannot from the heart obey His will (Rom 8:5-14) . . .
Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it CANNOT.
Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Rom 8:10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life (alive) because of righteousness (God’s righteousness imputed to you through the gospel; Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 5:21).
Rom 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (enabling us to want to, and thus to obey, God in our lives)
Rom 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if you are living according to the flesh you will die (spiritually), but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live (spiritually).
Rom 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
e. So the result is we learn of the gospel, believe it, we enter the spiritual position known as “in Christ” (Jn 3:16), we are then positionally holy, we receive God’s Spirit, which enables us to manifest “practical holiness”, and that is our next subject.
II. PRACTICAL HOLINESS (the practice of holiness)
1. We need to understand that “practical holiness” (the practice of holiness) is a necessity for the child of God, the Hebrew writer wrote in Heb 12:14 . . .
Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
a. And our Lord said in Mt 7:21 . . .
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. (ISV)
b. So what do these 2 verses teach us? That we need to be actively doing the Father’s will if we expect to get to heaven, and we need to strive for peace with people and for the holiness if we expect to see the Lord, in other words “we won’t be there.”
c. We also need to keep in mind that we are not brought into positional holiness, the state of “being saved” by “doing” these things, but rather by faith (Jn 3:16; 5:24), and faith is the work of God within us (Jn 6:29), and by faith we have died with Christ, and it is now actually God working in us and through us doing these things (Phili 2:12-13) . . .
Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
d. So we might say that continued faithfulness to God and the pursuit of holiness is the natural outcome or the proof that we are children of God, and if we don’t, it is the natural outcome or the proof that we are not the children of God, but rather the children of the devil (1 Jn 3:4-10) . . .
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
2. Also we need to understand the mechanics involved in “practical holiness”
a. When we believe in Jesus and the gospel we get the promised Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13; Gal 3:2).
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Gal 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
b. And it’s not called the HOLY Spirit for nothing, He resides in us attempting to get us to think and act like our HOLY God, Who was manifested in the flesh in the form of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:5-14).
Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Rom 8:10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life (alive) because of righteousness (God’s righteousness imputed to us through the gospel; Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 5:21).
Rom 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (enabling us to want to, and thus to obey, God in our lives)
Rom 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if you are living according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
c. And the Holy Spirit works in conjunction with God’s word within us, our Lord said (Jn 17:17),
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
d. For this reason the word is referred to as “the sword of the Spirit”, God’s instrument of choice (Eph 6:17) . . .
Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
3. Back in our original text (Lev 11), we see the negative command, not to defile themselves, (Lev 11:44).
Lev 11:44 because I, the LORD, am your God. "Set yourselves apart and be holy, because I am holy. You are not to defile yourselves with any of the swarming creatures that swarm the earth. (ISV)
4. What defiles us today, is it eating pork, catfish or shrimp? Some assert that, but what does Jesus say?
a. Jesus presented a list of things which defile individuals (Mark 7:14-23).
Mar 7:14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand:
Mar 7:15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."
Mar 7:17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.
Mar 7:18 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
Mar 7:19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
Mar 7:20 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Mar 7:22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
b. Add to this Paul’s list of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who (practice) do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
c. And what he revealed from the Lord in 1 Cor 6:9-10 . . .
1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
d. These give us a pretty comprehensive list of defiling things in the NT
5. We also see the positive command in Lev 11:44;
Lev 11:44 because I, the LORD, am your God. "Set yourselves apart and be holy, because I am holy. You are not to defile yourselves with any of the swarming creatures that swarm the earth.
a. Sanctify or set yourselves apart and be holy.
b. The word sanctify is similar in meaning to holy.
c. It means to devote oneself totally and entirely to God’s use and his glory.
d. Sanctification is ongoing, it is to be active.
e. We must devote ourselves daily to God (Luke 9:23; 2 Cor 4:16).
Luk 9:23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
2Co 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
f. Here are some positive commands (Gal 5:22-23) . . .
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
g. Here are some negative and positive commands (Eph 4:17-5:8; Col 3:1-17)
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Eph 4:27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
Eph 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Col 3:6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Col 3:7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
Col 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Col 3:11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Col 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Col 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
h. Romans 12:1-2a sums up how we sanctify ourselves.
Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (service).
Rom 12:2a Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
i. As Christians we need to be totally devoted in all aspects of life (1 Pet 1:15), keeping God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in everything.
j. Holy as a husband, holy as a wife, as a parent, a child, an employee, employer, friend, whatever.
k. It may not be politically correct, but as we know, the whole world lies in the hand of the evil one, but we are of God (1 Jn 5:19), and there’s only one way we can escape God’s wrath, that is through the gospel of Christ, God’s power to save.
l. So let us continue to manifest practical holiness through God’s Spirit and His word working within us, as salt and light, unto the glory of God and the salvation of others.
II. PERFECTIONAL HOLINESS (the completion of holiness)
The apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians in this manner (2 Cor 6:17- 7:1)
2Co 6:17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (ASV)
1. Since we as Christians have the promises of God (Who cannot lie) before us (contextually it would be fellowship with Him, which extends into eternity), we need to “cleanse” ourselves from the things that defile us in God’s sight
a. The word “cleanse” here is “aorist active subjunctive” it refers to something that started in the past (aorist), it is presently active, it is ongoing (active), and one has the ability to choose to continue in this or not (subjunctive).
b. Summed up it states this cleansing, “the negative”, the doing away with your old person and his ways, began when you first believed in the gospel of Christ, it is still taking place, yet one can choose if they desire to continue in such, but keep the fear of God before you relative to your decision making, for the Lord said in Mt 10:28 . . .
Mat 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy (lose; Wycliffe) both soul and body in hell.
2. Also the word “perfecting” (holiness) here is a “present active participle” it refers to something that is presently ongoing, continual.
a. Summed up it refers to “the positive”, we are to be continually putting on our new person who is being recreated spiritually into the image of our Creator (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10), again with the fear of God’s judgment before us (2 Cor 7:1).
b. Also this word translated “perfection” here probably is best translated “maturing”, in other words maturing, growing towards perfect holiness continually, but never actually getting to that point (at least not in this life).
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
c. But no need for great concern, because Jesus was perfect, and we are perfect in Him, as we are walking (living in a general sense) after the Spirit, walking (living in a general sense) in the light (according to His word; Ps 119:105).
3. But there are some ways that we might be blessed to be more mature, more perfect, like our Lord and Savior.
a. Speaking and living like Him, because of Him . . .
i. The apostle Paul said to the Corinthian Christians (1 Cor 10:31-11:1)
1Co 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
1Co 10:33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
ii. He also wrote to those at Ephesus (Eph 4:32- 5:2)
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
iii. This is speaking like Him, and living like Him, because of Him.
b. Suffering like Him, because of Him . . .
i. Our Lord stated (Jn 15:15:18-21)
Joh 15:18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.(Jn 7:7)
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Joh 15:21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
ii. And in the sermon on the mount He said (Mt 5:10-12)
Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
iii. By the inspiration of God Paul wrote (2 Tim 3:12)
2Ti 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
iv. This is suffering like Him, because of Him.
c. Dying like Him, because of Him
i. Our Lord stated (Mt 10:39; 16:24-26; Mk 8:34-38)
Mat 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Mat 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Mat 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Mar 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mar 8:35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Mar 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Mar 8:37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?
Mar 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
ii. Paul wrote to the Philippians (Phili 3:10-15)
Php 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Php 3:11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let those of us who are mature (perfect) think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
iii. The Hebrew writer wrote of our Lord thus (Heb 5:7-9) . .
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
Heb 5:8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
iv. Peter wrote this in his first epistle (1 Pet 2:18-25)
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect (fear), not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
1Pe 2:19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
1Pe 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1Pe 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
1Pe 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Luk 23:46 And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. (ASV)
1Pe 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1Pe 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
v. It is written in the book of Revelation (Rev 2:10-11; 12:11; 20:4-6)
Rev 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers (overcomes) will not be hurt by the second death.'
Rev 12:11 And they have conquered (overcame) him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Rev 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
vi. This is dying like Him, because of Him.
CONCLUSION:
1. The call to holiness is rooted in the very nature and character of God Himself, as seen in the statement, “Be holy, for I am holy!”
2. Therefore we need to continue to imitate our Father (Eph 5:1), and our Savior (1 Cor 11:1), by means of the HOLY Spirit, which is given to us for that purpose, that we might inherit that which is incorruptible, and fades not away, reserved in Heaven, for us, Halleluia!