Holiness: optional for Christians?

Holiness is not optional because:

It is given through Christ

• II Timothy 1:8-10 – This was the plan from the very beginning.
• Hebrews 10:10-14, 19-26 – By Christ’s one perfect sacrifice, we can be made holy.

It is required for fellowship with God

• Who will see the Lord?
  • Hebrews 12:14
  • Psalms 15:1-5 – Who shall sojourn in your tent?
    • Psalms 15:2
      • He who walks uprightly
      • He who works righteousness
      • He who speaks truth in His heart
    • Psalms 15:3
      • Does not slander with his tongue
      • Does not do evil with his neighbor
      • Does not take up reproach from his friend
    • Psalms 15:4
      • Despises vile people and honors God-fearing people
      • Who keeps an oath even when it hurts
    • Psalms 15:5
      • Who is fair and honest in financial matters

It is required for effective service to God

• II Timothy 2:19-21 – Do you have “china” (place settings) in your house?
  • II Timothy 2:21 – Gives a description of the honorable vessel. “Set apart as holy” and therefore “useful to the master.”

Introduction

• Proverbs 16:31

Be realistic, but optimistic

• Acts 1:16
• Psalms 71:9, 15, 5-8 – He had learned to trust in the Lord.
• Philemon 1:8-9 – Paul appealed to him as an old man. Can you do this as well?
• II Samuel 19:39-39 – Barzillai returned home and sent his servant on to help David. He aged gracefully and wisely.
• Older people are often very content. This can be a great lesson to others.
• II Corinthians 4:16

Younger folks should honor older folks

• I Timothy 5:3
• Philippians 3:17
• Thank you to all of our older folks!

You ain’t done yet!

• Psalms 92:12-15
• Luke 1:36 – Elizabeth bore a son in her old age.
• Luke 2:36-38 – Anna served in the temple in her old age.
• Exodus 7:7 – Moses was eighty years old when he stood before God.
• Leviticus 19:32 – Honoring the older people was part of the Law of Moses.
• I Timothy 3:6 – Elders must be men with experience.
• Example: Dr. Chibanda trained grandmothers in Zimbabwe to help those with psychological issues. The grandmothers were more effective than the doctors!
• II Timothy 1:5
• Titus 2:3-4

James 4

• James 4:1 – See James 1:14; 3:13. The source of our trouble is our own lust – not God. Other people might create problems, but we must look inward and see what problems we might be causing ourselves.
• James 4:2-3 – See I John 5:14. We should not think that prayer is a magic ability to satisfy our physical desires. It should not be used as an avenue for selfishness.
• James 4:4 – See II Corinthians 11:2.
  • Friendship with the world:
    • John 17:15
    • Ephesians 5:7
    • I John 2:15
    • I Thessalonians 5:22
    • Romans 12:2, 9
    • Romans 1:32
    • Galatians 6:14
• James 4:5 – This is often presented as a quote in various translations, but there were no quotes in the original. There is no verse in the Old Testament or New Testament that matches this. The NIV translation has a good take on this – it is not a quote but something that Scripture says in general.
• James 4:6 – Pride separates us from God.
• James 4:7 – We don’t negotiate with God. He has already given us His offer. It is up to us to accept. We are more powerful than Satan. If we resist him, there is nothing else he can do.
• James 4:8 – Put the sin out of your life!
• James 4:10 – God is looking for humble hearts.
• James 4:11 – See John 7:24. Don’t let this conflict with Jesus’ commands to discern rightly. Don’t attempt to put yourself above the law.
• James 4:13 – It is not sinful to make a plan, but don’t leave God out of your plans.
• James 4:17 – The “right thing to do” is what he just said in James 4:15 – live with God in mind.

Introduction

• Mark 1:17
• John 4:13-14, 34 – Jesus often used physical things to teach spiritual lessons.
• John 7:37-38

Self-control and discipline

• I Corinthians 9:24-27
• Athletes put tremendous effort into training and preparing for their sport. They practice great discipline over themselves.
• How is my spiritual preparation and training going?

Sacrifice

• II Corinthians 12:14-15
• Philippians 2:14-15
• Paul sacrificed his time, energy, and health to spread the gospel.
• II Timothy 2:8-10, 3
• There is no cause more worthy than the cause of Christ.
• Whatever it costs to serve God is worth it!

Wrong priorities

• Matthew 6:25-34
• I Corinthians 6:12
• We should not be completely obsessed with anything outside of God.
• Matthew 22:37
• Ephesians 5:3

Football crowds are nothing … compared to Heaven!

• Revelation 5:11-14

Holiness of Christ

Scripture calls Him holy

• Mark 1:24 – I know who you are – the Holy One of God!
• Luke 1:35 – Holy One who is to be born
• Hebrews 7:26 – High Priest who is Holy

How did He demonstrate His holiness?

Christ was sinless

• Hebrews 4:15 – tempted as we are, yet without sin
• II Corinthians 5:21 – knew no sin
• I John 3:5 – in Him there is no sin
• John 8:12, 42-47
• If Jesus had sin, then …
  • His teaching would be discredited.
  • He would not have been God.
  • He would have needed salvation.
  • He would not be qualified to be our sacrifice.

Christ knew His purpose

• Holiness of God – Jesus was sinless – perfect, unmatched
• Holiness of anything else – Jesus made the common into something special.
• John 6:38 – I am here to do the will of my Father.
• John 8:29 – I always do those things that please Him.
• John 4:34 – My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.

How should His holiness affect us?

He was perfect in all holiness – without sin

• How does that affect me?
  • Hebrews 7:25-27 – Earthly priests needed their own sacrifices. Jesus did not.
  • II Corinthians 5:20-21 – He became the sin offering for us.