CHRISTIAN LIVING – Part 1

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

I. HOLINESS DEFINED

A. Both the Old and New Testament Scriptures define the character and behavior of the people of God with an extraordinary word – .

Deuteronomy 7:6 NKJV

6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

B. As people who are called to do what pleases God rather than what pleases the world, it is important for us to study the Biblical principle of “holiness” and see how it relates to our lives.

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II. THE CHARACTER OF GOD –

A. The nature and character of God is most clearly revealed in His two major, defining attributes: love and holiness.

Psalm 99:9 NKJV

9 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.

Exodus 15:11 NKJV

11 “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Ezekiel 39:7 NKJV

7 So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.

Leviticus 11:45 NKJV

45 For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Revelation 4:8 NKJV

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

B. Scripture also indicates that not only is God Himself holy, but all that He commands, establishes, ordains, and decrees is holy as well.

• The law and commandments of God are holy. (Romans 7:12)

• His promises are holy. (Psalm 105:42)

• All Scripture is holy. (Romans 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:15,16)

• His name is holy. (Psalms 99:3, 1 Chronicles 29:16, Matthew 6:9, Philippians 2:9-11)

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III. THE HOLINESS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

A. Holiness is not attributed only to God; it is also used in Scripture to define God’s people – His saints, His children, the believers, followers and disciples.

• Deuteronomy 28:9 “9 “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.”

• Exodus 19:6 “6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.””

• Hebrews 3:1 “1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,”

B. Because God is holy, He calls for a holy people. Holiness is not a suggestion or an option – it is an New Testament command of God.

• Romans 6:19 “19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”

• Romans 6:22 “22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” • Romans 12:1 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

• Ephesians 1:4 “4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”

• Ephesians 4:24 “24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

• Ephesians 5:27 “27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

• 1 Peter 1:15–16 “15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

• Hebrews 12:14 “14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”

1. These Scriptures, along with many others, elevate the principle of personal holiness to a dimension of great importance – holiness becomes an essential, necessary element of the Christian life.

2. Holiness is the only lifestyle of the true, scripturally-obedient Christian. It becomes a distinguishing characteristic – a divine calling for all believers.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:7 “7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.”

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IV. THE OF HOLINESS

A. Holiness and righteousness are closely related concepts in Scripture. These principles overlap and have a close relationship with each other.

1. The word righteousness is often used to indicate justification, which means being “made right,” blameless, innocent or just before God.

2. The word holiness is often used to indicate proper behavior, virtuous action and godly lifestyle.

B. As Christians, we attain and maintain holiness and righteousness in two ways: by the righteousness of Jesus Christ and by our continual to the Word of God.

1. First, righteousness and holiness are imputed (bestowed, granted) to us by Jesus Christ. When we become children of God, His holiness is accredited to us.

• Romans 5:17–19 “17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 “21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:34 “34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”

• Romans 1:17–18 “17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

2. We see unmistakably that righteousness and holiness are accounted to us through our obedience to God’s Word.

• Romans 6:19 – “…yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

• Romans 12:1 – “…present your bodies …holy,”

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “…cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness.”

• Ephesians 4:24 – “…put on the new man …in righteousness and true holiness.”

• 1 Peter 1:15-16 – “…be ye holy in all manner of conversation (anastrophe: behavior)”

• Hebrews 12:14 – “Follow … holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

• 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee lusts and follow righteousness…”

• Titus 2:12 – “…deny ungodliness and worldly lust, live soberly, righteously and godly…”

• 1 John 2:29 – “…he that doeth righteousness is born of him (God)”

• 1 John 3:7 – “…he that doeth righteousness is righteous…”

• 1 John 3:10 – “…whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God…”

• 2 Peter 3:11 – “…what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (anastrophe: behavior) and godliness.”

• Titus 2:11-12 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

C. We cannot make ourselves clean (only God can do that), but we can make ourselves . We cannot make ourselves righteous, but we can make ourselves . We cannot make ourselves holy, but we can make ourselves . Once we have been made clean, we have a responsibility to ourselves clean.

• 1 John 5:18 “18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”

• James 1:27 “27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

• 1 Timothy 5:22 “22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.”

• 2 Peter 2:20–22 “20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.””

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

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