CHRISTIAN LIVING – Part 1.3

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

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

IV. THE ATTAINMENT OF HOLINESS

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C. We cannot make ourselves clean (only God can do that), but we can make ourselves dirty. We cannot make ourselves righteous, but we can make ourselves unrighteous. We cannot make ourselves holy, but we can make ourselves unholy. Once we have been made clean, we have a responsibility to keep 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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V. THE TWO DIMENSIONS OF PERSONAL HOLINESS

• Matthew 23:25–26 “25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

This Scripture reveals four possibilities:

Outside Dirty – Inside Dirty

Outside Dirty – Inside Clean

Outside Clean – Inside Dirty

Outside Clean – Inside Clean

• 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.”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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VI. INTERNAL HOLINESS

A. The words, spirit and soul, while not always used synonymously in Scripture, indicate the inner man. Together, the spirit and soul constitute our thinking, our will, our emotions, our “heart” – it is the part of us that is internal and eternal.

• 1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

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B. Man is powerless to cleanse himself from sin. The inward cleansing of the human soul and spirit can only be accomplished by Jesus Christ, Himself.

• Revelation 1:5 “5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,”

• 1 John 1:7 “7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

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C. However, once our hearts have been cleansed by the power of the blood, it becomes our responsibility to keep our hearts and inner man clean.

• Proverbs 4:23 “23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

• John 15:3 “3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

• 1 Peter 1:22 “22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”

• Ephesians 5:25–26 “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”

• Psalm 119:11 “11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

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VII. EXTERNAL HOLINESS

A. Internal holiness is vital, but authentic internal holiness will eventually result in external holiness.

• 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.”

• Romans 6:12 “12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”

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B. The Christian life has always been a life of self-denial. In order to follow Christ, one of the first things we must do is learn to say “no” to our own flesh, to Satan and to worldly desires.

• Matthew 16:24 “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

• Titus 2:12 “12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,”

• Romans 8:13 “13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

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C. The apostle Paul teaches us the necessity of denying the flesh, controlling the carnal appetites and bringing the body under the control of the spirit.

• 1 Corinthians 9:27 “27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

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D. Our body is the temple of God, and God will only dwell in a temple that is holy.

• 1 Corinthians 6:19 “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

• 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 “16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

E. As Christians, sooner or later, we must decide whether or not we are going to be obedient to the commands of the New Testament. Most of these commands involve our behavior and lifestyle.

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VIII. THE PURPOSE OF HOLINESS

A. Genuine holiness brings glory to God!

• 1 Corinthians 6:20 “20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

• Matthew 5:16 “16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

• 1 Corinthians 4:9 “9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”

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IX. OUR MANNER OF SPEECH

A. Christians are instructed in Scripture to control their tongue and speech. Our behavior is influenced and affected by our communication.

• Proverbs 21:23 “23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.”

• 1 Timothy 5:13 “13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”

• James 3:2 “2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”

• Philippians 2:14 “14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,”

• 1 Peter 4:15 “15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”

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B. There are several types of speech and verbal behavior that Christians are expressly taught to avoid.

1. Tale bearing and gossip.

• Psalm 101:5 “5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.”

• Leviticus 19:16 “16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.”

• Proverbs 10:18 “18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.”

• 1 Timothy 5:13 “13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”

2. Murmuring and complaining.

• Philippians 2:14 “14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,”

• 1 Corinthians 10:10 “10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

3. Spreading discord, strife or conflict.

• Proverbs 6:19 “19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”

• Romans 16:17 “17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

4. Swearing oaths.

• James 5:12 “12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”

5. Filthy Communication.

• Colossians 3:8 “8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”

6. Cursing and reviling.

• James 3:8–10 “8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

• Romans 12:14 “14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

• 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 “9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

7. Lying or bearing false witness.

• Exodus 20:16 “16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

• Mark 10:19 “19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ””

• Colossians 3:9 “9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”

• Revelation 21:8 “8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.””

8. Idle words.

• Matthew 12:36–37 “36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.””

• James 1:19 “19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”

9. Vulgar talking and unclean humor.

• Ephesians 5:3–4 “3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

10. Using the Lord’s name in vain.

• Exodus 20:7 “7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

The Dictionary of American Slang by Wentworth and Flexnor says that the word “gee” originated in 1857 and is a shortened version of the name, Jesus.

The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English by Partridge states that the word “gosh” originated in 1757 and is a corruption of the word, God.

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, the word “golly” is a euphemism for the word God.

• Psalm 19:14 “14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

• Psalm 39:1 “1 I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.””

• Colossians 4:6 “6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

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