THE MAJESTY OF GOD Lesson Seven of Nine WHAT IS MEANT BY HOLINESS IN JESUS? OR SANCTIFICATION: YE SHALL BE HOLY
INTRODUCTION:
I Peter 1:15 - "But like he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living."
I Thessalonians 4:3-8.
We live in an age that has a lack of discipline --- sin often goes unpunished.
In the church, the home and the nation.
Holiness is God's work. We must reflect both individually and as a congregation.
Sin has the power to blind mankind's mind, to compromise its integrity, to break down its morality, and to pervert even the Christian's view of God.
Every judgment that ever came on mankind came when we allowed sin to become so rampant in our lives that God was almost pushed out of the picture completely.
We must remember:
Genesis 3:24 - Because of sin, man was driven out of the garden.
Genesis 4:12 - Sin was rationalized to the point that a man could murder his own brother without remorse.
Genesis 7:22 - Sin was dominant and every air breather was destroyed except eight humans and a pair of each of the animals.
Genesis 9:25ff - cursed be Canaan - (Ham's son).
Genesis 15:16 - because their iniquity had reached its fullness.
Joshua - took the land of Canaan; Canaanites died - men, women and children.
Prophets - God will avenge the whole earth in time and at the end of time in judgments as He chooses.
Israel - a nation that for 1500 years had been set apart to serve God --- because of sin, A.D. 70 blood ran ankle deep.
Romans 1:18 - the wrath of God is being revealed.
Romans 6:11 - we died, were buried, to raise and live a different life (one that must show forth). "Even so reckon ye yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus."
Sanctification in our lives is God's will today.
What is sanctification? In this lesson we will seek to answer this question and in turn, see how it affects our lives.
SOME DEFINITIONS TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
Three basic words used in the Bible.
Sanctify.
Sanctification.
Holiness.
They are used in reference to places.
The camp of Israel - said to be sanctified, holy.
Certain rules to be adhered to:
Clean.
Orderly.
Sanitation laws - (God does not dwell among rubbish.)
Strict rules given.
The Hill of Zion - (David would take this city).
To be set aside for God and His people.
Jerusalem.
Strict rules given.
Used in reference to time.
Sabbath - a sanctified day - (Genesis 2:1-3).
Many Sabbaths - not only weekly.
50th year - everything rested.
7th year - land rested.
7th day - man rested.
Note: Not a day of "worship" but a day of rest.
Strict rules given.
Used in reference to people.
The first-born among the sons.
Price paid for them.
Sacrifice made for them.
Strict rules given.
The priest - sanctified priesthood.
Went into the presence of God.
Offered sacrifice for the sins of the people.
God had strict rules for these to follow.
New Testament Congregations - sanctified.
Called to be saints - I Corinthians 1:3.
Strict rules to live by.
Individuals - sanctified.
Hebrews 2:11 - For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one..."
Strict rules to live by.
What does sanctified mean?
Sometimes used of the completion of God's act.
7th day of creation sanctified - (Gen. 2:1-3).
Sometimes used to show a position.
Born of water and Spirit, said to be saints.
Sometimes used to show a process.
God takes a sinful person, works with them until they die, to make them more holy.
Hebrews 12:14 - "Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord."
I Thessalonians 4:3-8.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF HOLINESS AND SANCTIFICATION TO OUR LIVES.
I Timothy 6:11 - "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness."
We must hunger and thirst for righteousness - Matthew 5:6.
Why? Because we, of ourselves, don't have any!
We must not have a "convenient" holiness.
Holiness gets into our lives as a lifestyle.
Romans 6:4 - ...arise to walk a newness of life.
Context - sin is not even logical.
Life and lifestyle MUST show the newness.
Romans 12:2 - the mind must be reconstructed.
II Corinthians 7:1 - "...perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Context: People believed idols were not really gods. They had many free meals if they went to the feast with their friends.
NOTE: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1.
Ephesians 5:11-12 - speak out against darkness.
Ephesians 4:15 - grow up (out of darkness) into Christ.
Hebrews 2:1-4 - Christians were "drifting" because of slackness.
They lost their fervency of purpose.
Philippians 3:14 - "I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
We should have such an intense desire for holiness that we strain every muscle to attain it.
Example: The great mile runners strain with all they have to finish and win the race.
Hebrews 12:1.
Colossians 2:7 - "... established in your faith..."
Four figures used here:
Rooted in Christ.
Built up in Christ.
Established in faith.
Constantly expressing thanksgiving.
Christ must be made the "atmosphere" of our lives.
II Peter 2:14 - "Partakers of the divine nature..."
We sometimes do things that makes God ashamed.
Jeremiah 6:15 - "... they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush; therefore they shall fall among them that fall..."