The Majesty of God

	By Garry Knighton Church of Christ/North - Shreveport, La.
	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..."
- II Peter 3:18 - "...grow in grace..."
  - God has called us to be different.
  - We are to act like God's children.
  - We cannot grow unless our lives are sanctified.

CONCLUSION:
- Before you can be saved, you must be sanctified.
- To stay saved, you must grow in sanctification.
- Hebrews 12:14.
- Romans 6:4 - "...walk in newness of life..."

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