Sunday April 15, 2007

Getting Serious About Holiness

(1 Peter 1:13-16)

What God asks of us: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1:15-16) 

Why He can ask this of us: “…the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1:13c)

What God asks of us: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1:15-16) 

Why He can ask this of us: “…the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1:13c)

(1 Corinthians 6:15-20) “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

 How can I be Holy? 

1)    Prepare   my mind for action “gird up the loins of your mind” (1:13a)

 (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” 

(Philippians 4:8) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

2) Be self-   controlled    “be sober” (1:13b)

3) Set my   hope    completely on   Jesus    “hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1:13c)

4) Do not   conform    to evil “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance…” (1:14)