Holiness & Separation

2) Does God care about what we wear?

A)    YES: God is concerned about the outward appearance of man!

Genesis 3:7 (English Standard Version)
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis 3:21 (English Standard Version)
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

• God intervened in man’s attempt to clothe himself. God realized the inadequacy of man’s attempt, and from then until now, God desires modest apparel. Society disagrees about what is modest and what is not, but when God’s Word is used and obeyed, the outcome will always result in modesty.

• Our appearance is the manner in which we come before the world! It’s what we display to everyone about our and behavior. Appearance is the way we conduct ourselves and the way we wear our clothing. When our appearance enhances our Christian experience, there’s no conflict with God’s Word. But when the motive is to attract attention, then we manifest pride.

• Our greatest concern should be for the reputation of Christ and the Gospel, rather than the building up of our own ego. The Christian should display himself in such a way that attention is drawn to Christ. The world needs a model in moral and Spiritual living. They will only find this type of example in the lives of real Christians.

B)    Clothing in Scripture:

• God Himself is “clothed” to indicate modesty.

Revelation 1:12-13 (English Standard Version)
¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

• Jesus uses a parable to express the necessity of proper clothing!

Matthew 22:11-13 (English Standard Version)
¹¹ “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹² And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

• Revelation is full of examples where being properly clothed is indicative of a right relationship with God:

Revelation 3:5a (King James Version)

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life…

Revelation 3:18a (King James Version)

I counsel thee to buy of me … white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear…

Revelation 4:4b (King James Version)

…I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment…

Revelation 7:9 (King James Version)

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Revelation 15:6a (King James Version)

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen…

Revelation 19:13-14 (King James Version)

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

• To say or think that the God and His Word are NOT concerned about being clothed properly (modestly) is to not fully understand the Word of God.

• We should be clothed in such a way that does not expose our bodies, but rather hide’s our nakedness.  The “coats” in Genesis 3:21 are translated from the Hebrew word KUTTONETH meaning, “garment; robe; tunic.” It covered everything from the shoulder to below the knee. In other words God was covering the parts of the body that can produce lustful thoughts. To be clothed modestly is to be covered from the shoulder to at least below the knee.

• Do we allow fashions, fad and society to guide our thoughts on clothing, or do we seek God and His Word as our guide? If a garment is revealing, or is even remotely close to being immodest, the true Christian should “abstain from the very appearance of evil.”

C)   Abomination!?

Deuteronomy 22:5 (New King James Version)
A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.

• Some have argued that Deuteronomy 22:5 is under the “Covenant of Law” that was fulfilled at Calvary; thus, since Christ fulfilled the law, this verse has been fulfilled.

• First, this thinking produces a spirit that wants to bring the Word of God into question, and challenge its validity. One cannot pick and choose what they like out of the Word and disregard what they dislike.

• Second, the “ceremonial” law was fulfilled; meaning that animal sacrifice is no longer a mandate.

• However, one must read the whole verse! The last phrase changes everything, regardless of where this verse is found! “for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God!” While Jesus did fulfill the ceremonial law, He did not “fulfill” abominations. An abomination in the Old Testament is still an abomination in the New Testament. As well, Revelation records something about abominations too:

Revelation 21:27 (New King James Version) (also 21:8)
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

• Those that do or cause an abomination shall not enter into eternal glory with the Lord. This coincides with Jesus’ parable of the wedding garment (Matthew 22).

• God designed men and women to be different and to fulfill their respective roles. This distinction brings balance to the marriage and the home. One can also observe a common sign on any bathroom and be able to recognize which one is the men’s and which one is the ladies, even if they are not spelled out!

• The ladies bathroom always has a stick figure of a woman in a skirt!

• It’s obvious that slacks make a woman look more like a man, in the same way that a dress/skirt would cause a man to appear feminine. Even if the department stores, or the clothing manufacturer calls a skirt a “man’s garment,” or calls pant’s a “woman’s garment” does not negate the Word of God!

• It all comes down to this question – do you want to please God or man?  God does care about what we wear, and the New Testament also addresses modest apparel. In fact, the phrase “modest apparel” is the Greek counterpart to the Hebrew word KUTTONETH and means “a long flowing garment.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (New King James Version)
⁹ in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰ but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

3) Appearance in physical expressions:

A)    Make-up:

• Changing the facial features with cosmetics is a method some use to try to hide their real self, or to appear more beautiful, or for the purpose of pride, or lustful reasons. Obviously all these are negative things and if they are not sin, they lead to sin. Besides, you are beautiful the way God made you…

Psalms 139:14 (English Standard Version)
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

Jeremiah 4:30 (ESV)
And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.

Jeremiah 4:30 (MSG)
And you, what do you think you’re up to? Dressing up in party clothes, Decking yourselves out in jewelry, putting on lipstick and rouge and mascara! Your primping goes for nothing. You’re not going to seduce anyone. They’re out to kill you!

B)    Jewelry:

• Jewelry draws attention to ones self, and/or to the affluence and the glory of the person wearing it. These are either sin or lead to sin.

• There is some jewelry that serves a purpose: 1) A watch, but do you really need a gaudy one? 2) Wedding bands, but how many carets do you need in your diamond to indicate you’re married?

• God said, “Man looks on the outward appearance.” (1 Samuel 16:7). God was revealing His own ability to see what was inside the man. But the converse of that is that man can ONLY judge by the outward appearance. There are three things we see when observing others: their clothing, their conduct, and their physical appearance (expression). Once we’ve looked on the outward, judgment is made based on what was seen.

• Thus, people express themselves and their character in these three ways: a person dresses to express their station in life. Clothes distinguish a person for that which they are publicly. They frequent places which manifest their lifestyles. Through their daily behavior, they express their values and philosophy of life. And finally, they show in their every gesture and manner of physical adornment what they really are inside.

• Are you dressing to “impress?”  Do you really need that make-up and jewelry to express yourself?  Or can you make the decision to be modest in your apparel and appearances and be obedient to the Word of God?

4) A clean temple – Does God Care About What I Do?:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (English Standard Version)
¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Romans 6:12-13 (English Standard Version)
¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans 6:16 (English Standard Version)
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

A)    Drinking:

Proverbs 20:1 (English Standard Version)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1 (God’s Word)
Wine {makes people} mock, liquor {makes them} noisy, and everyone under their influence is unwise.

B)    Smoking:

• While there is no Scripture relating to the harmful nature of smoking, it is most certainly sinful as it damages the “body” which is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

C)   Drugs:

• Because of the mind-altering nature of drugs, they fall into the category of sinful because of the harm they do to our bodies.

D)   Amusements/Recreation Parks, etc:

• Jesus realized the need for recreation (Mark 6:31) and the Bible records that one of the foundations of the Church is fellowship (Acts 2:42).

• However, when considering your next vacation, or even going to the theme park, or ball-game, consider this for a moment – what about the environment? An ungodly environment is not conducive to holy living.

• Maybe you would be dressed modestly if you went to the public pool, but what about all the other people there?  Your husband and son would most certainly be very tempted to lust with their eyes and in their hearts. Even ladies would have a hard time staying focused on Godliness when looking at young men not wearing shirts.

• There are also some restaurants that are not conducive to holy living because they promote sinfulness.

• All of these things must be considered in balance and moderation. You will see people walking down the street dressed immodestly and this does not mean that you need to quit driving. The grocery store sells beer and wine and maybe porn magazines, but we can avoid those aisles while purchasing our groceries.

• The point is to stop and ask yourself honestly, “What would Jesus do?”  “Would He go to this event, game, park, etc?”

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (King James Version)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

E)    Overeating:

• This one is not that popular, but overeating destroys the body, which is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Proverbs 23:2 (New Century Version)
Control yourself if you have a big appetite.

Proverbs 23:19-21 (New King James Version)
¹⁹ Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way. ²⁰ Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; ²¹ For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

• Proper diet and exercise will keep you feeling better and you will be maintaining your body – the temple of the Holy Ghost.

• For additional information on the subject of modest apparel and appearance, please request the following from 1^st Lady, Shannon Powell or refer to our lending library at SRWC:

• “Because I am His” by Raymond Woodward
• “Power Before the Throne” by Ruth Harvey
• “A Call to Holiness” by Joy Haney

Holiness & Separation

Prelude:

The Bible uses many earthly, tangible objects to represent Spiritual truth. For example, the bread and the fruit of the vine used in Communion, represent the body and the blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The manna eaten by the Israelites represented spiritual food, the water miraculously supplied represented spiritual drink, and the rock from which the water flowed was a type of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).

To a large degree, the system of laws given to Moses was a system of symbols. Many of the things about the Tabernacle prefigured spiritual realities which were to come in the future (Hebrews 9:6-9).

It must be remembered that the symbol is not the reality, but at the same time, the symbol must never be disregarded or treated lightly. By it’s association with that which is holy, the symbol itself takes on a great sacredness. For instance, the rock from which the Israelites drank was a literal rock. On two occasions, water flowed from it. The first time, Moses was commanded to strike it (Exodus 17:1-7) and he did. The second time, however, God told Moses to speak to it, but Moses instead struck it again. Even though water came forth to meet the need, God judged Moses saying, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12 ESV).

Why was it so important that Moses treat the rock according to God’s instructions? Because the rock represented Christ! He was smitten ONCE and only once for our sins. Now that the veil has been removed, each and every believer can now speak to God through prayer for themselves. Moses broke typology and God judged him for it because God’s instructions are very important and MUST be obeyed.

For the past few months, I’ve given many examples of how holiness starts on the inside and then progresses outwardly. Tonight, our title is presented in a question – Does God Care About My Hair?

1) Does God care about my hair?

1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (King James Version)
¹ Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. ² Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. ³ But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. ⁵ But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. ⁶ For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. ⁷ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸ For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. ⁹ Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. ¹⁰ For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. ¹² For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. ¹³ Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? ¹⁴ Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? ¹⁵ But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

A)    Authority-submission-relationship:

• 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 deals with spiritual reality that is represented by one’s hair. Sincere Christians cannot afford to discount or ignore the significance of the symbol of hair. To do that is to disregard that for which the symbol stands.

• What represents submission from a man to Christ is his hair/head. He must have it uncovered. This does not mean that a man must shave his head bald, but according to both verses 4 and 14 express plainly that a man needs to have short hair, keeping it cut and trim.

• The symbol is the hair/head, but the reality is the relationship between the man and God. “Christ is the head of the man,” therefore, Christ is to be exposed! He needs to be seen. Through the man keeping his hair cut, and living an obediently submitted life to God, Christ will be seen by all.

• What represents submission from a woman to her husband is to have long (uncut) hair. She is to have her head covered. The head of the woman is the man. God will not share His glory with anyone, therefore, a woman needs her head covered.

• The woman who obediently submits to her husband and God by maintaining uncut hair brings glory to God and has power with God and His angels.

• This is a reference to the Spirit world – consider for a moment pictures of witches and warlocks; they all have long hair. Why? Because even the devil thinks there’s something powerful in the hair. True Christian ladies realize it’s not some great power through her hair, but rather through her obedient submission that brings true authority!

• These facts emerge from the text:

• It is a shame for a man to pray or prophesy with his head covered and a shame for him to have long hair.

• It is a shame for a woman to cut (shorn, shaven, uncovered) her hair. Her long (uncut) hair is glory and is given as a covering.

B)    Definition of long hair on a woman:

• The Greek word for “long hair” in the text is KOMAO and means, “to have long hair: not to cut one’s hair.” (from Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain. Copyright © 1988 United Bible Societies, New York. Used by permission.)  “to let the hair grow.” (from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

• It is clear by these definitions that long hair is uncut. This is important, as some women do not have extremely long hair.

• Some ladies wonder if they should wear a veil, or if they could wear a veil, instead of having long hair, and/or even if they have uncut hair.  Vine’s will help us understand the answer – “the context (of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16) shows that the “covering” provided in the long “hair” of the woman is as a veil, a sign of subjection to authority, as indicated in the headships spoken of.” (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

• Furthermore, in the context of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, the KJV uses the word “shorn” which was translated from the Greek word KEIRO and means, “to have one’s hair cut off.” (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

• Also, the use of the word “shame” has been the source of debate. One comedian opined, “It says it’s shame not a sin!” But clearly this comedian didn’t have a full understanding of what the word shame means, and it’s connection to sin.

• The word shame is derived from the Greek word AISCHRON and means, “base; dishonorable.” (from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

• Furthermore, a quick cross-reference in the Englishman’s Concordance brings up ten other times the word AISCHRON and the root word from which it is derived, is used. These include such English words as “dishonest, filthy, and filthiness” and clearly point out sinful behaviors from which true Christians refrain. Thus, with all due respect to the comedian, shame is sin and I’m glad my wife and son and daughter to not wish to bring shame to our home or to our God!

• All the evidence clearly points to the fact that “long hair” in Scripture refers to “uncut hair” – hair which is allowed to grow.

1 Corinthians 11:6 (New Century Version)

If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But since it is shameful for a woman to cut off her hair or to shave her head, she should cover her head.

• And verse 15 goes on to explain that a women’s covering is her long (uncut) hair!

• Man’s head uncovered displays Christ (his head).

• Woman’s head covered displays Christ too!

• Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me!”

Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

C)   What about hair for men?

• What about men’s hair? Scripture is equally as concerned with this subject as it is with women’s hair. Just as the Bible clearly defines long hair for a woman as being uncut, the same Greek words are used in verses related to men. Thus, men should keep their hair cut, “shorn, or shaven.”

• “Nature itself teaches…” this is most likely referring to the fact that many men lose their hair; i.e., receding hair lines, going bald, etc.

• What about facial hair on men?

• There is no Scripture calling for men to clean-shaven faces. Some have attempted to say that the “face” of a man is part of his “head” and thus needs to be kept short or shaven; however, that’s not contextually accurate.

• Pastor David Sutherland (SRWC) states that he felt impressed to shave his mustache and keep his face clean-shaven because, “If a woman must obey God to keep her hair uncut, the least I can do is keep mine, including my facial hair, cut as obedience unto the Lord.”  I feel that this is perfect example of 21^st Century commitment from men.

• I will never call upon a man to keep his face clean-shaven because I cannot prove or ask him to do so Biblically; however, I keep my own face clean shaven and do so as a commitment to being presentable in my community.

D)   Hair throughout history:

• Has it ever occurred to you that era’s of time have been defined by hair? Consider the hippie movement of the 70’s, or the punk-rock hairdo’s of the 90’s, etc. To say that hair is irrelevant is to not understand it’s significance. If the world and the devil understand there is something about important about hair, you should too.

• God does care about your hair. I have not found a commentary of the Bible that will not agree with the Scriptural meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. It’s translated and interpreted the same way in every resource. The meaning of this crucial teaching is clear. The main theme is submission to authority, and submission is acted out through obedience and faith that is not coupled with obedience is not true faith.

• One does not need to have a “personal conviction” about absolutes in the Bible and since God does care about my hair, I just need to simply obey His Word!

• For additional information on the subject of hair, please request the following from 1^st Lady, Shannon Powell or refer to our lending library at SRWC:

• “Because I am His” by Raymond Woodward
• “Power Before the Throne” by Ruth Harvey
• “A Call to Holiness” by Joy Haney

5) The Christian’s place in the world:

A)    We can’t isolate ourselves from the world. It is possible to be IN the world but not OF the world! The presence of Christians in any community has a sanctifying influence.

Matthew 5:13 (English Standard Version)
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

• Salt influences and serves as an agent of change. The paradox of “in the world but not of it” is explained with salt. When you sprinkle salt on your prime rib, the salt crystals do not become miniature prime ribs, instead, they remain as salt, but serve to change the taste and texture (depending on how much salt you use) of your prime rib.

B)    There is no such thing as a “worldly church.” That is an oxymoron, and impossible Biblically; however, there are many churches which have no similitude to Biblical practice and yet call themselves a “church.” These types have no effect on the world and can never truly minister to the lost.

2 Timothy 3:5 (God’s Word)
They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people.

• Jesus will love you where you are, but will never leave you where you are! “Go and sin no more” is still a command today! Reach the world where they are, but don’t leave them where they are – take them higher. Lift them up just as you were lifted up from the depths of despair.

• And you don’t have to act like the world to win the world! That is a lie from the pit of hell! On the contrary, the world – your neighbors and coworkers – are looking for a beacon of hope and a bastion of morality. Even people who are not born again realize that the moral fabric of society is unraveling and whenever they see a TRUE Christian who practices their faith 24/7/365, they are influenced for the sake of the cause!

6) Standards ARE important!

A)    Conformity, whether to Christ or the world, is decided by the heart! If you love the world, you’ll follow the teachings of the world. If you love God, you’ll keep His commandments.

1 John 2:15 (English Standard Version)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Luke 16:13 (New King James Version)
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

• Paul expressed that “love was the fulfillment of the Law.”  Jesus said that “all the Law and the prophets hinge upon love.” Love is demanding! Anyone who thinks the Law was strict, needs a fresh study of the New Covenant. Under the Law it was “an eye for an eye” but in the New Covenant I’m supposed to love my enemy and pray for him and bless him. Under the Law, it was “don’t commit adultery” yet under the New Covenant it is, “Don’t lust after a woman in your heart!”

• Yet, it is the power of love that leads to a persistent practice of the principles of God’s Word and in effect, a greater holiness than practicing the Law.

B)    God has made it possible to walk in holiness, yet He gives us the responsibility to do it. God will not walk it for you. Some pray for victory when they should be simply walking in obedience. In fact, walking in obedience to God produces victory over the roaring lion (the devil)…

Isaiah 35:8-9 (English Standard Version)
⁸ And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. ⁹ No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.

• The farmer is entirely dependent upon God for the sunshine, rain, and the miracle of life in the seed. Nevertheless, the farmer will not have a crop unless he faithfully cultivates, plants, tends, and harvests. We cannot do what God must do, but God will not do what we can do.

C)   Following holiness requires personal effort; it’s not automatic. Genuine faith is obedient faith and it always produces good works. You will not be saved by works, but you will be judged by them and you are saved to DO good works.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (New King James Version)
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 3:13 (English Standard Version)
Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

1 Peter 1:17 (New King James Version)
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

7) Abominations to God:

A)    God is unchanging! If it displeased Him yesterday, it will displease Him today and tomorrow!

Malachi 3:6 (New King James Version)
For I am the Lord, I do not change…

• You must abhor and avoid all abominations!

Deuteronomy 7:26 (New King James Version)
Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.

B)    You will become like what you worship.

Luke 4:8 (English Standard Version)
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ” ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ “

C)   Six categories of abominations:

• Moral abominations – all sexual sins and sins of the flesh, both inward and outward.

• Incest (Lev. 18:17), Adultery & fornication (Ezek. 18:1-13), Sodomy (Lev. 18:22), Bestiality (Lev. 18:23), Transvestitism (Deut. 22:5), Whoredom (Deut. 23:17-18), A heart that devises wicked imaginations (Prov. 6:16-18).

• Occult abominations – all types of idolatry which encourages the worship of objects, whether animate or inanimate, other than God. This also includes wizardry, charming, enchantment, and witchcraft.

• Deuteronomy 7:25; 18:9-14

• Vocal abominations – all abuses made with the tongue!

• Leviticus 18:21, Proverbs 6:16-19; 17:15

• Violent abominations – all attacks against life.

• Proverbs 6:16-19, Jeremiah 7:8-10, Ezekiel 18:1-13

• Abominations of character – the attitudes that govern His character & principles.

• Deuteronomy 12:29-32, Proverbs 15:8-9; 6:18

• Abominations of worship – false worship!

• Deuteronomy 17:1, Proverbs 15:8-9; 28:9

D)   In view of God’s hatred for abominable things, those who wish to please Him must make three basic commitments: 1) abstain personally from all abominations, 2) refuse to permit abominable people to influence their home, and 3) cleanse the home of all abominations.

• Such a commitment will result in the home being cleansed from questionable books, magazines, recordings, videos, and pictures.

• Parents spend time and money to “kid-proof” their homes, providing a safe environment for their children. This is commendable and shows care and concern, however, the principle is even more commendable when you are willing to keep your home free of the influence of the world through any and all means!

8) The negative influence of the media:

Ask yourself this question: “Are any of the above mentioned abominations presented on television?”  It’s not the technology, or the box itself that is evil, but rather the programming and the agenda presented by the programmers!

A)    Mary Lewis Coakly, in her book Rated X – The Moral Case Against TV (Arlington House) demonstrates that television is saturating “American homes with raw sex, blood and gore, slanted news, and subtle attacks on religion and morality, family and country.” After sitting through hundreds of programs, she assembled a table of contents which bears a striking resemblance to the list of Biblical abominations.

B)    In Christ and the Media, Malcolm Muggerridge, veteran British journalist and broadcaster, announced his startling opinion that the media have “provided the devil with perhaps the greatest opportunity accorded him since Adam and Eve were turned out of the Garden of Eden.  If you want my absolute opinion, I think the best thing to do is not to look at television, and to that end, I have disposed of my set.”

C)   In 1980 in Falls Church, Virginia, PTA members kept their eyes fixed on TV programs through the hours children would be viewing them. They observed 185 programs for 114 and ½ hours and they saw: 281 assaults, 117 killings, 19 robberies, 16 kidnappings, 10 murder conspiracies, 3 arsons, 3 extortions, 3 jailbreaks, 1 lynching, 1 bombing, and 1 suicide!  I shudder to think what it would be today!

D)   Bill Bixby, the actor who portrayed “The Incredible Hulk” on television several years ago refused to allow his then four-year-old son to watch his TV saying, “People think cartoons are harmless because they are not real, but children believe them.”

E)    98 out of 100 Americans own a television – which is more than own refrigerators or kitchen ranges). The church MUST educate and inform Christians of the many dangers and evils of this modern medium of communication.

9) Your mind is a terrible thing to waste:

A)    For additional information regarding this, please refer to the following two sermons:

• A Thief at Your Window – Bishop Myron Powell

• The War of the Worlds – Bishop Myron Powell

• Both of these are available in CD and MP3 format, and if they are out of stock on the sound booth table, please see Brother Dan to request a copy.

• In summary of Christian Standards, and in regards to the evils presented on TV and in movies, and on the internet, David offers wise counsel:

Psalms 101:2-3 (English Standard Version)
² I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; ³ I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

• David could not have a TV in his home and at the same time “walk with integrity of heart within his house.”

1 Peter 1:16 (New King James Version)
“Be holy, for I am holy.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (The Living Bible)

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

True worshippers do not find the life of holiness burdensome or restrictive. The desire for the pleasures of sin is gone and in its stead is the longing to please Jesus Christ and be like Him. Born-again Christians consider it a joy to live a holy life.

Holiness is from the Lord! The disobedient sin of Adam brought separation between God and man. In order to become holy, you must go to the source of holiness.

1 Peter 1:14-16 (Complete Jewish Bible)
¹⁴ As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; ¹⁶ since the Tanakh says, “You are to be holy because I am holy.”

Holiness is from the heart! It is not an abstract, mystical devoutness that has no real application to daily lifestyle. Instead, holiness is nothing more and nothing less than living daily with a mindset to please God. Remember, if it pleases God it matters not who it displeases. Likewise, if it displeases God it matters not who it pleases.

Matthew 12:34b (English Standard Version)
…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Holiness is glory to God! Like the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we are to be reflectors of the glory of God. Our lives should daily exalt Jesus Christ, the One who dwells within our regenerated and redeemed hearts! Our outward expression of inward holiness is a reflection of the Lord’s glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (English Standard Version)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Holiness is a necessity, NOT an option! Just as you forsake sin to become saved, so must you continue to forsake sin in order to stay saved! Those who do not have on the “wedding garment” will not be permitted to enter the kingdom of heaven!

Matthew 22:11-13 (English Standard Version)
¹¹ “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹² And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Hebrews 12:14 (English Standard Version)
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Holiness is a part of our worship! Some errantly think that our worship consists of the time we spend singing on Sunday; however, worship is truly a lifestyle, and a lifestyle of holy living every day is true worship unto the Lord. Toby Mac observed, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who profess Jesus with their lips but deny Him by their lifestyle: this is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

1 Chronicles 16:29 (King James Version)

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:2 (King James Version)

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 96:9 (King James Version)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

1) Setting of standards:

The more the purpose and use of standards are understood, the better qualified a person will be to keep them. This is illustrated in Psalm 20…

Psalms 20:5 (New King James Version)
We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

A)    Why have standards?

• Darkness is not the opposite of light, but rather the absence of it.

Matthew 5:14-16 (English Standard Version)
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

• The object of the church is to draw attention to the One we represent (reflectors) rather than to ourselves. In everything we do, we strive to be identified with Jesus Christ. Standards, then, when properly applied to our daily lives, help bring that identity about!

B)    What do standards represent?

• In battle, the flag identifies the soldiers of each side. The church is engaged in spiritual warfare and thus must also have flags (standards) which clearly identify it. The enemy must know who we are!

Acts 19:15 (English Standard Version)
But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

• Our standards signify to the world what are convictions are and where we stand. What we wear and how we wear it, where we go or don’t go, what we say or don’t say, how we live and how we don’t, etc. all serve to identify us as Christians. Standards serve to distinguish the church from the world, both in the manner of dress and in daily conduct. This distinction is pleasing to God.

• Standards represent a united effort! Every policeman wears a uniform that identifies him as such. By the same token, the Christians “modest apparel” of men not wearing women’s clothing and women not wearing that which pertains to a man, serve as a “uniform” by which we are identified.

• The very word Christian means “Christ like.” Therefore, it’s not just our clothing, but also our conduct and conversation that also identifies us the true Church.

2) Where do standards come from?

A)    The Word of God sets standards:

• The Word of God is the mind of God and it completely expresses to humanity the whole will of God! The Word also reveals the history of mankind and God’s dealings with men. Principles established in the Word define many of the Christian standards. The absoluteness of God’s Word is unchangeable!

• If God said it…that settles it…whether you believe it or not!

B)    The Spirit of God sets standards:

• There are times when we don’t understand what the Bible teaches about certain modern philosophies, because they are not specifically spelled out. Thus, the Spirit of God will quicken your mind through the preaching, teaching, and your personal study of the Word of God to reveal these things unto you. This is commonly called “conviction.”

• Many years, for example, people didn’t know that tobacco caused cancer. However, many felt convicted by the Spirit that it was wrong to use tobacco in any form. The Bible does not clearly state any prohibition of the use of tobacco, but verses such as 2 Corinthians 7:1 were quickened to their minds. These Spirit-led preachers and saints considered this habit as filthy to the flesh. Much later, it was proven that tobacco is harmful to the body.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (English Standard Version)
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

• God dealt with Christian people in a similar fashion concerning television. It looked like a promising tool of communication when it first emerged, and much of the programming at that time couldn’t be proven as harmful. But prayer was made about this and the Spirit and today even non-Christian people realize the negative influence TV has been on society.

Psalms 101:3 (English Standard Version)
I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

Psalms 101:3 (God’s Word)
I will not put anything wicked in front of my eyes. I hate what unfaithful people do. I want no part of it.

• Where did the standard of our apparel originate from? It started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and the woman were trying to hide their nakedness with the fig leaves they had sown together. All that they had created were “loin-cloths.” This was their choice for covering, but God overturned and overruled their selection and established “modest apparel” for them.

Genesis 3:21 (King James Version)
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

• • These “coats” are defined in the Hebrew as “a garment extending from the shoulder to below the knee.” In other words, God said everything I’ve covered is for modesty’s sake and to uncover it is to be immodest.

• • This also connects to principles of dress in the Law and modest apparel in the New Testament. Later in the study, we will review this in greater detail.

• It is important to note that whether or not you feel personally convicted about something, if it is clearly stated in the Word of God, it is final and absolute. Obeying God is also part of our worship and there is no such thing as disobedient worship – that is an oxymoron!

1 Samuel 15:22 (King James Version)
…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…

C)   Tradition sets standards:

• Many people who’ve departed from formal denominations fear tradition. But, there are many traditions that are good to keep.  Paul spoke about keeping traditions…

2 Thessalonians 2:15 (English Standard Version)
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (English Standard Version)
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

• Sometimes certain standards may be set in the church that aren’t specifically dealt with in the Scriptures. You must not be too quick to discredit traditional standards. Change for the sake of change is not healthy. In other words, don’t tear down a fence until you know why it’s standing.

• If a traditional standard is no longer valid, God will reveal this to the leadership of His church – the five-fold ministry.

D)   Culture sets standards:

• Sometimes Christians find it needful to set standards simply to avoid association with certain elements that are not Christian. When this occurs in any culture, the only way to avoid being identified with that group is to avoid the elements that mark them. In avoiding this identification, certain cultural standards become apparent.

• An example here in Caribou is the “Bowl-a-Rama.” It is advertised as a family site complete with birthday party rooms, etc. Bowling is not a sin. Being with your family and friends is fellowship. However, the Bowl-a-Rama becomes a bar at 6pm. One must count the cost and “abstain from the very appearance of evil.” For a complete family bowling experience, there are other bowling alley’s that do not serve beer or tobacco, and are not a bar at night. These would be much more conducive to a holy lifestyle.

E)    Individuals sets standards:

• These are also called “personal convictions.” However, it is imperative to not confuse these with absolutes! Even if you don’t have a “personal conviction” about an absolute principle, you still are required by God to obey it.

• Individual standards (or personal convictions) are to be practiced by the individual for the purpose of drawing closer to God, and for the purpose of maintaining one’s walk in the Spirit.
• For example, someone that has been delivered from pornography may choose not to use the internet at all as a safeguard against future failure. While many others use the internet for wholesome purposes, this delivered person may need to set a personal conviction to keep themselves pure.

• It is un-kind and un-Christian to ridicule another person’s conviction.  It’s equally un-kind and un-Christian to impose your personal convictions on anyone else.

3) When are standards important?

A)    When they point people to Christ! They’re harmful if they expose a “holier-than-thou” attitude, which God hates.

B)    When they show the world what God is doing! Noah built an ark (the standard) and preached righteousness. His words and deeds clearly revealed God’s purpose.

C)   When they are give direction and guidance! Standards are not an end in themselves: when that becomes the case, legalism is the result. Standards are the lamps that draw attention to right things to help us live a pleasing life unto the Lord.

D)   When a proper attitude is maintained! A fence keeps things in, but also keeps things out. They serve to help you, protect you, and keep you safe.

4) Be not conformed…but be transformed!

Romans 12:1-2 (King James Version)
¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

A)    (“Be not conformed”) The Greek word rendered “conformed” properly means “to put on the form, fashion, or appearance of another. It may refer to anything pertaining to the habit, manner, dress, style of living, etc., of others!

• Before experiencing the new birth, we all drift downstream and away from God. When we repent, we make an “about-face” and begin to swim upstream finding ourselves, sometimes, in the midst of a tremendous struggle.

• The secret to success in Christianity is dying out to your flesh and that takes discipline. The world has no attraction to those who are dead to sin. Paul gives us additional insight into victorious Christian living…

Galatians 2:20 (New King James Version)
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 6:14 (English Standard Version)
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

• The closer a person lives to the world, the more they are attracted by the world. Lot “pitched his tents towards Sodom” and it wasn’t long before he ended up in Sodom. The pull and allure of the world is strong – you must resist it by staying as far away as possible!

• Everyone has to fight peer pressure. To be considered odd is not something anyone desires. This fear of standing out has caused some to reject holiness and separation and lose out with God. This is why it is imperative that you fall in love with Jesus Christ and His Church. Or in other words, fall in love with the Commander and you’ll have no problem keeping the commandments.

John 14:15 (English Standard Version)
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

• Finally, remember those who stand out for Christ will always have Christ with them, even if the crowd rails against them – just ask the three Hebrew boys. They stood up and stood out, but God walked with them through the fire!

B)    (“Be ye transformed”) The Greek word from which the expression here is derived means “form, habit; change…transfigure…transform! … The direction is, “put on another form; change the form of the world for that of Christianity.”

• The true Christian dresses modestly and looks like a Christian should. True Christians don’t laugh at off-color jokes or stories. True Christians are faithful on the job and honest in their transactions. True Christians refrain from worldly parties and fellowship with the ungodly. Transformation has taken place and the desires for the things of the world no longer are desirable!

• Transformation means I don’t talk like I used to, act like I used to, live like I used to, dress like I used to, or do anything like I used to – I am now controlled by the leading of the Holy Spirit and desire to please Him in all things!

• A transformed Christian never thinks, “How little can I do and still make it?” Or, “What’s the least I have to do to please God?” Instead, transformed Christians really ask the popular catch phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?” and then obey it with a steadfast desire to please God. Ask yourself, “Am I looking into the Word for loopholes, or to really understand God and please Him?”

5) Separation from:

A)    Scripture reveals that children of God who is holy must not only be separated unto, but also from certain things:

• All sin!

Romans 6:1-2 (English Standard Version)
¹ What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:12-13 (English Standard Version)
¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

• Bitterness and hatred:

Romans 13:10 (New King James Version)
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Ephesians 4:30-32 (New King James Version)
³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

• Gossip and evil speaking:

1 Corinthians 15:33 (King James Version)
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

James 1:26 (English Standard Version)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

1 Peter 3:10-11 (King James Version)
¹⁰ For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: ¹¹ Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 Peter 4:15 (King James Version)
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

• Offenses (causing others to stumble):

Romans 14:13 (English Standard Version)
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

1 Corinthians 10:32 (New King James Version)
Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

• The appearance of evil:

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (King James Version)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

• We should therefore abstain from evil, and all appearances of evil, from sin, and that which looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of sin, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to sin, will not long abstain from the actual commission of sin. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)

• The safe and proper rule is to lean always to the side of virtue. In these instances it may be certain that there will be no sin committed by abstaining; there may be indulgence. No command of God, or of propriety, will be violated if we decline complying with these things; but on the other hand we may wound the cause of religion by yielding to what possibly is a mere temptation. No one ever does injury or wrong by abstaining from the pleasures of the world. (from Barnes’ Notes)

• Fleshly lusts:

1 Peter 2:11 (English Standard Version)
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

1 Peter 2:11 (The Message)
Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

1 Peter 2:11 (New Century Version)
Dear friends, you are like foreigners and strangers in this world. I beg you to avoid the evil things your bodies want to do that fight against your soul.

1 John 2:15-17 (New King James Version)
¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

• Drunkenness:

Romans 13:13 (King James Version)
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Ephesians 5:18 (English Standard Version)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

• Drunkenness indicates intoxication, inebriation; a state where the control of the senses is lost – any type of chemical substance that causes loss of control and judgment.

• The following Scriptures contain lists of behaviors and activities from which Christians are to separate themselves:

Galatians 5:19-21 (English Standard Version)
¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:8 (English Standard Version)
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Romans 1:18-32 (English Standard Version)
¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. ²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. ²⁸ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Ephesians 4:31 (English Standard Version)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (English Standard Version)
⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Mark 7:20-23 (English Standard Version)
²⁰ And he said, What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

Ephesians 5:3-5 (English Standard Version)
³ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6) But if we sin?

1 John 2:1 (English Standard Version)
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

A)    Advocate means “attorney; a defender.”

• No one is perfect, but we must honesty and sincerely strive for perfection.
• 1 John 2:1 is NOT a license or permit to sin!  It’s a safety net to restore us on the occasions when we stumble or make a mistake.

• Willfully sinning is an abuse of grace!

Hebrews 10:26-31 (English Standard Version)
²⁶ For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

7) The spirit of holiness:

A)    Obedience to the “letter” is legalism: voluntarily conforming our heart and our life to the will of the Spirit is true holiness!

1 Thessalonians 3:13 (English Standard Version)
so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

8) Sanctuaries:

A)    We’re called to be separated FROM every sinful influence, indulgence, attitude, practice and appearance!

B)    We’re also called to be separated UNTO every righteous, holy, and Godly influence, attitude, practice and appearance!

2 Timothy 2:19-21 (English Standard Version)
¹⁹ But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” ²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

1) Two sides of separation:

A)    God’s people have always been a separated people: separated from evil and unto God!

Psalms 34:14a (New King James Version)
Depart from evil and do good…

B)    In the world, yet not of the world!

James 4:4 (English Standard Version)
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17 (English Standard Version)
¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

• Biblical separation is NOT isolation from the world, but rather insulation against the world!

James 1:27 (English Standard Version)
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

2) Servants:

A)    You will worship what you serve and serve what you worship:

Matthew 4:10 (English Standard Version)
Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.

Romans 6:16-18 (English Standard Version)
¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Joshua 24:15 (English Standard Version)
…choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

• Serving and obeying God is the highest calling a man or woman can fulfill.

• You must take His yoke upon you; but Jesus declares…

Matthew 11:30 (English Standard Version)
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

B)    Freedom in Christ? What does it mean? Are there still obligations, responsibilities, boundaries, restrictions, regulations or control?

• Some have even gone so far as to label any kind of restrictions or regulations as “bondage.”  Scriptures referring to bondage in the New Testament are speaking of the ceremonial law of Moses, or the bondage of sin and unrighteousness.

C)   Holiness and righteousness is not bondage unto Mosaic Law, but rather obedience to the Apostles Doctrine.

Acts 2:42 (New King James Version)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

• Holiness is not a digression into an obsolete lifestyle, bur rather a progression into a new lifestyle: a lifestyle controlled by the Holy Ghost.

• Born-again Christians are not in bondage to the Old Testament Law, they are servants of righteousness and holiness.

Romans 6:17-18 (New King James Version)
¹⁷ But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. ¹⁸ And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

• Holiness is not going backward into bondage, it’s going forward into true spiritual liberty!  This is the paradox of the Christian life that the world cannot understand: it is both servant-hood and liberty:

1 Corinthians 7:22 (King James Version)
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

• We are disciples. The word disciple means “a learner or a pupil; one who disciplines his life according to the teachings of a teacher.”

3) Parameters of a holy life:

A)    The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) are written as a testimony or an account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.  They introduce people to Jesus Christ.

B)    Acts (history of the Church) gives us a detailed record of how the apostles obeyed and taught the teachings of Jesus Christ.  This is where people experience Jesus Christ.

C)   The Epistles (Romans through Jude) are the teachings of the apostles to the believers. The epistles do not instruct us on how to receive salvation, but rather how to continue in salvation: how to live as a Christian. Therefore, as believers who have already been born again, you need to look very closely at the lifestyle instructions that the Apostles gave under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

D)   Revelation (prophecy) shows us what happens to those who are righteous and obediently follow Christ as well as what happens to those who are wicked and disobey the teachings of the Bible.

4) Separated unto:

A)    As holy children of God, we’re called to be separated UNTO many things. The following are some (but not all) the things unto which we are to separate ourselves:

• A total, unconditional love for God:

Matthew 22:37-40 (English Standard Version)
³⁷ And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

• A love for God’s church:

John 13:35 (English Standard Version)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

1 Peter 1:22 (English Standard Version)
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

• A love for your enemies:

Matthew 5:44 (English Standard Version)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Romans 12:17-21 (English Standard Version)
¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

• A forgiving spirit toward all men:

Matthew 18:21-22 (English Standard Version)
²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Mark 11:25 (English Standard Version)
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Ephesians 4:32 (English Standard Version)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

• A peace-making spirit:

Matthew 5:9 (English Standard Version)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Romans 12:18 (Complete Jewish Bible)
If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people.

Romans 14:19 (New King James Version)
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

• A teachable attitude:

Hebrews 13:7 (New Century Version)
Remember your leaders who taught God’s message to you. Remember how they lived and died, and copy their faith.

James 1:22-25 (English Standard Version)
²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

• A spiritual mind:

Romans 8:6-8 (English Standard Version)
⁶ To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 12:2 (English Standard Version)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

• A cooperative attitude:

Romans 12:16 (New King James Version)
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (New King James Version)
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

• Honesty:

Romans 12:17 (King James Version)
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

1 Timothy 2:2-3 (King James Version)
² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

• Humility:

Colossians 3:12 (English Standard Version)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

James 4:10 (English Standard Version)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:5 (English Standard Version)
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

• Temperance: moderation, self-restraint:

1 Corinthians 9:25 (English Standard Version)
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Philippians 4:5 (King James Version)
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (English Standard Version)
⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

• Contentment:

Philippians 4:11 (English Standard Version)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (English Standard Version)
⁶ Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, ⁷ for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Hebrews 13:5 (English Standard Version)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.

• Patience:

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (English Standard Version)
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

• A pure heart:

Matthew 5:8 (English Standard Version)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Holiness, part 2 – Victorious Christian Living

4) The two dimensions of personal holiness:

A)    Holiness is revealed in a believer’s life in two forms: 1) by inward purity, and 2) by outward purity.

B)    Four possibilities of cleanliness:

Matthew 23:25-26 (New King James Version)
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.

• True holiness begins inwardly and progresses outwardly!

C)   Jesus clearly taught that both the inside AND the outside need to be clean and pure! One without the other is insufficient!

2 Corinthians 7:1 (Amplified Bible)

THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (English Standard Version)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

D)   Holiness involves the entire being: it’s not just inward purity; it’s not just outward purity; it’s TOTAL purity! True holiness is BOTH!

5) Internal holiness (spirit and soul)

A)    The words “spirit and soul,” while not synonymous, are used in Scripture to indicate the inner man. Combined, the spirit and soul make up our thinking, our will, our emotions, our “heart:” it’s that part of us which is eternal.

• How do you accomplish the task of inner holiness?

1 John 1:9 (English Standard Version)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

B)    Man is powerless to cleanse himself from sin. Inward cleansing can only be accomplished by Jesus Christ.

• Sin is ONLY remitted with blood (Hebrews 9:22) and no other cleansing agent can initially purify the heart of man except the blood of Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:7 (English Standard Version)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Revelation 1:5b (English Standard Version)
…Jesus Christ… who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

• Our good deeds, devout living, and self-righteousness cannot cleanse us inwardly – we must be washed in the blood of the Lamb of God!

• When we’re baptized in water in Jesus’ name, the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to us and our hearts are purified and cleansed.

C)   Once our hearts are cleansed, it becomes our responsibility to KEEP our hearts and our inner man clean!

Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified Bible)

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

• After you’ve been cleansed by the blood, you need to learn to wash yourself in the Word!

John 15:3 (English Standard Version)
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

1 Peter 1:22 (English Standard Version)
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth…

Ephesians 5:25b-26 (English Standard Version)
²⁵ …Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

• By continually reading, hearing, and meditating in the Word of God, our inner man is cleansed and protected from sin and unrighteousness!

Psalms 119:11 (Complete Jewish Bible)
I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you.

• Truth is truth, whether you treasure it or not. – Rachel Coltharp (at NAYC 2009 in Nashville, TN)

D)   Finally the Holy Spirit which leads and guides you into all truth becomes our partner in strengthening our inner man and keeping us pure within!

Ephesians 3:16 (English Standard Version)
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

6) External holiness (body and life):

A)    Internal holiness is vital; but genuine inner holiness ALWAYS results in external holiness!

Romans 12:1-2 (New King James Version)
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 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

• Outward holiness is not irrational or impossible, it’s our reasonable service!

• External holiness begins with offering our bodies as living sacrifices unto God!

• True worshippers cannot allow their bodies to be involved in sinful deeds:

Romans 6:12 (New King James Version)
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

B)    The Christian life has always been a life of self-denial!  One of the first things a Christian has to do is learn to say “NO!” to his own flesh, to Satan, and to worldly desires and passions.

Luke 9:23 (English Standard Version)
And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

• Bringing the appetites and actions of the body under control of the Spirit that dwells in us if of paramount importance! You must die to the flesh!  It’s crucial to holy living!

Romans 8:13 (English Standard Version)
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.

C)   Apostle Paul taught through example the necessity of dying to the flesh:

1 Corinthians 9:27 (English Standard Version)
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

• Paul clearly explains that he keeps his body under control.  Those who belong to Christ MUST deny the flesh!

Galatians 5:24 (English Standard Version)
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

D)   Your body is the temple of God – keep it holy!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New King James Version)
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? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

• Once you’re born again – you are not your own!  Keep your temple undefiled by being a daily living sacrifice!

• You have to daily so “NO” to the will of your flesh and “YES” to the will of God.

• Stern judgment is pronounced upon those who defile the temple of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (New King James Version)
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.

• Every born-again believer MUST come to terms with the New Testament commands for Christ-like living!

7) The purpose of holiness:

A)    Genuine holiness brings glory to God:

1 Corinthians 6:20 (English Standard Version)
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

• The divine purpose of holiness is to bring glory to Jesus Christ through our willing obedience.  Our holiness is a witness to the world.

Matthew 5:16b (English Standard Version)
…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

• Genuine holiness is a part of your worship unto God.  Give Him all the glory that He deserves by serving Him in spirit and in truth!

• “No great and lasting revival of religion can be granted us till the professed lovers of Jesus prove their affection by coming out from an ungodly world, being separated, and touching not the unclean things.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

• The Stranger…

• A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.

• As I grew up, I never questioned his place in our family. Mom taught me to love the Word of God, and dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries, and comedies were daily conversations. He could hold our whole family spell-bound for hours each evening. He was like a friend to the whole family. He took dad, bill, and me to our first Major League Baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see movies, and he made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars.

• The stranger was incessant talker. Dad didn’t seem to mind, but sometimes mom would quietly get up, while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his stories of faraway places, and go to her room, where she would read the Bible and pray. I wonder not if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave.

• You see, my dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions. But this stranger never felt an obligation to honor them. Profanity, for example, wasn’t allowed in our house – not from us, from our friends, or adults. Our longtime visitor, however, used occasional four-letter words that burned my ears and made dad squirm. To my knowledge, the stranger was never confronted. My dad was a teetotaler and didn’t permit alcohol in his home, not even for cooking. But the stranger felt like we needed exposure and enlightened us to other ways of life. He offered us beer and other alcoholic beverages often. He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished.

• He talked freely (much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. As I look back, I believe it was the grace of God and my mother’s prayers that the stranger didn’t influence us more. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked to leave.

• More than thirty years have passed since the stranger moved in, but if I were to walk into my parents’ den today, you would still see him over in a corner, waiting for someone to listen to him and watch him draw his pictures. His name? We always just called him by his initials – T.V.

Hebrews 12:14 (King James Version)
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

The Bible defines the lifestyle of the Christian with an extraordinary word – holiness.  Webster’s 7^th Collegiate Dictionary defines it as “the state or quality of being holy; being set apart to the service of God, characterized by perfection.” The Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary indicates that the word holiness is translated from the Hebrew root word QUADASH meaning, “separateness,” and the Greek word HAGIASMOS which means “pure.”  The three significant elements of holiness are separation, purity, and perfection.

1) The Character of God – Holiness!

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

• God is LOVE

1 John 4:8 (New King James Version)
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

• God is HOLY (found more than fifty times in the Bible!)

Exodus 15:11 (King James Version)
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Psalms 99:9 (King James Version)
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

Ezekiel 39:7 (King James Version)
So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

Revelation 4:8 (King James Version)
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

B)    Not only is God holy – but all that He commands, establishes and ordains is holy:

Romans 7:12 (English Standard Version)
So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Psalms 105:42 (English Standard Version)
For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.

Romans 1:2 (English Standard Version)
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

2 Timothy 3:15-16 (New King James Version)
¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Psalms 99:3 (New Century Version)
Let them praise your name; it is great, holy and to be feared.

Matthew 6:9 (Complete Jewish Bible)
You, therefore, pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy.

2) The holiness of God’s people:

A)    Holiness in not attributed exclusively to God or inanimate objects: the word is also used in reference to God’s people – His saints, children, believers, followers and disciples:

Deuteronomy 28:9 (English Standard Version)
The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.

B)    Since He is holy, He requires a holy people. Holiness is not an option or an alternative; it’s an imperative command of God!

Romans 6:19-23 (God’s Word)
¹⁹ I’m speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your corrupt nature. Clearly, you once offered all the parts of your body as slaves to sexual perversion and disobedience. This led you to live disobedient lives. Now, in the same way, offer all the parts of your body as slaves that do what God approves of. This leads you to live holy lives. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from doing what God approves of. ²¹ What did you gain by doing those things? You’re ashamed of what you used to do because it ended in death. ²² Now you have been freed from sin and have become God’s slaves. This results in a holy life and, finally, in everlasting life. ²³ The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:1-2 (New King James Version)
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 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (The Message)
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.

Ephesians 1:3-4 (English Standard Version)
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (New King James Version)
²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (New King James Version)
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, 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 Thessalonians 4:7 (King James Version)
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1 Peter 1:13-15 (New King James Version)
¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Hebrews 12:14 (New Century Version)
Try to live in peace with all people, and try to live free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.

• These Scriptures, along with so many others, elevate the concept of personal holiness to a vital dimension! Holiness is an essential and necessary element of the Christian life! It’s the ONLY lifestyle of the true, Biblically-obedient Christian. Holiness is the distinguishing characteristic! It is a high calling.

3) The attainment of holiness:

A)    Holiness and righteousness are closely related concepts in Scripture. They’re used almost interchangeably as overlapping concepts.

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

• Holiness is also used to indicate proper behavior, virtuous action, and godly lifestyle.

B)    As Christians, we attain holiness and righteousness in two ways: by the imputed (conferred) righteousness of Jesus Christ, and by our obedience to the righteousness of the Word of God.

• First, the righteousness or holiness of Jesus Christ is imputed (conferred, bestowed, credited) to us:

• When the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to our life at our new-birth, His righteousness is imputed to us on the merit of His completed work at Calvary. His death pays the price for our sins.

• The element of holiness is transferred upon us as a gift of grace and is applied to us through our obedient faith in His Word:

Romans 5:17-19 (New King James Version)
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 (New King James Version)
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

• As we encounter Jesus Christ at the cross, we are washed by His blood and cleansed from our sins for which we could have never paid. Now we are righteous and holy through Him!

• BUT, this gift of righteousness awakens us to a new way of life, behavior and lifestyle! What you receive inwardly shows up outwardly!

2 Corinthians 7:1 (The Message)
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.

Romans 1:16-18 (English Standard Version)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” ¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Romans 6:12-23 (English Standard Version)
¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. ¹⁵ What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. ¹⁹ I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. ²⁰ When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• These and other Scriptures make it obvious that after the gift of righteousness is conferred IN us, a continual life of righteous behavior should be followed. In other words it works from the inside out! Inward holiness will always manifest itself outwardly!

• Secondly, righteousness and holiness are accounted to us through our obedient action to the righteousness of God’s Word.

• Biblical terminology concerning our role in personal righteousness and holiness:

Romans 6:19 (KJV)

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Romans 12:1 (King James Version)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (King James Version)

…let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 4:24 (King James Version)

.And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Timothy 2:22 (King James Version)

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Titus 2:12 (King James Version)

…denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Hebrews 12:14 (King James Version)

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Peter 1:15 (King James Version)

…be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1 John 3:10 (King James Version)

…whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God…

• The words “yield, present, cleanse, put, be, follow, flee, deny, live, and do” are verbs that denote an ACTION to be taken by an individual!

• The language of these Scriptures clearly indicates that there’s a continuing element of holiness and righteousness that’s derived from the action and behavior of the believer!

• True holiness begins an imparted gift of grace, that in turn, teaches us to develop a daily lifestyle of holiness.

Titus 2:11-13 (New King James Version)
¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,