A CALL TO WALK IN HOLINESS

1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Pet. 1:15-16

1 THESS. 4:7“For God did not call us to be impure but to live a holy life.”

1 PETER 1:15-16“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: be holy, because I Am holy.”

PSALM 24:3-4

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false”

HOLINESS DEFINED

GOD is calling us to walk in holiness.

HOLINESS is sanctity, saintliness, consecration. It is from the word HOLY which means sanctified (pure), divine, righteous.

PURE means clean, uncontaminated; unpolluted

MAN’S STATE IN REGARD TO HOLINESS

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT HOLINESS1 Thess.4:7 “God did not call you to be impure, but to live a holy life.” GOD CALLS US TO BE HOLY

1 Pet.1:15-16 “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: be holy, because I Am holy.” GOD COMMANDS US TO BE HOLY

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT HOLINESSEph.5:5 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ps.24-3:4

NO STAINED/BLEMISHED HEART CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD

COST OF IMPURITYImpurity withholds the favor of God. Isa. 59:2; Jer.5:25

Impurity denies us of the power and protection of God.

Impurity keeps us from the presence of God. Ps. 51:10-11

A CALL TO WALK IN HOLINESS

IT TAKES COMMITMENT

COMMITMENT TO HOLY LIVING

Daniel 1:8 “Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies…”

HOW WE ARE MADE IMPURE?

By what enters into our system

king’s delicacies – Things of the world. Dan.1:8

By what comes out of our system

Through our words. Matt.15:11

THE ANATOMY OF SIN

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM DANIEL’S

EXAMPLEWhenever we desire to heed God’s call for us to live in holiness we receive His full backing on us. Dan.1:9

Daniel was able to live an exceptional kind of life because of his commitment to walk in holiness. Dan.6:4

WHAT DID DANIEL RECEIVE FROM HIS

COMMITMENT Favor of God & man. Dan.6:1-2

Exceptional gift from God. Dan.6:3

Protection from God. Dan.6:22

Enjoyed close relationship with God.

HOW TO LIVE IN HOLINESSBy faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Gal.2:16, 1 Jn.1:7

REPENT. The attitude of repentance needs to be built into our lives as an ongoing experience.

RENOUNCE the sin/s. It is more than just confession/admission, it involves forsaking of the sin/s.

HOW TO LIVE IN HOLINESSRESIST the devil (temptation). Jas.4:7

REMAIN in the fellowship of believers. Heb.10:25

PSALM 24:3-6Who can ascend the LORD’s mountain? Who can stand in his holy sanctuary? Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart; the one who hasn’t made false promises, the one who hasn’t sworn dishonestly. That kind of person receives blessings

PSALM 24:3-6

from the LORD and righteousness from the God who saves. And that’s how things are with the generation that seeks him— that seeks the face of Jacob’s God