Transcript Document

In pursuit of
holiness
The holiness of God
Holiness:
an impossible dream?
Dead to sin; alive in Christ
Holy living with the
Holy Spirit
Holiness: two common reactions
• Indifference
• Anxiety - policeman syndrome!
We like to hear about the
love of God…
but the holiness of God
is a challenge.
May the God of peace make you
holy all the way through. May
your whole spirit, soul and body
be kept blameless at the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thess 5:23
When we hear the news we are
saddened in our hearts.
But we shouldn’t be surprised.
People do people things.
And we have no power to purify
ourselves.
How can a godless society expect
to be godly?
And what might our response be?
Imagine if the church were truly holy.
Not personal piety;
Not theological study;
But a deep collective
transformation.
God’s people are called to be distinctive.
A holy priesthood - in our community.
And we can’t light a fire if we aren’t on fire!
If we’re looking for revival in our town holiness
will be at the heart of it.
How do we do this?
Find and follow Jesus.
Not simply as a doctrine
to be learned but as a
Lord to be served and a
life to be lived.
Holiness is at the heart of the story of God.
Holiness is who God is. Majesty; purity; wholly other.
His holiness is violated in Eden Gen 3.
And is restored in Rev 21.
Holiness and love are indivisible.
Holiness is about being
fully human.
A return to Eden’s ideal.
A taste of paradise.
Not God’s burden but
God’s best.
A deeper relationship
with God.
How little people know who
think holiness is dull.
When one meets the real
thing… it’s irresistible.
CS Lewis
So would we like a
powerful encounter with
God?
We think it would be a
WOW!
But Isaiah found
different…
Isaiah 6: 1 - 8
In the year that King
Uzziah died, I saw the
Lord, high and exalted,
seated on a throne; and
the train of his robe filled
the temple. 2 Above him
were seraphim, each with
six wings: With two wings
they covered their faces,
with two they covered
their feet, and with two
they were flying. 3 And
they were calling to one
another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the
LORD Almighty; the whole
earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their
voices the doorposts and
thresholds shook and the
temple was filled with
smoke.
5 “Woe
to me!” I cried. “I
am ruined! For I am a man
of unclean lips, and I live
among a people of
unclean lips, and my eyes
have seen the King, the
Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the
seraphim flew to me with
a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with
tongs from the alter.
7 With
it he touched my
mouth and said,
“See, this has touched
your lips; your guilt is
taken away and your sin
atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of
the Lord saying, “Whom
shall I send? And who will
go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I,
Send me!”
Wow turns to woe is
me… v3
How can an encounter
with God leave us
undone?
Isaiah is learning
something about God.
God reveals his kingship and majesty. v2
I saw the Lord high and exalted seated on a throne.
God reveals his power. v2
His train filled the temple.
The doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple
was filled with smoke.
God reveals his command over all creation. v3
Holy Holy Holy.
The whole earth is full of his glory.
God’s holiness exposes our
sinfulness.
I am a man of unclean lips…
The preacher covers his mouth.
God doesn’t tell Isaiah he’s
sinful.
This encounter with God simply
shows things as they are.
I live among a people of
unclean lips and my eyes have
seen the King… v5
Something we need to
know about God.
He can’t pass over sin.
Like oil and water – sin
and holiness don’t mix.
Sin must be dealt with
in some way.
If we say we have no sin
we deceive ourselves.
1 John 1:8
Peter Go away from me
Lord; I am a sinful man.
Luke 5:8
Sin is our universal
imperfection.
Active and passive.
Hebrew: deviating from the path set for us by God.
Putting ourselves at the centre rather than God.
Sin isn’t just an offence
against our neighbour but
a personal offence against
God.
Isaiah says he is ruined by the
encounter with God.
This tells us something about
true repentance.
Different from just feeling sorry.
It’s a deep awareness of having
offended God.
But the God who is holy is also the
God who is love.
It’s his love that finds a way to cover
over our sin.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from unrighteousness.
1 Jn 1:9
I am happy, not because you
were made sorry, but
because your sorrow led you
to repentance. 2 Cor 7:9
Godly sorrow brings
repentance that leads to
salvation and leaves no
regret, but worldly sorrow
brings death. 2 Cor 7:9
This is not cheap grace!
It cost Jesus his life…
Or do you show contempt for the
riches of his kindness, forbearance
and patience, not realising that
God’s kindness is intended
to lead you to repentance. Rom 2:4
God sends a seraph to cleanse Isaiah
Isaiah doesn’t ask or deserve but God
graciously cleanses him.
Your guilt is taken away and your sin
atoned for. v8
God doesn’t reveal himself to destroy us
but to redeem us.
Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?
And I said “Here am I. Send me!” v8
Holiness is about healing.
Holiness is about
commissioning.
Holiness is about
changing hearts, lives
and the world.
Sin is a powerful word. But it’s not
the last word.
Holy love has found a way.
We get the position of holiness in an
instant.
The practice of holiness develops
over a lifetime.
The only one who has
never sinned is Jesus.
Tempted but never sinned.
Never deviated from the
perfect will of God.
Next week…
The holiness of God
Holiness – an impossible
dream?
Dead to sin; alive in Christ
Holy living with the Holy
Spirit