The Calling to Purity, Be Holy for I Am Holy: Part 5

The Purpose of Holiness in Salvation

The calling to purity, be holy for I am holy. This will be the last of this series, but I promise you, and I promise you, as God permits it, and if the Lord tarries, we will revisit many more times on the Scriptures concerning holiness, because this is found all the way throughout the Bible.

This is God's purpose for His children in salvation, isn't it? This is why He saved us, is to make us holy. To make us holy. Why? That's a good question. Number one, for His glory. It's for God's glory.

Secondly, because God is preparing us, preparing His own special children for Himself. That's why He set us apart, to be fit for heaven. So in saying that, please open your Bibles with me to the book of 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter 1.

We've just been looking at two verses of Scripture, and they are power packed. And as you're turning, please stand with me in honor of God's Word. 1 Peter chapter 1, we've been looking at verse 15 and verse 16.

Verse 15 and 16. Hear the word of the living God. But as He who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Because it is written, be holy, for I am holy.

Let's pray.

Father, we seek Your face as the psalmist says. Lord, help us to follow hard after Thee, O Lord. Your name is holy. We're taught as Your disciples to say, Hallowed be Thy name. And just not to say it, but to believe it.

That Your name is to be hallowed. Your name is absolutely holy, most holy. You're the most holy God, and You alone are glorious and holiness. For there's none beside You. None. O Lord, our God, we are a desperate people today.

We are beggars. We are beggars this morning. And we're in great need of Yourself. And we're in great need of a day of visitation. Lord, it's going to be rot and ruin or revival. Lord, I pray that You would revive Your people once again.

Only You can raise the dead from the grave. By Your powerful, all-powerful word. So Lord, we pray that You will be glorified. We pray for grace. Father, this morning that You would take Your holy word and Your eternal word.

And bore it within our hearts, Lord, and change us forever. Change us by it. Father, may we see only Jesus, high and lifted up. Father, hide this servant behind the cross. Father, that the words that are spoken will be Your words.

And that You will be glorified. Lay hold on us, O Lord. By Your omnipotence. By Your grace. Give us Your grace, Lord, through the blood of the cross in which You have. Father, may we see it and see only Jesus.

The sinless, perfect Son of God. Who suffered and died to save us and to sanctify us. And one day glorify us. All will be vain unless Your Holy Spirit does the work within us. As we've already said. So Father, we pray this in Jesus' name and for His sake and for Your glory.

Amen and Amen. You can be seated. Thank you very much. When Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, a serious catastrophe took place. And it's called sin. Sin entered into this world that was once perfect. That was once absolutely pure and holy.

And sin has brought chaos and ruin. With great devastation. With effects and massive consequences. Man lost eternal life. Eternal death came. Just not physical death. But eternal death. We really don't see the horrible consequences of it as we should.

We feel it and we know it. But we don't see it like God sees it. Man lost his personal relationship with God. It's that simple. Sin, therefore, was transmitted within the heart of man. To every one of us that are children of Adam.

Regardless of the color. Regardless of where we come from. The external has nothing to do with it. There's a heart issue, folks. And sin has caused this. To understand holiness, we must understand the devastation of sin.

Within the heart of Adam, sin came. Sin was transmitted. Adam and Eve is our first parents. Paradise was lost. We know that, don't we? But yet, God in His great mercy and His love covers man with His grace.

To those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God covered Adam and Eve by slaying of an animal. He slayed that animal. God Himself slayed it. And He covered them. At first, they were hiding themselves from God.

And they hid themselves from God by fig leaves. That is man's way of hiding ourselves from God. Our own ways, our religion. And it's like God says, that's not going to do. God has to cover us. God was the one who first declared the gospel.

Sin came into the world. He could have left man in sin and been just. He could have killed man and been just.

You see that.

I don't know. Many people don't. Man is hell deserving. We're wrath deserving. And God yet covers Adam and Eve in His grace. By the slaying of a sacrifice of an animal. And He covered them. Man must be covered.

And I just don't talk about physically. I'm talking about spiritually. And the only way you and I can be covered today is in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is the gospel, folks. On the day of our death, as Brother Keith has brought out so wonderful this morning.

Is when that time comes, and it's coming. There's no escaping it. And by the way, when death comes, there's no escaping judgment. Now people may be living like there's no judgment. Or they're going to live forever on this earth.

But folks, everybody's going to breathe their last one day. And then we're going to fly away, as the psalmist says. And it's going to be eternal heaven or eternal hell. God's in both. But one's eternal bliss and one's eternal damnation.

And I say God's in both. His presence, a lot of people think because hell's hell that God's absent there. But the problem is, God's presence is in hell forever. And there'll be a great gulf. And there's no way that the people in hell will be able to get into heaven.

Scripture makes that pretty clear. Don't believe these lies. That after death, there's just annihilation of the soul. Jesus spoke and said that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. There is torment, folks.

Sin has brought devastating consequences. We are wrath deserving. And in the state of nakedness and shame. You know what's interesting, as I mentioned that. That was the state in the garden. That they partook of a tree that they should not have.

But yet there was another one who came. The sinless, perfect son of God. That died upon the cross on a tree in his nakedness and shame. Not only was paradise lost. And Adam and Eve was driven out of the garden.

And the reason I say this this morning is that holiness in a sense was lost. But Jesus comes to restore holiness. Do you see this? That in the garden when Adam fell. And Eve. And all of mankind, holiness went with it.

That God comes to restore holiness. Holiness that was once attractive. And beautiful. Where Adam walked with God. And he made him a helpmeet. And perfect bliss. They would have had eternal life. But when sin came they lost that.

And eternal death came, as I said. But see holiness in the garden before sin came was attractive and beautiful. When God came to walk and talk with Adam and Eve. And when sin came and entered into the world.

Have you noticed? That holiness became foreign. Holiness became terrifying. They were fearful. Why did they hide from God? For that reason they hid from God. And tried to cover themselves with fig leaves.

Beloved in redemption. Through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. This holiness, this beauty that God so loves in himself is restored back. Can I tell you this? It's only in Jesus. Not religion. Not trying to turn over leaves.

Not trying to cover ourselves with leaves. Our own religion. You know I always separate religion from Christianity. Because Christianity is unique. It's a unique relationship with God. Where religion is man's attempt.

And all his power and his fleshly ways, his arm of flesh to get to God. But Christianity is God coming to man. God comes to man. God provides for man. God has done it all.

It's glorious.

And holiness is restored in Jesus Christ. That holiness that was once in the garden. A normal state. That Adam knew so personal. Now when he lost that. And when sin came into the world through disobedience.

A world now has fallen into such horrible devastating effects. And consequences. The only way that anyone can see God's holiness. In his beauty. Number one they first must be born again.

To see it.

But in order to see that. The Holy Spirit must reveal that to him. And in that is seeing their own state of their true sinfulness. God has supplied. His word for that. It is first in the law. Here at Redeeming Grace Church.

We believe in law and gospel. We do not leave out one or the other. We believe in the Old Testament. We believe in the New Testament. We believe in the Old Covenant. We believe in the New Covenant. We believe in all 66 books of the Bible.

We just don't chip away and pick what we like. It's all of God. It's all inspired. It's inerrant. It's infallible. It's all sufficient. It's inspired. And beloved can I say this. In this world that is full of such horrible sin.

This is what's missing in the church today. That we are not hearing the law preached as well. We cannot throw out the law. Because to understand grace. We must understand law. God's law. Now what do we mean by God's law?

I mean God's perfect standard. It is God's holiness. You read the Ten Commandments. And ask yourself. Have you kept that?

No.

Not even a minute. The first four deal. It basically deals with worship. For Israel. God is saying this is my law. This is how you worship me. And the first four. The law of God. Deals with the vertical relationship with God.

Then the next six. After the fourth. Of keeping of the Sabbath. The fifth through the tenth. Deals with our horizontal relationship with God. With man. I'm sorry. But it's all in God isn't it? You notice the first four must be there.

It's paramount.

The scripture says the law is our schoolmaster. That's important. What does that mean? It's a tutor. It teaches us. And it brings us to Christ. What does it teach us? Did you ever think of that? It teaches us our condition.

And it teaches us that we are sinners.

Amen.

And how sinful we are.

Amen.

And that's the problem with people. They think they're good. But the more you come to know and see God's law. And it's a perfect law of liberty. And you look into it beloved.

The law is good. The law is holy.

Oh it cannot save us. It condemns us. Rightly so. Yet it is the supreme work. From the work of the law. That God does his work. To show man that we are sinners. And we deserve condemnation. I like to look at the law in the sense.

It is.

What breaks through the hard. Heart of stone. It's like a hammer.

Amen.

And it breaks. It's for the haughty. And it's for the prideful. It's for those Pharisees that think they're so good. But yet they even in the Pharisees. They thought they were keeping the law. But what it was they had traditions.

And then Jesus comes. And he holds up the law. And it's perfection. And they tried to kill him for it. Pharisees was just all external show. Us our sin. And it brings condemnation. And I like to put it this way.

It does surgery on our hard hearts. Our hard hearts are deceitful and beloved. We do not know how hardened. And how sinful our hearts really are. Not until we could see. Within the law of God. And then we see the beauty of God's holiness.

Then we see the ugliness of our sin.

You see that.

The law cannot save us like I said. It condemns us. But it is good. And it is holy. And it shows us our sin. So that we see our sin. And then we must do something about our sin. And that's when we desperately run to the cross of Jesus.

Only there beloved. Can we find salvation. There and only there. When we look upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Hanging on that cross. And how horrible sin is. And we see that sacrifice of the perfect son of God.

How much God hates sin. Oh how much God.

Loves us.

Yes.

But we also see how much God hates sin. Because it was because of that sin problem. That took Christ to that cross. Problem of sin beloved. Can I say this is internal. Not external. Don't never forget that.

It is internal. It is an internal issue. It is not a skin color. You know this by knowing me. Pastor David right now. It is not an externalism. I told one brother in the Lord. He is a black brother. And I really appreciate him.

He is a preacher of the gospel. And I tell him all the time. I am right up front with him. And he knows this. I said brother the only difference between you and me. I said your skin may be darker than mine.

It is just a different color of dirt. You cut.

You bleed.

You bleed red and I bleed red. I said we are both sinners. Redeemed sinners. But this is a problem with the world today. Man looks on the external. Isn't that the problem? Sin has caused this. I want to tell you like it is this morning.

Jesus Christ himself. Made that very point. About the problem is internal. Not external. We are going to Jesus. I am just not going to give you my points on this. I am going to tell you what Jesus said about it.

Because.

Jesus being a Jew. Yes he was a Jew. But the skin color didn't matter of anything. And the reason I say this. Is a problem in this nation.

About this.

Everybody is looking external.

Folks.

It is an internal problem of the heart. I am telling you. And Jesus confronted the self-righteous Pharisees.

About this.

How religious elite they were. They were the elite. They were considered the conservative. Theologians of that day. The Pharisees. The Sadducees was considered the liberal theologians. Nothing has hardly changed.

Just live in a different time period.

Man's.

Sin is just as sinful. That hasn't changed. For the century after century. Thousands of years. Man is still sinful. When are we going to get this through our head? Israel's religious elite. The Pharisees.

Were obsessed.

Beloved.

With external religion. Can I say this? They reduced the law of God. To a burdensome list of rules and rituals. Rules and practices. And held up themselves. And their so called good works. As the standard of holiness.

But their false piety. Was empty and vain. And they hated Jesus for expressing. Not only expressing the truth. But exposing their hypocrisy. Jesus confronted them. Many times. Go with me to Mark chapter 7.

Let's look at this a little bit. We're talking about true holiness. And true holiness. Is not found just externally. It's an internal issue. We're going to get to the. To the root of the problem. Mark chapter 7.

I want you to see this. Jesus explained why the external religion. Of the Pharisees was. Vain. To address the sinner's true spiritual needs. And regarding the danger of eating ceremonial. Unclean foods.

And Mark 7. Look at 14. And 15. And when he called all. The multitude to himself. He said to them. Hear me everyone. And understand. Where Jesus gets to the point. Doesn't he? There is nothing that enters a man from outside.

That can defile him. But the things which come out of him. Those are the things that defile a man. And if anyone has ears to hear. Let him hear. Now Jesus is dealing with a spiritual issue here. Verse 17.

It said.

And when he had entered a house away from the crowd. His disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he said to them. Are you thus without understanding also? Jesus always comes with a question. To probe their hearts.

This is a serious issue. And then he says this. So do you not perceive. That whatever enters a man from outside. Cannot defile him. Because it does not enter his.

Heart.

But his stomach. And is eliminated. Thus purifying all foods.

And he said.

And then he says this. For he said what comes out of a man. That defiles a man.

For from.

When?

Where?

Within. From within. Out of the heart of man. Perceive evil thoughts. Adulteries. Fornications. Murders. Thefts. Covetousness.

Wickedness. Deceit.

Lewdness.

An evil eye.

Blasphemy. Pride. Foolishness. All these evil things come from. Within. And defile a man. Jesus said that. That's the problem folks. A sinner is corrupted by external actions. Forces or influence from the world.

As bad as the world is. His defilement is already present within him. We entered into this world with a corruption. An inclination naturally towards sin.

Jesus said it.

Why are you lacking in understanding? Why are you without understanding about this? Speaks to his disciples about that. I don't know about you. That list hit me. From within. Out of the heart of man.

Precedes the evil.

False.

The fornication. Evil eye. Thefts. Murders. Adulteries. Deeds of coveting. Wickedness.

Deceit.

Sensuality.

Envy.

Slander. Pride. Foolishness. So to understand the devastating effects of sin. And how it has corrupted God's creation. And man's heart. That is desperately wicked. It set man on a destructive path. There's a way that seems right unto man.

But the end thereof is death. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We understand the world is in dark. And it's decaying. Now I promise you this is going to be an encouraging word for you.

But I had to start here because this deals with the root of the problem. The Lord has established his church beloved. And that church is to be holy. They are the called out ones as we've seen. They are separate from the world.

And set apart. And the last restraint against sin's awful influence is the church. How do we know this? Because Jesus says you are the salt. You are the salt and light. You are the light of the world.

You are the salt of the earth. The church is to be salty. And we are to have light. Salt and light beloved. Salt that shows just not the right influence but it also slows the decay. Of a decaying world.

This world is decaying. It's almost like a person with leprosy. Leprosy is a type of sin. And that leprosy takes a hold of a body. And it starts to eat away. It's like cancer. It eats a little here and a little there.

A little here, a little there. Not all in one big chunk. A little here, a little there. A little here, a little there. Every little choice. And then the next thing you know every little choice becomes something big.

You see that?

And we are to be light.

We are to be salt.

Light to diminish darkness. And salt to slow up the decay. Through our Christ like influence. Now this is an exhortation of practical holiness beloved. And that's where we're going. And through love and mercy and humility and kindness and faith and compassion and holiness.

Without which no one shall see the Lord. And which God provides for us positionally. Then we take it on progressively and that's practical. But as the church is called to restrain the corruption and the horrible chaos of sin.

God's people need to be different. And by the way can I say this? There's nothing wrong with God's people being different from this world. Matter of fact if you're not different something's wrong. You see what I'm saying?

You're called out to be different. A lot of people can't follow Jesus Christ because they don't want to be different. I don't know about you I love to be different from this world. Hallelujah. By God's grace and it's not because I'm a good person.

No.

I am just a wretch. A wretch by God's mercy that I'm alive today. Redeemed by His grace. God's people need to be different in this world. Actually to be holy means to be set apart. And by the way set apart to be unique and special.

Now if you understand that the negative point about it is. Wow you're going to be rejected if you're a Christian. Absolutely. Because you hold the standard of truth. And people do not like to have their sin exposed.

They get ugly about it. Matter of fact they'll kill you over it. Look what they did to Jesus. Do we expect to be treated any different? We're set apart from the world, in the world, but not of the world.

Unto God to be special. So how does this holiness look like? Now we're going to look at how this holiness looks like. What does holy God honoring life look like? What does it look like? Well the word of God gives us that answer.

Oh my goodness it does. We are going to look at just a few passages of scripture as we close this out. And then I'm going to give some application from J .C. Ralph on his book of holiness. And believe me it's good.

You want to hang on until you get there. But first of all I want to give you just what the pure word of God says regarding true holiness. And the sight of God and the fear of God. But I would like for us first of all to begin.

As we looked at Mark here, go with me to Matthew chapter 22. Now this is critical. We know that man has a problem with sin. The light by the way, sheds light. The light of the truth sheds light on that darkness and that sin.

And when people get exposed for who they really are. They get very ugly and violent beloved. It hardens them. Or it will soften them. One of the two. Well look at chapter 22, look at verse 34. Start there.

When the Pharisees, oh the Pharisees are here again. Heard that he had silenced the Sadducees. They gathered together. Oh wow, they were not nice. They always wanted to trap Jesus.

Listen to this.

Then one of them, one of them, a lawyer. So they sent one of the smart boys.

See.

Ask him a question. Testing him. Are you not going out smart Jesus? He's got the wisdom from God. He is wisdom from God.

Listen to this.

And saying, teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he's testing him now. Jesus said to him. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart. And with all your soul. And with all your mind.

And this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbors yourself. And Jesus says on these two commandments you can hang all the law and the prophets. Do you see that?

That this is the core of holiness. This is the heart of holiness. Right here. The ten commandments can be divided into two categories. Like I said dealing with the love for God. The first four commandments.

And those dealing with the responsibilities and love toward our fellow man. The last six commandments. And Jesus says if you do this. You keep this first and great command. You have perfectly loved God and loved your neighbor.

And notice what he said. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart. That's convicting. Have we loved God with all of our heart? Just not today. But in the past week have we loved God with all of our soul?

Have we loved God with all of our mind? That's the first great commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbors yourself. That's convicting. You know the apostle Paul picked up that same idea.

Go with me to Romans 13. All the epistles are just commentary on Jesus beloved. Everything that Jesus spoke of and taught. All the epistles. Notice in verse 8. Starting with verse 8. Oh no one anything except to what?

Love one another. For he who loves one another. Has fulfilled the law. Paul didn't come up with that. Started with the prophets. Jesus fulfilled that. In verse 9. For the commandments you shall not commit adultery.

You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment. All are all summed up in this saying. Namely you shall love your neighbors yourself.

Love does not. Does no harm to a neighbor. He doesn't hurt his neighbor. Because he loves his neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And notice he gives the exhortation. And do this. Knowing the time.

That now is high time. To awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation. Nearer than it when we yet first believed. The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness.

And let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly. This is holiness beloved. As in the day. Not in reverie. And drunkenness. Not in lewdness and lust. Not in strife and envy. For the Lord Jesus Christ.

And make no provision for the flesh.

To fulfill it's lust.

Problem is we're in the flesh too much. Go with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. We looked at this. But does it hurt to glance there again does it? Talking about holiness. This is practical holiness. This is a plea for purity.

Verse 1. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Finally then brethren we urge and exhort. Urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus. That you should abound more and more. Just as you received from us. How you ought to walk.

And to please God. For you know what commandments we gave. You through the Lord Jesus. And then he says this. For this is the will of God. Your sanctification. Your holiness. That you should abstain. From sexual immorality.

And that each of you should know how to possess. His own vessel in sanctification and honor. Not in passion of lust like the Gentiles. Who do not know God. That no one should take advantage of. Or defraud his brother in this matter.

Because the Lord is the avenger of all such. As we also forewarned you. And testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness. But in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this. Does not reject this. Does not reject man.

But God who has also given us. His Holy Spirit. There's practical holiness. Rejecting holiness is rejecting God. And the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Go with me to Titus. Titus chapter 2. Let's turn a few books over.

Go through 1st and 2nd Timothy. Then you'll be right there at Titus. Chapter 2. You want to see how practical holiness looks like? Here it is. Verse 11. For the grace of God. Now we need God's grace don't we?

Yes.

But God's grace teaches us something. God's grace has brought. Brings salvation has appeared to all men. It's appeared to all men. Teaching us. It teaches us that denying ungodliness. Number one. Two and worldly lust.

We should live soberly and righteously. And godly in this present age. Then looking for the blessed hope. And the glorious appearing of our great God. And Savior Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us.

That he might redeem us. And purify for himself.

That's the purpose.

Right there of holiness. He purifies for himself. His own special people. Zealous for good works. So if you want to know the purpose of holiness. That it's all for Jesus Christ. His people. His body is holy.

Not.

Completely perfect as he is. But we are to imitate him. And follow after his example. The confession. I'm here to preach the word. But let me tell you what the confession. The 1689 confession of faith says.

In chapter 13 about sanctification. Holiness. Chapter 13 of sanctification.

It says this.

Quote.

And they get this all from scripture. They who are united to Christ. Effectually called and regenerating. Having a new heart. And a new spirit created in them. Through the virtue of Christ's death. And resurrection.

Are also a father sanctified.

Really.

And personally. Through the same virtue. By his word and spirit dwelling in them. The dominion of the whole body of sin. Is destroyed. And the several lusts thereof. Are more and more weakened and mortified.

And they are more and more quickened. And strengthened in all saving graces. To the practice of all true holiness. Without which no man shall see the Lord. This sanctification.

Sanctification.

In sentence two. This sanctification is throughout. In the whole man. Yet imperfect in this life. There abided still some remnants. Of corruption in every part. Whence ariseth a continuing. Irreconcilable war.

You feel that war.

Amen.

The flesh lusting against the spirit. And the spirit against the flesh. And in sentence three.

In which war.

Are though. Remaining corruption for a time. May much prevail. Yet through the continuing supply. Of strength. From the sanctifying spirit of Christ. The regenerate part. Doeth overcome. And so the saints grow in grace.

Perfecting holiness. In the fear of God. Pressing after a heavenly life. In the evangelical obedience. To all the commands. Which Christ as head and king. In his word. Shall provide to them. I think that's an excellent definition.

Of sanctification. Chasey Rowell says this. In his book of holiness. You always begin with Christ.

Hmm.

You gonna love this.

You will do.

You will do just nothing at all. And make no progress. Till you feel your sin and weakness. And flee to him. He is the root and beginning. Of all holiness. And the way to be holy. Is to come to him. And by faith.

And be joined to him. Christ is not wisdom and righteousness. Only to his people. But sanctification also. Men sometimes try to make themselves. Holy first of all. And a sad work. They make of it.

Amen.

Or OP. They toil and labor. And turn over many new leaves. And yet they feel nothing better. But rather worse. Isn't that the truth? Now let me close with these applications. And if you got a pen and paper.

I would honestly. Not because I said this. But as I studied this from the book of holiness. Of his classic book holiness. Actually if you can read. Chasey Rowell's book on holiness. Please read it. But take down these points.

Just get the main points. You don't have to get all the other details. But I promise you. That this will be a great help and encouragement. For you on your walk. With the Lord and holiness. And these are the applications.

We like to close this out with. And I think going to. What JC Rowell has to say. Is absolutely exceptional. And the reason why I'm doing this is your pastor. Folks when I read this. There is no way I can improve on this.

This man in his humility. And you see what he has to say. He said this is a very.

Modest.

And he's very modest in that. But man really knew God. As Tozer did as well.

But take a hold of this folks.

It will change your life. Because this is what we are called to be as holy. Right. In his book. In his book holiness. Practical holiness. Living an eternal everyday life. This is what he says before he gets to those points.

It is quote.

It is a solemn thing to hear the word of God saying. Hebrews 12 14. I shall endeavor by God's help. To explain what true holiness is. And the reason why it is so needful. First. Let me try to show. What true practical holiness is.