Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Saved before the foundation of the world for Holiness
• Are we living a holy life?
• God's calling is to holiness and blamelessness
• We are called to be like Christ - can there be any higher calling?
• Example of Graduation from UCL:
• Education gives power - use it to impact the world
• Is it only the high flyers who can impact the world?
• God has never called a certain class of people to impact the world
• God calls sinful people
• Examples of book written by Haydn Davies: A night out with the boys
• God calls us to holiness and it is this that makes the difference
• The most important passion for our lives should be holiness

What is Holiness?

• It is not purely a negative thing
• It is not a separatist, moralist lifestyle
• Consider the example of the Apostle Paul
• It is not a mystical thing
• Consider the example of George Whitfield and 'quietism'
• It is not just for the select few
• Consider the example of the Keswick teaching or John Wesley
• It is something divine that comes from God
• His character, His morality, His essence
• There are two main emphasises in Scripture:
• Sanctified - we are set apart for the Master's use
• Cleansing - transforming of our hearts and character
• We have been and are being sanctified - both tenses
• Jude 1
• Justification vs sanctification
• Justification
• Justification is a once only event
• It happens in the courts of God
• The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us
• Sanctification
• Is within us
• Is progressive
• Righteousness is imparted/infused to us
• God is actually making us holy
• Further examples of contrasts between the two terms
• Objective vs subjective
• Something that is done to us vs something that is done in us
• E.g. Romans vs Hebrews
• Justification deals with the legal side and sanctification deals with the disease side
• Do we only focus on justification and not sanctification?

How are we made Holy?

• It is a work of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit:
• Ex 31:13
• Jude 1
• 1 Thess 5:23
• 1 Peter 1:2
• 2 Thess 2:13

What is our Part?

• Realise who you are in Christ
• You have been justified
• You have a new heart and spirit
• You have God's law on you heart and mind
• We have a new nature
• We are no longer under the dominion of sin
• How you think of yourself is so important - we are saved sinners in Christ with a new nature
• Have we reckoned ourselves dead to sin but alive to Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6)
• To be what we are
• Eph 5:8
• Be an imitator of God - Eph 5:1
• Walk in love - Eph 5:2
• Do not rest back but live for Him
• Remember Christ who gave Himself to God - so should we give ourselves to God - Eph 5:2b
• Avoid fornication, uncleanness or covetousness - Eph 5:3
• Avoid filthiness, foolish talking or coarse jesting - Eph 5:4
• Give thanks - Eph 5:4b
• Do not be deceived by empty words - Eph 5:6-7
• A definite separation from the sinful life

Closing Remarks

• What is Holiness - being like Jesus Christ