January 1, 2012 Holy
1.1.12
How do I find happiness in God?
in another h word, a strange word, holy
a word many people don’t like
What does holy mean?
holy means “separate” or “set apart”
it is THE attribute of God, THE God quality
shows the difference between creator and creature, between those who sin and the one who does only good
Jesus Christ is holy. “Holy One of God”
Jesus Christ is the anointed one, different from all other men, God and man, sinless
but here is the surprising word of the gospel
Christ make unholy people holy
You are holy. (if you have faith in Jesus)
since only God and Christ are holy in themselves, he makes us holy by connecting us to him
Hebrews 10:10 …we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (sanctified)
Jesus made us holy through his death.
Already done. Done by Christ. Not a process as we usually speak about it.
(true: we need to grow in acting holy)
1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy.. (saints)
sanctified means “made holy”
saint means “holy person”
even though there is sin in Corinth (read the letter!), he calls them holy, already done, this is their starting point, their position
1 Corinthians 6:11
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Already done. Done by Christ on the cross and the Spirit’s work in us.
Colossians 1:22
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight…
1 Pet 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…
What does it mean that we are holy now?
Exodus 30:22-33; 40:1-11
This is you!
1 Corinthians 3:17
God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (tabernacle precursor to temple)
you have been anointed and made holy
set apart for God just as the tabernacle and all of its furnishings were
you were common and not used for God but instead for sin
Jesus separated us from unholy use to holy use by his death on the cross.
set apart as God’s person for God’s service
cleansed of sin and dedicated or consecrated to God
2 Timothy 2:20-21
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
You are now ready to be used by God for his work. You must be holy first.
2 Timothy 1:8-9
…God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
This is done by Christ before you have done anything holy. You can’t become holy by trying to do good things.
You are made holy when you are unholy.
Ex 40:12-15
This is you! You are priests.
What does a priest do? He offers sacrifices to God.
1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Now that we have been made holy (that had to happen first) we are able to offer spiritual sacrifices to God.
Which means acts and thoughts of love and obedience and service directed to God.
Ex 40:(16-33) 34-35
This is you!
You are filled with the Holy Spirit and the glory of the Lord.
1 Cor 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
Can you believe this? that is you!
I am preaching this sermon so that you Christians will find your happiness in being holy and God’s Spirit in you
and go from here rejoicing.
I am also hoping that some who don’t know this will want it. turn to Jesus in faith to be made holy and used for his purposes.
***Because we are now holy already…
(that fact is very important and primary)
we are now free to do holy work.
first the tool is made holy and then used for holy work
first the man or woman is made holy and then he does holy work
if you are holy then 2012 can be a holy year
1 Peter 1:15
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.”
Col 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
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