Sunday: THE GOSPEL OF WHOLENESS—HOLINESS
Pastor Gary Gulbranson
Introduction: A little quiz….
1. What is the primary characteristics that the Creator shared with the creatures made in His image? The answer: His holiness
2. What is the primary characteristic that men and women lost when sin entered the world? The answer: Holiness
3. What is the goal of spiritual growth? The answer: Holiness
Matthew 5:48—“Be holy as your Father in heaven is holy!”
I. Holiness is our POSITION forever.
Hebrews 10:9,10—“Then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God’. He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified (made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
II. Holiness is our PROCESS for now.
A. Becoming holy involves personal CHOICE.
I Thessalonians I:2,3; 11,12—We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father……As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (Note the list–5:16-22)
B. Becoming holy involves divine CO-OPERATION.
I Thessalonians 5:23-24—“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify (make you holy) completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.”
C. Becoming holy involves the whole COMMUNITY.
I Thessalonians 5:11-14—“Therefore comfort each other and edifying one another, just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint hearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
II. Holiness is God’s PROMISE for our future.
I John 3:1-3—“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, (we shall be holy like He is holy) for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him, purifies Himself, just as He is pure”.
Conclusion: “How come it’s taking me so long to get better???”
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