THE TRUTH ABOUT HOLINESS
INTRODUCTION:
People often ask what they should do after they become a Christian. After repenting
of their sins, being baptized in Jesus' name, and receiving the Holy Spirit,
they want to be what Jesus wants them to be. They understand that they are now
a "New” person. The old life is gone. New life has begun" (II
Corinthians 5:17 NLT). They want to know how to live their NEW LIFE. It is important
that a new Christian understands that when they receive the Holy Ghost that
their new life is just beginning. To be born again is only a start. They are
just babies in Christ Jesus. You may be in this situation. If you are, you need
to grow just like a baby needs to grow. Your new life is to be a life in the
Spirit. As a new Christian you need to learn to pray, fast, study God's Word,
tell others about Jesus, and live a holy life.
GOD WANTS CHRISTIANS TO BE HOLY:
When you become a Christian you become one of God's chosen people. God chose
you to help show other people how they should live. Sinners must see that a
Christian's life is different from their lives. When you repented, you turned
away from sin. When you turn away from sin you turn to God. Being holy is doing
what God wants you to do and not sinning. When you were born again you became
a part of the Church. The Church is what Jesus died for. One day Jesus is going
to take His holy Church to heaven. "Christ did this so the church might
stand before Him in shining greatness. There is to be no sin of any kind in
it. It is to be holy and without blame" (Ephesians 5:27 NLT). Some men
say they are Christians but continue to sin, When Jesus comes back for His Church,
these people are going to be left behind. "Be at peace with all men. Live
a holy life. No one will see the Lord without havi ng that kind of life"
(Hebrews 12:14 NLT). To live with Jesus you must be holy. "The Holy Writings
say `You must be holy, for I am holy' " (Leviticus 11:44-45 and I Peter
1:16 NLT). The holy life that you live helps others to know that you are a Christian.
Not everyone that says he is a Christian is a true Christian. You can tell who
are really Christians by watching their lives. They will obey God's Word and
try to live like Paul who said, "I always try to live so my own heart tells
me I am not guilty in front of God or man" (Acts 24:16 NLT).
HOW DO YOU LIVE HOLY?
"Christian brothers, I ask you from my heart to give your bodies to God
because of His loving kindness to us. Let your bodies be a living and holy gift
given to God. He is pleased with this kind of gift. This is the true worship
that you should give Him" (Romans 12:1 NLT). You should be happy to understand
that living holy is a gift that you give to God because of His goodness to you.
The secret of living holy is to depend upon the Holy Spirit to help you. If
you have received the Holy Spirit, He is living in you like you live in a house.
If you try to bring something that is sinful unto God's house, God is not pleased.
His Holy Spirit will make you feel bad and in your heart you will know that
what you want to do is not good. When God speaks to you, listen carefully and
obey Him and you will live holy. One way that God speaks to man is through the
Bible. In the Bible He has told us:
(1) To think about things that are true, respected, and pure (Philippians 4:8);
(2) Not to wear clothing that would cause people to look at us;
(3) Watch how we talk and say only what is good (Ephesians 4:29);
(4) "But those who are afraid and those who.do not have faith and the sinfulminded
people and those who do sex sins and those who follow witchcraft and those who
worship false gods and all those who tell lies will be put into the lake of
fire and sulphur," (Revelation 21:8 NLT). Holy people will go to heaven.
Unholy people will go to hell.
CONCLUSION:
Men who want to do what God asks live holy. Men who say they cannot live holy
do not understand what the Bible teaches. God would not ask us to be holy if
we could not be. God wants you to go to heaven and He will help you to be holy.
"You have never been tempted to sin in any different way than other people.
God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can take.
But when you are tempted, He will make a way for you to keep from falling into
sin" (I Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
You do not have to sin. You can live a holy life, a life that is pleasing to
Jesus, the One Who died for you. The Holy Spirit will help you. Can you live
holy for one minute? If you can live holy for one minute, you can live holy
for one hour. If you can live holy for one hour, you can live holy for one day.
If you can live holy for one day, you can live holy for a week, for a month,
and for a year. If you will live holy for Jesus one minute at a time, you will
be living a holy life when He comes to take His Church to heaven.