Follow Holiness

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-29-2020

Hebrews 12:14

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Holiness is a subject that is not often preached in our day.  We have come to accept worldliness and casualness with God as the “new normal.”  The government has introduced us to several oxymorons because of the COVID-19 scare.  New is not normal and normal is not new!

 

B.  “Without which no man shall see the Lord.”  The Book of Hebrews re-introduces the believer to holiness, which is necessary for seeing the Lord.

 

C.  “See the Lord” does not mean our perception of Him, it means to see Him as He is.

 

1.  The worldly have a warped perception of the Lord. 

 

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

2.  The holy have a right perception of the Lord.  Purity is the key to a right perception.

 

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

1.  The Path of Holiness.  Our Approach to God.  We are exhorted to “follow” holiness.  Therefore, there must be both a clear path to holiness as well as examples of holiness.  The First Mention of the word “holy” is the context of man’s approach unto God. 

 

Exodus 3:5  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

 

Joshua 5:15  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

 

2.  The Person of Holiness.  Our Perception of God.   The First Mention of the word “holiness” gives us an attribute of God. 

 

Exodus 15:11  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

Isaiah 6:3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  (A thrice holy God.  Found only once in both the Old and New Testaments.)

 

Revelation 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

3.  The Purpose of Holiness.  Our Seeing of God.  As our sin separates us from God, our holiness brings us near to God.

 

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 

1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

4.  The People of Holiness.  Our Sanctification to God.  Too many have preached sanctification from a negative point of view.  Our sanctification is to God which is our reasonable service.  It is both physical, our bodies, and mental, the renewing of our minds.

 

a.  A Physical Holiness.

 

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  

 

b.  A Mental Holiness.

 

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

2 Corinthians 5:14-17  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  (15)  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  (16)  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.  (17)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

2 Peter 3:11-12  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (12)  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

 

 

5.  The Pattern of Holiness.  Our Example from God.   The believer has the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Old Paths to follow.

 

Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

6.  The Power of Holiness.  Our Witness for God.   As we become salt and light, people see Christ in us and desire what we have.

 

Matthew 5:13-16  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

7.  The Pleasure of Holiness.  Our Joy with God.   Oh, what joy!  To walk with God each day!

 

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  (18)  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

Conclusion:  1 Thessalonians 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.