Holiness is not a very popular topic these days. The media does not talk about it. Best-selling books do not mention it. It is not the theme of any songs on the radio. Even in religious circles, holiness is seldom mentioned. Preachers avoid the topic. Modern worship songs rarely note it. Few Christians understand it, and fewer seek to live it.

Is holiness outdated? It might be neglected and considered old-fashioned, but it is not outdated.

Transition

This morning I want to answer three questions that will help us understand why holiness is not outdated.

What is Holiness? (v.2)

  1. The nature of holiness
    Think in your mind how you would define the word “holy”, then listen carefully as we look for a biblical definition

    1. The word “holy” is used nearly 550 times in the Bible. The Hebrew word translated “holy” means set apart. It proclaims the dual idea of being set apart as special and being set apart from common things.
    2. In other words, holiness is both being set apart TO godly character and being set apart FROM evil. It is not just avoiding all evil.
      1. Holiness describes the spotless character of God (v.2). He is always right, pure, clean, true, honest, just, kind, loving, and faithful. Being intrinsically holy (holy in his very nature), God cannot do wrong. God is the perfect standard of holiness. He illustrated this throughout Leviticus 19 and emphasized it with the words “I am the LORD”.
      2. Morrish Bible Dictionary: Holiness has been described as “a nature that delights in purity, and which repels evil.”
      3. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary: True holiness characterizes outward acts, but still more the motive and intent of the heart.
    3. Holiness is positive. It is good. Holiness is the outward reflection of a heart that is in harmony with God. As Morrish put it, it is “a nature that delights in purity, and which repels evil.”
  2. The confusion about holiness
    1. Many people only see the negative side of holiness. They think it is narrow, forbidding, and repressing. To them holiness quashes the fun in life. They have missed the true meaning of holiness.
    2. Others wrongly think holiness is not for everyone or for daily living. It is reserved for special things. For example:
      1. They may try to act holy when they go to church.
      2. They may think that only religious leaders should be holy.
      3. They may think that a church building or an image of Mary is holy. Those who think like this are confused.
    3. Many Christians act like holiness in only external. They think they can be holy on the outside and fleshly on the inside. That is hypocrisy like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. True holiness is the outward reflection of a heart that is in harmony with God.

Why is Holiness Important? (v.2)

  1. Holiness is important because God is holy.
    1. God said (v.2) “I the LORD your God am holy”. God does not just posses holiness, He IS holy. God’s very nature is holy. Every part of his being delights in purity and repels evil.
    2. Holiness is God’s greatest quality because all of his other qualities depend on his holiness. God cannot do anything that is the slightest bit wrong because he is 100% holy. God is kind, truthful, just, loving, and generous because he is holy.
    3. God is the standard of holiness. Our opinions do not count.
    4. Because God is holy, he must be against all that is unholy. God hates anger, lies, lust, pornography, sex outside marriage, sensual movies, swearing, rebellion, dishonesty, disobedience, and every other sin of our filthy society.
    5. It would not be right for God to overlook sin. However, even in God’s judgment of sin, he is holy. He must do what is right because his holy character demands it.
  2. Holiness is important because God commands it.
    1. As we said, God is intrinsically holy (his very nature is holy). We are intrinsically unholy. We were born sinners by nature. We have all sinned wilfully. Daily we struggle with sin.
    2. When a sinner repents and turns to Christ to save his soul, God changes his life. He comes to live inside the new Christian. That first cleaning is called “sanctification” and it is related to holiness.
      ☆ (1 Corinthians 6:11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
    3. If you are a true Christian, God set you apart for his own and the Holy Spirit now lives in you, but you still have your sin nature. Last Sunday evening we talked about the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17). Before salvation, true holiness was impossible. Once truly saved, the indwelling Holy Spirit makes holiness possible.
    4. God expects his children to be holy like he is holy. This is why we read in the Bible that God commands his people to be holy as he is holy (v.2).
      ☆ (Leviticus 20:7) Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
      ☆ (Leviticus 20:26) And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
      ☆ (1 Peter 1:14-16) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

How are we to Live Holy? (v.3-37)

In Leviticus 19, God listed many ways his people were to live holy. While a few of these commands were specifically for the Old Testament Jews, many principles apply to us today.

  1. God want us to reflect his character in worship.
    1. Holy people worship God alone (v.4)
    2. Holy people respect God’s name (v.12)
    3. Holy people give to the Lord (v.24)
    4. Holy people do not deface their bodies with tattoos (v.28)
    5. Holy people show God respect (v.30)
    6. Holy people shun all forms of witchcraft (v.31)
  2. God want us to reflect his character in relationships.
    1. Holy people respect their parents (v.3)
    2. Holy people are generous (v.9)
    3. Holy people are honest (v.13)
    4. Holy people are kind (v.14)
    5. Holy people are righteous in judgment (v.15)
    6. Holy people do not gossip (v.16)
    7. Holy people do not hate others (v.17)
    8. Holy people do not try to get even (v.18)
    9. Holy people live morally (v.29)
    10. Holy people fear God (v.32)
    11. Holy people love others as themselves (v.34)
    12. Holy people do not cheat (v.36)

Conclusion

Is holiness outdated? No, it has just been badly neglected. Remember, holiness is being set apart from sin to godliness. Holiness delights in purity and repels evil. Holiness is not an option. It is a command. Holiness is the outward reflection of a heart that is in harmony with God. God expects us to be holy in every area of life. Would God say that your thoughts, words, actions, dress, and choice of friends have been holy this week? If not, you have disobeyed your holy Creator. You must repent and with God’s help make changes in your life. You need to get your heart in harmony with God’s (James 4:7-10). Let’s be holy because our God is holy!

Song: Take Time to Be Holy 376
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Is Holiness Outdated?
29 March 2015 am – Leviticus 19:1-37 – Scott Childs