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The Call to Holiness: God's Will for Every Believer

The general will of God for all believers is the call to be Holy, to reflect His character, to live pure and separate from all sin. Paul said in Romans 12:1 it is your reasonable service, a spiritual act of worship.

1. Understanding God's Nature and Our Call

1.1 God is Holy

Verses: Isaiah 6:3; 1 Samuel 2:2; Revelation 4:8
  • God's inherent nature is absolute purity and moral perfection.
  • There is no one holy like the Lord; His holiness is unique and supreme.
  • His holiness is the foundation of all moral truth and righteousness.

1.2 Called to Reflect His Character

Verses: 1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 11:44-45; Ephesians 5:1
  • Our divine call is to imitate God's purity in all our conduct.
  • Holiness is not optional but a direct command from the Lord.
  • We are to be separate from the world's defilement, just as God is separate.

1.3 Holiness as Our Reasonable Service

Verses: Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14
  • Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is a logical and spiritual act of worship.
  • Holiness is an expected response to God's mercy and grace.
  • Without holiness, no one will truly see or experience the Lord.

1.4 The One God Manifested in Christ

Verses: Colossians 2:9; John 14:9; 1 Timothy 3:16
  • In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, revealing God's complete holiness.
  • To see Jesus is to see the Father, as He is the visible image of the invisible God.
  • God was manifest in the flesh, demonstrating His holy character through His life.

2. The Standard of Holiness

2.1 Purity in Thought

Verses: Philippians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Proverbs 4:23
  • Our thoughts significantly influence our actions and character.
  • We must take every thought captive, making it obedient to Christ.
  • Guarding our hearts and minds is essential for maintaining a holy life.

2.2 Purity in Speech

Verses: Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8; James 3:8-10
  • Our words should always build up and impart grace to the hearers.
  • Filthy language, slander, and gossip are contrary to a holy lifestyle.
  • The tongue has immense power for both good and evil, requiring careful control.

2.3 Purity in Conduct

Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Galatians 5:19-21; Titus 2:11-12
  • Abstain from all forms of sexual immorality and ungodly desires.
  • Flee from all works of the flesh that defile and separate us from God.
  • God's grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.

2.4 Separation from Worldly Influences

Verses: 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17
  • Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers or partake in their unholy practices.
  • Friendship with the world is enmity with God, compromising our devotion.
  • Love not the world nor the things in the world, for they are passing away.

3. The Power for Holiness

3.1 The Indwelling Spirit of God

Verses: Acts 2:38; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16
  • The Spirit of God, given at repentance and baptism in Jesus' name, empowers us to overcome sin.
  • Walking in the Spirit enables us to resist and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
  • The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and righteousness, transforming our lives.

3.2 The Word of God

Verses: John 17:17; Psalm 119:9; Ephesians 5:26
  • God's Word is the instrument by which He sanctifies and sets us apart.
  • It provides the necessary guidance and instruction for living a pure life.
  • We are cleansed and washed by the water of the Word, renewing our minds.

3.3 Prayer and Fasting

Verses: Matthew 26:41; James 5:16; Isaiah 58:6-7
  • Prayer strengthens us against temptation and helps us maintain spiritual vigilance.
  • The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
  • Fasting helps us draw closer to God, breaking the power of sinful habits and desires.

3.4 Repentance and Forgiveness

Verses: 1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19; Proverbs 28:13
  • Confession of sin leads to God's faithful forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness.
  • Repentance is a genuine turning away from sin and toward God's righteous path.
  • Hiding or covering our sins prevents true holiness and spiritual progress.

4. The Benefits and Consequences of Holiness

4.1 Intimacy with God

Verses: James 4:8; Psalm 24:3-4; Hebrews 12:14
  • A pure heart allows us to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us.
  • Only those with clean hands and a pure heart can ascend to His holy presence.
  • Holiness is an essential prerequisite for truly seeing and experiencing the Lord.

4.2 God's Blessing and Favor

Verses: Psalm 84:11; Proverbs 11:20; Matthew 5:8
  • God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly and live holy lives.
  • Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless are His delight.
  • The pure in heart shall see God and receive His divine favor and blessings.

4.3 Effective Witness

Verses: Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:12
  • Our holy lives shine as lights in the world, glorifying God before others.
  • We are to be blameless and pure, living without fault in a crooked and perverse generation.
  • Our good works, born of holiness, can lead others to glorify God on the day of visitation.

4.4 Eternal Reward

Verses: Revelation 21:27; Hebrews 12:10; 2 Timothy 2:21
  • Nothing impure or defiled will ever enter the New Jerusalem or God's eternal kingdom.
  • God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness and inherit eternal life.
  • Those who cleanse themselves from unrighteousness will be instruments for noble purposes, sanctified and useful to the Master.