Sermon Tone Analysis

"Devoted to the Glory of God"

"Devoted to the Glory of God"

Question: Separation & Devotion that is Good Enough for God

Text:

What do we learn about the holiness of God in ?

What do we learn about the holiness of God in ?

Pamela Smart, who was sent to prison in 1991 for plotting the murder of her husband after having an affair with a teenage boy, is pleading for a sentence reduction — but not everyone is buying her claim of innocence.

The 51-year-old is the subject of a three-part docu-series on Investigation Discovery titled “Pamela Smart: An American Murder Mystery.”

It explores how the then-21-year-old former media coordinator at New Hampshire’s Winnacunnet High School seduced a 15-year-old into enlisting his friends to help him viciously kill 24-year-old Greggory Smart in a bogus burglary.

What does the holiness of God mean?

God, holiness of

The moral excellence of God that unifies his attributes and is expressed through his actions, setting him apart from all others.

Believers are called to be holy as God is holy.

Manser, M. H. (2009).

Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies.

London: Martin Manser.

Grudem:

God’s holiness means that he is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor.

This definition contains both a relational quality (separation from) and a moral quality (the separation is from sin or evil, and the devotion is to the good of God’s own honor or glory).

The idea of holiness as including both separation from evil and devotion to God’s own glory is found in a number of Old Testament passages.

Grudem, W. A. (2004).

Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p.

201).

Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub.

House.

Why should this matter to believers?

It should matter to believers because if we do not see God as holy as he is revealed, we will think that we can reach or attain acceptable holiness before Him by what we do.

For starters, it was too common in the past to equate holiness with abstaining from a few taboo practices such as drinking, smoking, and dancing.

DeYoung

It should matter because if we think that we can attain acceptable holiness before Him by what we do, then we will have a tendency to place faith in what we do - thus our identity and security will be attached to our obedience.

Why should this matter to unbelievers?

It should matter because an unbeliever may think that God will simply accept them based upon the goodness of the unbeliever.

This low view of the Lord leads unbelievers to place faith in themselves too.

Proposition: We must know and believe what God’s unimaginable holiness reveals about mankind!

“I want the world to know that my incarceration is unjust, my trial was unfair and I’m being held in prison for a crime I didn’t commit,” Smart declared in the documentary.

Paul Maggiotto, the prosecutor in Smart’s case, told Fox News viewers should think twice before believing her pleas.

“I have no problem as an ex-prosecutor and current defense lawyer with a person who is facing life without parole to rehabilitate themselves and ask for a pardon,” he explained.

“From what I hear, Pam has done some very good things in prison and good for her.

“But part of the requirement for being eligible for a potential pardon is to accept responsibility for what you’ve done and to admit that you’ve destroyed the lives of three other people when you did this, as well as having your husband killed and accept responsibility and moving forward from there.”

What does the holiness of God reveal?

1.

The holiness of God reveals my complete uncleanness (v. 5)

2. The holiness of God reveals my complete helplessness (v. 6)

3. The holiness of God reveals my complete neediness (v.

7)

Smart is currently serving a life sentence in a maximum women’s prison in New York.

Her teenage lover William “Billy” Flynn, as well as his pals, have been released on parole.

“I want the world to know that my incarceration is unjust, my trial was unfair and I’m being held in prison for a crime I didn’t commit,” Smart declared in the documentary.

Paul Maggiotto, the prosecutor in Smart’s case, told Fox News viewers should think twice before believing her pleas.

“I have no problem as an ex-prosecutor and current defense lawyer with a person who is facing life without parole to rehabilitate themselves and ask for a pardon,” he explained.

“From what I hear, Pam has done some very good things in prison and good for her.

“But part of the requirement for being eligible for a potential pardon is to accept responsibility for what you’ve done and to admit that you’ve destroyed the lives of three other people when you did this, as well as having your husband killed and accept responsibility and moving forward from there.”

Conclusion:

- Peter illustration

Is my devotion to the glory of God good enough?

No, but the devotion of Christ to the glory of God [the holiness of God revealed in Christ] is enough.

The only separation and devotion to the glory of God that is good enough is holiness that flows out of faith in the completely, sufficient, finished, atoning work of Jesus Christ.

4. The holiness of God is received in Christ ALONE.

Acceptable holiness with God is ONLY received in Christ and ONLY continually possible by faith in Christ.