When Holiness Becomes Perfect
1) 2-17-08…AM…SBC
“When Holiness Becomes Perfect”
Selected Scriptures
Introduction: Looking forward to something in the future
Ø expectant mothers What do you look forward to?
Ø summer bible camp
Ø summer vacations
Proposition: The Questions today is simply this – What are you looking forward to?
Transition: To look forward to something you must first now where you are going. First of all we see…
1) The Door to Holiness - Death
A- The word death is used in the Scriptures with reference to three different experiences.
1- Spiritual Death
Isaiah 59:2 “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.”
a- It is the spiritual separation of a person from fellowship with God.
b- Because of God’s omnipresence, there can be no ultimate separation from God at any time.
c- The only remedy for spiritual death is regeneration—the impartation of spiritual life to the spiritually dead.
2- The second death
a- The Second Death is the permanent and final separation of a person from God. It is an irrevocable continuation of spiritual death.
Revelation 21:8 “...and all liars, will have their part will be in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
b- there is no remedy for the Second Death
Salvation Application:
Ø if you are here today and have not repented of your sins and placed your faith in Christ to save you then you are heading down this path
Ø you are gambling with your life – is this really that trivial of an issue?
Ø This is the outcome for your dad, friend, uncle, girlfriend, co-worker – Will you be so bold to share Christ?
3- Physical Death
a- Physical Death is the Temporary Separation of the Material side of man from the Immaterial side of man
James 2:26 “The body without the spirit is dead.”
b- The remedy for physical death is the resurrection.
B- Death is an inevitable enemy
Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,[1]
Ecclesiastes 3:19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other.[2]
1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
C- Death is not to be feared for NT saints
Romans 8:38 “Neither death...shall separate us from the love of God.”
2 Timothy 1:10 Jesus Christ “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”.
Ø Spiritual death is the experience of all men.
Ø Physical death is the experience of all except Enoch, Elijah, and those Christians living at the time of the Rapture of the church.
Ø The main idea of death is separation, not annihilation or non-existence
Transition: The Door to Holiness (Death) for the believers opens right up into…
2) Perfect Holiness
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Ø The human body is perishable. It is not suited for and cannot inherit the imperishable.[3]
Ø In the Greek, it can be understood in the passive voice and implies that God is the agent. In other words, individual believers must be clothed by God with incorruption and immortality. They cannot dress themselves with these qualities but must wait for God to do this for them.[4]
1 John 3:2
Ø We are in principle children of God (v. 1) who lack perfection because of sin. But that which is principle now will become full reality in the future.[5]
Jude 1:24
Ø We are unable to enter heaven on our own account, but God who is rich in mercy protects us from falling away and causes us to enter heaven’s glory. Through the work of Jesus Christ, God presents us blameless in his glorious presence.[6]
Philippians 3:20-21
Ø It was heaven that gave them birth, for they are born from above.[7]
Ø Their names are inscribed on heaven’s register.[8]
Ø As such it is exposed to sin’s curse in the form of weakness, suffering, sickness, ugliness, futility, death, but at his coming the Savior will refashion it in such a manner that this new outward appearance will truly reflect the new and lasting inner form,[9]
Transition: Since God standard has always been His own holiness, then His Millennial Kingdom must also be a…
3) Kingdom of Holiness Revelation 20:1-7
A- The Millennial Kingdom is the rule and reign of Jesus Christ on earth for 1000 years following the Tribulation.
1- The Millennium Comes When Christ and the Church Descend From Heaven At the End of the Tribulation.
Revelation 19:11-16 Christ and the armies who follow Him on white horses descend to earth prior to the Millennium.
B- Aspects of the Kingdom (Spiritual, Ethical, Social, Physical, Political, Ecclesiastical)
1- The Ethical Aspect of the Kingdom of God
a- there will be a readjustment to true morality
Isaiah 40:3-4; 32:5; 42:3
b- Truth, morality and holiness will undergird the Kingdom of God
2- the conditions of the Millenium will be of a perfect environment physically and spiritually
a- time of peace, joy and comfort
b- because only believer’s enter the Millenium (Matthew 25) this literal Kingdom will be a time of obedience (Jeremiah 31:33) and holiness (Isaiah 35:8)
8 Isaiah 35:8And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[10]
Read – What a Day That Will Be
Conclusion:
1- Only those who pursue after and walk in holiness can experience true joy
2- True eternal joy will results from obedience
3- Ultimate Joy will be when our Savior comes for us
- Will you be going? (Salvation)
- Are you living in light of eternity?
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[1]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 9:27.
[2]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ec 3:19.
[3]John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, Includes Indexes. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1984), 443.
[4]Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 18, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 583.
[5]Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 14, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 295.
[6]Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 16, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 411.
[7]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 5, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Philippians, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 182.
[8]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 5, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Philippians, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 182.
[9]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 5, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Philippians, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 184.
[10]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 35:8.