Be Ye Holy! (Lev. 20:1-8) Introduction: 1. We are commanded many times in the Bible to “Be Holy” but have we ever really given thought to just “what” does this mean? How should this effect our lives? 2. In our lesson today we are going to study to see just what it means to “Be Ye Holy!” 3. As we get started this morning I would like to begin in the New Testament and work back wards (1 Pet. 1:14-16) a. Here Peter begins with what “not to do” and ends with what “to do” i. Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance ii. “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” b. Now, Peter is here trying to take us back to what was already written (cf. Rom. 15:4) This command is explicitly mentioned in the book of Leviticus! i. Lev. 20:1-8 and 26 which is the text we are going to study today! ii. Also in Lev.19:1-2 and 11:44-45 they are told to “Be Holy” for God is Holy! 4. Now, our English word “holy” is what is called an English transliteration of the Greek word “Hag-ee-os” = holy, sacred, pure, set apart, different. The Hebrew equivalent is “kaw-dash” = to be clean, to be set apart, be appointed, dedicated, hallowed, be holy, be purified and sanctified a. This word “kaw-dash” is the same word we find in Lev. 10:3 translated “sanctified” which is the reason God killed Nadab and Abihu for doing what He had not commanded! (Lev. 10:1-3) b. Now in our lesson this morning we are going to work to better understand just what this means in our lives today “Be Ye Holy” 5. It is also very interesting that these two words “Kaw-dash” and “Hag-ee-os” are the only two words in all the Bible found in a repetition of “three” (Is. 6:3 and Rev. 4:8) Discussion: I. Understanding the Seriousness of Being Holy! (Lev. 20:1-6) A. One thing for sure is that “God is not playing!” He is “dead” serious about what He is telling them! B. With us keeping in mind that the Children of Israel were the “chosen people of God” they must understand “God’s Holiness” (Lev. 20:3) 1. God has called them out of the land they were in, to live for Him and He will not accept them serving “false gods!” (Lev. 20:2-5 and verse 6) a. Four times we read here of Mo’-lech (Lev. 20:2,3,4 and 5) (1) Molech was the Canaanite God that was worship by offering live child sacrifice by throwing them into the fire! (Lev. 18:21 and Deut. 12:31, 18:10) (2) This example is use as a “climax of their idolatry!” b. Now, we may not be offering our sons and daughters through the fire, but is there something we are putting “before God?” 2. Idolatry can come in the form of many things! People, Pleasure and Possessions can all come to stand between us and God! II. Understanding the Separation of Being Holy! (Lev. 20:7) A. Now, this next point is where we move from understanding the “seriousness of being Holy” to the “separation of being Holy!” B. This verse here (Lev. 20:7) only contains 4 words in the Hebrew “kaw-dash kaw-dosh Y@hovah elohim” 1. We must learn to truly be “set apart for God” 2. We must learn to be different than the world we are in! C. We must learn to “rising above the world we are in!” (Is. 40:28-31; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Js. 4:4 and 1 Jn. 2:15-17) 1. We are after all to be “the light of the world we are in” (Mt. 5:14-16) 2. We must not live in darkness, but be set apart, be separate for God! III. Understanding the Sanctification of Being Holy! (Lev. 20:8) A. I wonder if we have ever really thought about what being holy would be like without God? That would really be a pointless question, because none of us can be holy apart from God! (Rom. 3:10-12; 23; 5:12) B. When we read this passage here (Lev. 20:8) it reminds be of a passage in the New Testament ( 1 Pet. 2:1-12) 1. We are told twice in this passage that God has set us apart, He has sanctified us to be “Holy!” “holy priesthood” and “holy nation” 2. We have been called out of darkness, to walk in the light! C. We must now learn to live for God! After coming to understand “The Seriousness” and “The Separation” we must come to understand “The Sanctification” of “Being Holy” 1. Did you notice how that after telling the children of Israel to be “set apart” He then tells them to “serve God” (Lev. 20:8-9) 2. After we set apart our lives, we learn to serve God and be free from sin! Conclusion: 1. Are you truly living a “Holy” life this morning? Are you truly free from sin? 2. If you are not ye a Christian, will you become one today and be set free from sin, If you are a Christian has anything come between you and God? May we remember to “Be Holy” 3. To become a Christian one must “hear” Rom. 10:17 “believe” (Jn. 8:24) “repent” (Lk. 13:3) “confess” (Rom. 10:10) and “be baptized” (Mk. 16:16) then we must learn to “be holy” and set apart for God!
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 17:32:21 +0000
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