My sermon notes for Sunday, May 12th as we continue our study through 2 Corinthians. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net
Dedication
7:1 – Cleanse yourself and perfect holiness
[1] Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)
THEREFORE – a call to action.
Since we have these promises…THEN
Cleanse yourselves and perfect holiness
- Be ye holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16
- Our holiness is not an option
- Flesh and Spirit
- our outside follows our inside. – OUR HEART!
Bring Holiness to Completion
- Finish what has already been started.
- Our effort
In the fear of God
- Not duty, but out of love and respect of the Lord
Quotes from “The Pursuit of Holiness” – Jerry Bridges, © 1996
To be holy is to be morally blameless. It is to be separated from sin and, therefore, consecrated to God. The word signifies separation to God, and the conduct befitting those so separated… To live a holy life, then, is to live a life in conformity to the moral precepts of the Bible and in contrast to the sinful ways of the world. It is to live a life characterized by the “(putting) off of your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires… and (putting) on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24). p. 16
Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God. p. 22
As we read and study the Scriptures or hear them taught, we are captivated by the moral beauty of God’s standard of holiness. p. 74
Every time we say yes to temptation, we make it harder to say no the next time. p. 92
Discipline toward holiness begins then with the Scriptures – with a disciplined plan for regular intake of the Scriptures and a disciplined plan for applying them to our daily lives. p. 97
Holiness begins in our minds and works out to our actions. That being true, what we allow to enter our minds is critically important. The television programs we watch, the movies we may attend, the books and magazines we read, the music we listen to, and the conversations we have all affect our minds. We need to evaluate the effects of these avenues honestly, using Philippians 4:8 as a standard. (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things) p. 117
God has provided all we need for our pursuit of holiness. He has delivered us from the reign of sin and given us His indwelling Holy Spirit. He has revealed His will for holy living in His Word, and He works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose. He has sent pastors and teachers to exhort and encourage us in the path of holiness; and He answers our prayers when we cry to Him for strength against temptation. p. 156
Eph 4.:17- 32 & Colossians 3:1-17 both teach that growing in holiness and righteousness require PUTTING OFF and PUTTING OF. We are to SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD and then we are to DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE LORD
- From / To – From the World to God
- Put off the World, Put on righteousness and holiness
As we dedicate/consecrate ourselves to Him, then we are able to see the life of living in His presence, peace, purpose, and power.
His Presence
- Psalm 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
- Psalm 21:6 – For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
- Psalm 95:2 – Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
His Peace
- Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
- Romans 15:33 – May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
- Romans 16:20 – The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
His Purpose
- Chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. What gives Him the greatest glory? When we believe what He has said about Himself and LIVE IT OUT.
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 – [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)
To live my life as a ministry of reconciliation.
- God has reconciled my unto Himself
- Given me this ministry of reconciliation
- The ministry is manifested as a I live as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ.
His Power
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (ESV)