Christianity 101Christianity 101Congregation Benim Congregation Benim

AvrahamAvrahamDiocese of La Porte, TexasDiocese of La Porte, TexasChristian Church, Synod Christian Church, Synod

of St. Timothyof St. Timothy

Part 4Holiness

HolinessHoliness

A way of life for everA way of life for ever

Holiness means to be set Holiness means to be set apart from the world.apart from the world.We are set apart for We are set apart for

God’s purposesGod’s purposes

HolinessHoliness

• Is achieved through moderating our Is achieved through moderating our wants, especially in food, drink, material wants, especially in food, drink, material possessions.possessions.

• Is achieved in taking care of our bodies Is achieved in taking care of our bodies (did you not know your body is the (did you not know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you). temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you). So take care of them and stay away So take care of them and stay away from things bad for you, don’t smoke, from things bad for you, don’t smoke, use drugs etc, get enough sleep.use drugs etc, get enough sleep.

HolinessHoliness

• Is achieved by loving your neighbour Is achieved by loving your neighbour as yourself. If you see he or she is in as yourself. If you see he or she is in need, help them.need, help them.

• By talking to others with respect.By talking to others with respect.• By being courteous, in person, on By being courteous, in person, on

the phone, while drivingthe phone, while driving

JOYJOY•JJesus firstesus first•OOthers secondthers second•YYourself lastourself last

CommandmentsCommandments

• Be Holy, for I the Lord your God am Be Holy, for I the Lord your God am Holy (Lev. 19:2)Holy (Lev. 19:2)

• But just as he who called you is holy, But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am written: "Be holy, because I am holy.“ (I Peter 1:15-16)holy.“ (I Peter 1:15-16)

God makes us holyGod makes us holy

• Say to the Say to the IIsraelites, 'You must sraelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may generations to come, so you may know that know that II amam the LORD, who the LORD, who makes you makes you holyholy. (Exodus 31:13). (Exodus 31:13)

• We cannot make ourselves holy, God We cannot make ourselves holy, God does it for us.does it for us.

• We allow him to make us Holy.We allow him to make us Holy.

HolinessHoliness

• Comes from love, if we truly Love Comes from love, if we truly Love the Lord our God, we will want to be the Lord our God, we will want to be Holy.Holy.

• Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one, love him with all your heart, one, love him with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength, the and with all your strength, the second is this, love your neighbour second is this, love your neighbour as yourself. (Mark 12:29-31)as yourself. (Mark 12:29-31)

The Decalogue The Decalogue (Exodus (Exodus 20:1-17)20:1-17)

• I am the Lord your God (God is the I am the Lord your God (God is the boss)boss)

• You shall have no gods before me You shall have no gods before me (nothing is to take God’s place, we (nothing is to take God’s place, we worship him alone)worship him alone)

• You shall not invoke the name of the You shall not invoke the name of the Lord your God in vain (Don’t use God’s Lord your God in vain (Don’t use God’s name to curse, or without meaning it. name to curse, or without meaning it. Use God’s name with respect)Use God’s name with respect)

• Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy (Sunday is God’s day, it is for Holy (Sunday is God’s day, it is for worship, and to relax, but not for worship, and to relax, but not for working or causing other people to working or causing other people to work)work)

• Honour your father and mother. Honour your father and mother. (Respect your parents all your life, as (Respect your parents all your life, as they get older help them and take they get older help them and take care of them. By extension we honour care of them. By extension we honour all in authority. This is the first all in authority. This is the first commandment with a promise, long commandment with a promise, long life for obedience)life for obedience)

• Do not murder. (Jesus tells us to hate Do not murder. (Jesus tells us to hate some one is the same as murder)some one is the same as murder)

• Do not commit adultery (Be faithful to your Do not commit adultery (Be faithful to your spouse. Jesus again tells us if we look at spouse. Jesus again tells us if we look at someone with lust, we have committed someone with lust, we have committed adultery. Sex is only for one’s spouse, no adultery. Sex is only for one’s spouse, no sex outside of marriage, and marriage is sex outside of marriage, and marriage is strictly between a man and a woman)strictly between a man and a woman)

• Do not steal. (In any way or form)Do not steal. (In any way or form)• Do not bear false witness. (Never give Do not bear false witness. (Never give

false testimony about any one, speak the false testimony about any one, speak the truth.)truth.)

• Do not covet. (We learn to be happy Do not covet. (We learn to be happy and thankful for what we have, not and thankful for what we have, not seeking more and more)seeking more and more)

HolinessHoliness

• Is not something we achieve by Is not something we achieve by strictly obeying the law.strictly obeying the law.

• Is achieved by loving God, and Is achieved by loving God, and allowing him to work in our lives.allowing him to work in our lives.

• Is achieved by studying God’s word Is achieved by studying God’s word and through prayer.and through prayer.

Watch our for:Watch our for:

• LustLust• GluttonyGluttony• GreedGreed• SlothSloth• WrathWrath• EnvyEnvy• PridePride• These are the antithesis to holiness These are the antithesis to holiness

Seek the fruits of the Seek the fruits of the spiritspirit

• LoveLove• JoyJoy• ShalomShalom• PatiencePatience• KindnessKindness• GoodnessGoodness• FaithfulnessFaithfulness• GentlenessGentleness• Self controlSelf control

Be careful what you feed Be careful what you feed your mind.your mind.

• Paul tells us to only look at those Paul tells us to only look at those things which are good.things which are good.

• Put on the mind of Christ.Put on the mind of Christ.• Careful of what you listen to and Careful of what you listen to and

watch. watch. • Read the Bible, listen to Christian Read the Bible, listen to Christian

music.music.

Our GoalOur Goal

• Theosis: becoming more like God.Theosis: becoming more like God.• As we become more like God, people As we become more like God, people

will see him in us.will see him in us.• We will see him in them.We will see him in them.

As you pray and studyAs you pray and study

• Follow through and allow God to Follow through and allow God to transform your life.transform your life.