In pursuit of holiness The holiness of God Holiness: an impossible dream? Dead to sin; alive in Christ Holy living with the Holy Spirit

We’ve been looking at the cosmic battle of good versus evil and God’s rescue plan for the world. An important question for us: Can the power, presence and tendency to sin be broken in our lives? Yes! But how…

There is continual grace for us. We admit our sin but don’t give in to it. Like a Sat Nav…. Present location – tendency to sin. Destination – holiness. There will be delays & diversions – but if we allow it, the sat nav will recalibrate!

Some facts about sin. Sin is surrounded There is grace for sin Sin doesn’t win Paul asks Shall we go on sinning so that grace might increase? Rom 6:1 But he ends with Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap is holiness. Rom 6:22

Romans 6: 1 – 14 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just

as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you

obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Step one Step two Step three Step four Stepping stones suggested by Paul to guide us in living a holy life

Step one Who are we? What is our identity?

We need to know who we are before we can know what to do. Our actions come from our identity. Sin often defeats us because we don’t understand what Jesus has done for us. As we understand our new being – we can look at our new doing.

Our righteousness is a free gift. This is shocking; we need to keep hearing it. We don’t sanctify ourselves and then present ourselves to God. God finds us and makes us righteous.

Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Is 1:18 We are guilty but acquitted. Innocent; in the clear; without blame; pardoned. Not just “let off”. Absolute pardon. New resurrection life, for now. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Gal 5:1 We have come home to our Father.

Step two Know we are dead to sin and alive in Christ

What died with Christ… at baptism? v8 Symbolic of our identification and union with Jesus God has judged our sin and Jesus’ death is substitute for what we deserve. We are a new creation. This isn’t simply symbolic but transformational. Just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life. v4 beforeafter

Death to our old life – our relationship to sin is a key marker of this. Anyone who has died has been set free from sin v7 Sin no longer has a claim on us. We are free from its contamination, control, condemnation. We’re not sinless but free from sin’s shackles. We are no longer slaves to sin… v6

Sin has real power; let’s not be deceived. Jesus died to break the power of sin. Temptation remains We live in a sinful world Our minds and bodies fall back to sinful ways. BUT sin is no longer the driver in our lives.

Our new heart is wired for God. Our new status finds identity in Jesus. Our new start gives us purpose – the bus story.

Step three Put into practice what God has done for us

So if we simply believe hard enough we won’t sin any more? Wishful thinking…! Consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God. v11 We need to know and consider ourselves in the light of what Jesus has done.

Why do we still sin then? It’s warfare. The good forces have invaded and taken control – but there is still a guerrilla army hiding out. The guerrillas have been defeated – but still have the ability to wound us. But death no longer has mastery… v9

Do not let sin reign in your mortal body v12 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin v13 For us to walk in freedom we remind ourselves of who we are and the life we have been given. We tackle sin head on.

Sin will try and get the upper hand. We are often kept slaves to sin because we don’t bring things into the light. In the light they belong to Jesus. In the dark, the Devil still has influence. Hidden sin doesn’t go away. Paul encourages us not to obey its evil desires v12

Do not… v12;13 Just stop it! Don’t offer any part of yourself v13 Offering – standing next to; in the company of. And remember grace…

Your mortal body v12 Any part of yourself v13 Ears & eyes: what we listen to and watch. Hands & feet: where we go. Mind and mouth: what we think and say. Present ongoing tenacity. It’s dead if it doesn’t hurt to give up or we don’t take offence.

Step four Offer yourself to God

Do not offer yourselves to sin as an instrument of wickedness. v13 Who will be our master?

Offer ourselves to God. v13 We are to stand before God. Holiness is a life lived facing God. There is no sitting on the fence. Just as sin becomes a habit so does holiness.

We are all slaves to something. v16 At a basic level some power will shape our lives. We put ourselves daily into the hands of God.

Next week… The holiness of God Holiness – an impossible dream? Dead to sin; alive in Christ Holy living with the Holy Spirit