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Greetings Beloved,
Welcome to Jesus to the Core Missions LLC. I am Dr. Darryl D. Thomas, and it is my prayer for you that you prosper, be in health, even as your soul prospers. In today's homily, we will be discussing the meaning of holiness and how it pertains to children and adults.
We will use a number of scriptures. For instance, Ephesians 6:1says, "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Colossians 3:20 says, "Children obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." Leviticus 20: 7-8 says, "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you." There are similarities and the differences between the 3 scriptures listed. Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20 are very similar, and they are spoken written to similar groups of people. These two scriptures are speaking to the children of the church in two different locations, but the message was the same admonishing them to “obey” their parents. Leviticus 20:7-8 was written to all of the people of God, but it is very similar to the two New Testament scriptures that are listed. First, Leviticus 20:7-8 tells us to “sanctify” ourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.
What it means to sanctify
The Hebrew word for sanctify is quadash. In Leviticus 20:7-8 sanctify is a verb (also known as an action word). Quadash means to be set apart or consecrated. The root word of sanctify is saint. The Hebrew word for “saint” is qadosh or qodesh. Qadosh and qodesh means to be sacred and/or holy. Even the Greek word for “saint” which is hagios means to be set apart, holy, and sacred. Leviticus 20:7-8 is telling all of us to be holy. Holy= 1. worthy of veneration (worthy to be used) 2. set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively his 3. pure, sinless, upright, holy Not only does He tell us to sanctify ourselves in verse 7, but He also says that He is the one that sanctifies us in verse 8. Therefore, it is not impossible to live a holy life. I have heard many people say, “I’m only human.” “I’m just a man.” This type of speech explains the imperfection of humans, but it is not the type of mindset that the scripture encourages us to have. For instance, Ephesians 6:10 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” The bible teaches us that we can be strong in the power of His might, and with His help we can be holy.
You can live a holy life that is dedicated to God just as the scriptures proclaim. The scripture Leviticus 20: 7-8 tell us to live holy lives, and then it also says that God is the one that gives us the power to be holy. Jesus, in his own words, tells us that holiness is a requirement that we must meet in order to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
St. John Chapter 3: 1-8 says:
“1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time in his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus often spoke in parables that were complicated to the common man, because God gave all power into His hands (wisdom being included). He explained to Nicodemus that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” However, Nicodemus marveled at the parable, because he did not understand. That is why Jesus told him in verse 7, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Jesus was speaking of obedience. When a child is born to a man; that man is known by that child as father. Therefore, that child will obey his father; but another who is not his father, he will not obey. In order to be born of the Spirit, we must welcome him by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Also, we must obey the Holy Spirit after he has come into our hearts to remind us of all of the teachings of Jesus Christ. If you do not obey the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit), then you are born of the flesh. A child obeys his father. Who is your Father? Who will you obey? I choose to obey the Holy Ghost.
Why obey the instructions and the desires of the flesh? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” According to St. John 14:16-28, the gift that He sent to us (after Jesus) was the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will teach us all things and bring all things unto our remembrance everything Jesus taught us in the scriptures. Sin is a willful act of the flesh that is not pleasing to God. Next are scriptures concerning things that you should refrain from. Keep God’s statutes. Keep the 10 Commandments. We should Learn them! We should Live Them! We should Teach them to our children!
1Thessalonians 5:19-22 teaches us to not quench the Spirit. We must hear Him when He speaks, because He speaks of Jesus. He leads us om the ways of Jesus is Life, because Jesus is Life.
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20 reads, 3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that take his name vain. 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 12 Honour, thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbors.
The Ten Commandments are still relevant according to Matthew 5:17. There Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. He came that we may be saved by grace so that we would no longer be separated from God because of sin. He came so that we would not have to have a priest to go God for us. He came so that we would have a perfect model of holiness by following His life and His teachings. He came so that we could be holy, and go to God for ourselves in prayer and daily supplication. He came to be the ultimate sacrifice so that we would not have to make atonement sacrifices of lambs and sheep for our sins.
Admonishment
1 Corinthians 6:9-12 reads,
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetors, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful to you. This means that there are some actions that are not necessarily a sin, but it is hindrance to those that are trying to live a holy lifestyle. Be sanctified my brothers and sisters. I believe in the scriptures. I believe God, and believe Scripture. I believe that there is still a remnant of us will keep the commandments of God, because we love him. “Be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might.” Peace and love be unto you, and I pray that you receive this teaching in the spirit of grace and humility. Let us pray,
Heavenly Father,
Have mercy on our souls. Forgive all our sins we have committed you in thought, word, and deed. Help us to love you. Help us to obey your word. Help us to walk with you holy. We confess the Jesus Christ is LORD, Savior, and Master of our lives. We believe that you raised Jesus from the dead with all power in His hands. We believe that you raised Jesus to give us power to become the sons of God; In Jesus Christ mighty name we pray, Amen.
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