February 23, 2025
Teacher: Paul Mermilliod
Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy… [45] For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
BIG TRUTH:
JESUS FOLLOWERS PURSUE HOLINESS
Big Idea:
We pursue holiness because God is holy.
Leviticus 19:1-2
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Big Idea:
Holiness sets God’s people apart.
Leviticus 20:26
You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.
Exodus 16:4-6
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; [6] and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Big Idea:
Holiness is a pursuit of God’s presence.
Leviticus 26:11-12
I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. [12] And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
Leviticus 1:1,
The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying…
Numbers 1:1
The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting…
Big Idea:
Holiness requires atonement.
Leviticus 16:1-3, 6
The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, 2 and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place… 6 Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
Leviticus 16:15-16
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
Leviticus 16:20-22
20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
Hebrews 10:11–14
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Big Idea:
Holiness happens through sanctification.
Leviticus 22:31-33
“So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. [32] And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, [33] who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification…
Sanctification
- Sanctification is not moralism or complacency.
- Sanctification is God’s work of salvation in us, and our ongoing response of repentance, dependence, and obedience to Him.
- Repentance: Death to self by turning from sin to Jesus.
- Dependence: Humble trust in God’s provision and providence.
- Obedience: Deepening submission and sacrifice for God’s glory.
Five Signs Of Growing Holiness (J.I. Packer)
- Growing delight in praising God, with an increasing distaste for being praised oneself.
- Growing instinct for loving others with a more pronounced dislike of personal self-absorption.
- Growing passion for personal righteousness with more distress at the godlessness and immorality of the world around us.
- Growing zeal for God’s cause with a willingness to take unpopular action to further it.
- Growing patience and willingness to wait for God and bow to His will.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Colossians 3:1-3, 5
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God… Put to death therefore what is earthly in you…
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, [12] training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, [13] waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, preparing your minds action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
2 Corinthians 7:1
[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.
Big Idea:
Holiness grows as we follow Jesus.
Hebrews 5:8-9
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. [9] And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Talk About It
- Why does the pursuit of holiness matter to God?
- What is a personal next step of repentance, dependence, or obedience to Jesus?
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