Project

Lesson: Holiness as a Way of Life

Introduction:

For anything to be a lifestyle, it must originate from self-control and discipline. This produces a habit that finally becomes a lifestyle. It does not come automatically. It takes time. This is part of growing to maturity; to be like Yahweh who is holy and who asks us to be holy because he is holy. Discovering Maturity Leaders’ guide says that to be spiritually mature one must know that this is not automatic. It takes time and effort. It is a process and it takes discipline.  If you give yourself to a certain habit, it becomes your lifestyle. So if you give yourself to the habit of living in holiness, it becomes your lifestyle. In Discovering Maturity book, page 11 it says,

Sow a thought, reap an act

Sow an act, reap a habit

Sow a habit, reap a character

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Character is a lifestyle. It is the way we live from day to day. Our destiny depends on our lifestyle. This is why Hebrews 12:3-4 says, ¹⁴ “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see Yahweh.” Character is how we live and we must put all effort to acquire peace and holiness.

Call to Holiness

1Peter 1:13-16 ― ¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Yahshua Messiah.  ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  ¹⁵ but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  ¹⁶ because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Peter reminds us what Yahweh had said in Leviticus 11:44; 19:2. We are to be holy because Yahweh is holy. Yahweh is not occasionally holy. He is holy always and wants his people to be holy like that; holy all the time as a lifestyle, as our character. Peter talks to people he calls “obedient children” and tells them not to conform to former way of life. He encourages them to be holy like the one who called them. “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” We are to be holy in ALL OUR BEHAVIOUR. NIV says “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” Note “in all you do.” This is a lifestyle; “in all our behaviour” or “in all we do.” Peter calls to us to make it our lifestyle to live in holiness.

Put on the New Self

Colossians 3:1-17

Verses 1-2 ―  “Since, then, you have been raised with Messiah, set your hearts on things above, where Messiah is seated at the right hand of Yahweh.  ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

As believers we ought to think of heavenly things and not on earthly things. The earthly things are explained here below:

Verse 5  “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Earthly things include sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. We are advised to put them to death. We must kill them. These are to be eradicated from our lives. They are to die and be done away with. They cannot die and continue to work in us. We are the ones to put them to death. This is why the spiritual habits are so important. We have to replace the bad habits with the good habits that bring holiness.

Verse 6 “Because of these, the wrath of Yahweh is coming.” Those who practise these earthly things will face the wrath or hot anger of Yahweh.

Verse 7 ― You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. When it says “you used to walk in these ways,” it shows that this was their lifestyle. This is how they used to live in immorality, lusts evil desires and so on.

Verses 8-11 ― ⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.  ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  ¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Messiah is all, and is in all.

These verses include other things we ought to get rid of; anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language. We should not lie to each other. Paul does not tell us to pray so that these things can go away from us. He tells us to do it. Get rid of these things. Don’t lie to each other. It means we can do it and ought to do it. Paul gives the reason why we can do this.

1. We have taken off our old self with its practices (v 9). This was our lifestyle. We practised sin all the time. This we have taken off and is no longer our lifestyle
2. [We] have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator, v 10). Again it is our responsibility. We have put on the new self. This is done through spiritual disciplines and habits. These habits become our new lifestyle. This is why it says we have put on the new self. We become new people who practise holiness in our life. We are becoming more and more like Yahweh our creator. We are becoming newer every day becoming more like Yahweh. Paul is not saying we wait for power to be like this. He says we put off and put on. Discovering Maturity leaders’ guide on page 13 says, “To benefit from a habit you’ve got to voluntarily want to do it. It can’t be forced on you because you have the right motive. . . . If you want to diet, it’s because you’ve got to want to diet, not because somebody else is forcing it on you.” We have to want to be like Yahweh and so take all the necessary action needed.
3. In this condition, we become one in Messiah. We cannot say this is a Jew or Kenyan or Ugandan. We are all the same, people living in holiness.

Verses 12-17 ― ² Therefore, as Yahweh‘s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as Yahweh forgave you.  ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵ Let the peace of Yahweh rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  ¹⁶ Let the word of Yahweh dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to Yahweh.  ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Yahshua, giving thanks to Yahweh the Father through him.

The lifestyle of the new people of Yahweh is as follows:

• They are chosen people, holy and dearly love by Yahweh.
• They clothe themselves with COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS and PATIENCE. This is a lifestyle. This is their clothing. It is their fashion.
• They bear with each other and forgive each just like Yahweh himself forgives. This is their lifestyle.
• They love each other genuinely without hypocrisy.
• The peace of Yahweh rules in their hearts. This is the true peace that nothing can unsettle.
• The Word of Yahweh dwells richly in them. They always read and meditate on it, doing what it says.
• Whatever they do is in line with the word of Yahweh and so they can call on Yahweh and thank him for it.

This is truly a new life of holiness. We can live such a life by changing our habits and take the habits that lead us to live such lives. We shall live a life of praise to Yahweh. We already have the ability from Yahweh who wants us to be holy because he is holy. We cannot fellowship with a holy Elohim if we are defiled.

Ephesians 4:17-32

This passage is similar to the one of Colossians above.

Verses 17-19 ― ¹⁷  So I tell you this, and insist on it in Yahweh, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of Yahweh because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Paul is talking to the Ephesians of lifestyles:

1. Do not live like Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. This is the lifestyle of the Gentiles. We should not walk like them.
2. Gentiles live a life that is separated from Yahweh because of their lifestyle.
3. Gentiles have given themselves over to wickedness.
4. They practise more and more evil and desire it more and more
5. This is the lifestyle we must avoid.

Verses 20-24  ²⁰ You, however, did not come to know Messiah that way.  ²¹ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Yahshua.  ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like Elohim in true righteousness and holiness.

As believers, our lifestyle ought to be different and that is we ought to learn from the life of Messiah. He never did anything contrary to Yahweh’s will. In verses 20-24, Paul is telling us:

1. We did not learn the lifestyle of Gentiles from the Messiah
2. Messiah taught us to put off our old self, corrupted by its evil desires
3. To be made anew in the attitude of our minds (Compare with Romans 12:2)
4. To put on the new self, created like Yahweh

Created like Yahweh in TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS.

This is the new lifestyle Messiah has taught; to be like Yahweh in true righteousness and holiness. We are told this because this should be our new lifestyle and others see us, they should see Yahweh in our lives.

Verses 25-32 ― ²⁵  Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body.  ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: {Psalm 4:4} Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.  ²⁸ He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.  ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of Elohim, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Messiah Yahwehforgave you.

In this new lifestyle, we are to put off or get rid of: falsehood (v 25), stealing (v 28), unwholesome talk (v 29), grieving the Holy Spirit (v 30), bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, and every form of malice. These are the things which belong to the old self. In the new lifestyle of holiness, these must be put to death or gotten rid of.

Then, we shall put on: Speaking truthfully (v 25), not giving the devil a foothold in our life (v 27), talking only what is helpful to those in need (v 29), being kind to one another and forgiving each other just like Yahweh forgave (v 32).

This is the new life that is full of righteousness and holiness. We cannot live our lives carelessly and expect we shall enjoy a good relationship with Yahweh. WE must put on the New Self and live in holiness.

Preparing our Hearts

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ― ¹² And now, O Israel, what does Yahweh your Elohim ask of you but to fear Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³ and to observe Yahweh’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Moses asks Israel what Yahweh requires of them. He gives the answer;

• To walk in all Yahweh’s ways
• To love Yahweh and serve (or worship) with all your heart and with all your being (soul).
• To observe Yahweh’s COMMANDS and DECREES.

In short, Yahweh requires obedience and total love for him from us. Love and obedience go together. We cannot love Yahweh and disobey at the same time. Holiness is obedience to Yahweh. Without obedience there is no holiness.

Deuteronomy 11:1 ― Love Yahweh your Elohim and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.

John 14:21 ― ²¹ “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” This is love; to have the commandments of Yahweh and obey them. Love is an action and not a feeling. You show love to Yahweh by obedience.

1 John 5:3 ― ³ This is love for Yahweh: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

Holiness in Food

Leviticus 11:1-46 tells us what to eat and what not to eat. Verses 44-45 say;   ⁴⁴ I am Yahweh your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.  ⁴⁵ I am Yahweh who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Yahweh commands us what meat to eat and what not eat. He says it is because we shall be defiled by eating the forbidden meat.

Leviticus 11:3  ³ You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

Leviticus 11:4-8  There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you.  ⁵ The coney, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.  ⁶ The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.  ⁷ And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.  ⁸ You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Hence Yahweh says that his people shall not eat camel, rabbit, pig and others. Further down it talks of the fish and birds we may eat. He says we shall be unclean or unholy if we eat these things that are forbidden.

Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah refused to eat the food of the king because they obeyed Yahweh and he gave them favour in the kingdom (Daniel 1:8-16).

Conclusion

Holiness as a lifestyle is not something that will come on its own. We may pray and pray for holiness and it will never come. We have to put every effort to live in holiness. We have to stop conforming to the pattern of this world or our old way of life and live in obedience to Yahweh. This has to come with commitment and effort.

Bishop is committed to living a new lifestyle of eating. You can see the difference. Similarly, we must be committed to obeying Yahweh as a lifestyle and live in holiness wherever we are. It is possible and this is where faith is needed. We must believe that Yahweh has given us the power and ability to do what is right in his eyes and so we must do it. This is living in holiness