How to Be Holy (Part 3)

THE FIVE CONSECRATIONS

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

1. SEPARATE RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM WICKEDNESS.

To belong to God means we make a distinction between God's approval and disapproval.  We seek His approval and avoid His disapproval.  We make it clear that God only approves one thing:  Faith in Jesus Christ.  We accept no approval accept from the Gospel.  This separates us from everyone in the world.

2. SEPARATE LIGHT FROM DARKNESS
God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness.  No. No darkness. At all.  We are separate as Christians because we believe in the unconditional confession of our sin.  We come out of the darkness of self justification and accept our inexcusable sin.  What separates us from the whole world is that we make no attempt to make things right with God.  Only Christ rescues us from the darkness of our selfishness. Christ forgives us of all sin and sets us free from sinning.

3. SEPARATE CHRIST FROM BELIAL
Belial is Satan, the evil one, the murderer, the father of lies.  We submit to God's will unconditionally, and resist the devil's will unconditionally.  We undo whatever Satan does in the name of Jesus.  We separate ourselves from all that is vile and evil and that glorifies evil.  We never compromise with Satan.  With evil, we are unashamedly intolerant.


4. SEPARATE BELIEVERS FROM UNBELIEVERS
First let's look at what Paul doesn't mean by this separation.  Paul is not telling Christians to stay away from unbelievers.  This is impossible, unloving, and antichrist.  Jesus loved me  and saved me, even when I hated Him.  The separation between believers and unbelievers is one of our allegiances and our values.  Believers live only for eternity and God's glory.  Unbelievers live only for now and for themselves.  In this way, we are absolutely separate.  Our assumptions about life have nothing in common.

5. SEPARATE THE TEMPLE OF GOD FROM THE TEMPLES OF IDOLS.

If you remember nothing else, remember this separation.  It is the summation of every consecration of all who are Christians.

Christ was, is, and forever will be THE sacrifice for all of our sins.  He gave his body for us and to us.  He made us holy.  We in response consecrate our bodies.  We do not view our bodies as our own to do what we see fit.  This is the supreme distinction of God' children and Satan's children, as it is written,

• Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own, you were bought with a price.  Therefore honor the Lord with your body.
• Present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.
• Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and the present the members of your bodies to Him as instruments and weapons of righteousness.

--The giving of your body to God is the ultimate act of faith in Christ, the only thing God approves of.
--The giving of your body to God is coming out of the darkness; it is no longer hiding what you do with your body, but giving your body to God, freely and openly for all to see.
--The giving of your body to God is to take it once and for all from Satan and demon possession.  Only the Spirit of God dwells in your body, His temple. Satan cannot dwell in God's temple, nor can God's Spirit dwell in a body dedicated to Satan and sin.


To be holy is to give yourself to God alone, and for God Himself to receive you, and give Himself back to you. 


You are God's, and He is yours.
This is how to be holy.