Revelation 4:6-11 (NLT) In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
The central characteristic of God- Holiness.
What is holy/ holiness?
Holy: “Opposite of that which is which is common or profane.”
HOLY: OTHER THAN, OR UNCOMMON, DIFFERENT.
HE IS WHOLY HOLY
Moses sang it this way….
Exodus 15:11 (NIV) "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
“When we try to make him like us him we distort our view of his holiness.”
Jesus is Holy
John 6:69 (NLT) “We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
What does Jesus say about virtues?
Mark 12:28-34 (NLT) 28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” 34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Social goodness
According to Jesus, we are morally bankrupt before God if we ignore the first command.
“You can keep the second command without keeping the first but you cannot keep the first without keeping the second.”
Wholistic Holiness: Heart, soul, mind, & strength.
The biblical standard of Virtue is holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”
Jesus opposed self-righteousness in any form:
Self righteousness is any righteousness that can be claimed without Gods grace.
Luke 5:32 (NLT) I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.
Embracing Holiness
1. Yield to God’s righteousness
David understood holiness this way…
Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV) Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
“Jesus came and got his hands dirty to get our hearts clean.”
2. Commit to Sanctification
“Holiness is not a eviction, it’s an invitation.”
Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Who are being sanctified)
Sanctification- Progressively growing in a life that is set apart for God.
“Holiness is not something that people do, but something that God does in them.”
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NLT) God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.
“God’s part is providing our part is planting.”
Seeds//Sacred Resources
2 Corinthians 8:1-3, 7-9 (NLT) 1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will…
7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
We want to be generous….
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NLT) Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.
1. Cheerfully
2 Corinthians 9:11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT) On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned.
John 1:45-51 (NIV) 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." 48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." 50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Lenses that form views:
1. Education- How and what we learn.
2. Experience- How life/ people have treated us.
3. Emotions - How we feel.
We see what we value
illl…..Count the red eyed Emojis.
Values form our Views.
The problem: Lenses are subjective
They are not always an accurate view of reality.
The lenses we look through as followers of Christ.
1. Reality/ The Truth
Truth is not a virtue.
The Truth is. Love does.
“Love may open the door but it’s truth sets us free.”
Truth carries authority.
How are you exposing yourself to truth?
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) 1 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
2. Jesus
We value what he values.
Colossians 2:6-9 (NLT) 6 Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
3. The Word of God
We trust the word of God because it’s timeless, flawless and faultless. Not because we like it but because it is reliable.
“God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick.”- Somebody
If its God’s word then it carries authority.
-The way we govern our life.
-The way we shape our views
Filtering our filter:
1. Careful HOW you listen.
Luke 8:18 (NIV) Consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
2. Get in the word.
The word cleanses our lense.
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NLT) Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
3. Commit yourself to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
Our Values develop our Virtues.