Holiness

Well, good afternoon, everyone. Hope you're having a great feast day. We stayed here for lunch and enjoyed the roast beef lunch. It was very nice. I bring you greetings from Cincinnati, from the home office, from staff there, who kind of spread their wings across the country and are meeting at various feast sites. There's a well-known millennial scripture in the book of Zachariah that talks about holiness on earth after Jesus Christ returns. The earth will be filled with God's Spirit, and righteousness and holiness will spread across the globe. So just turn with me, if you would, to Zachariah chapter 14. And notice verse 16, and then verses 20 and 21. Zachariah 14, 16. Now you're very familiar with his passage. It shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. We've read that several times already. But look at verse 20. In that day, holiness to the Lord shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. And verse 21, yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. So the bells on the horses, you know, the license plates on the cars, the transportation is going to have reminders of God's holiness. The pots in Jerusalem and Judah, the silverware, the plates, the bowls, will be engraved to remind everybody about holiness. This is during the Feast of Tabernacles, period. Holiness spreads across the globe. But what about when the millennium ends? After the great white throne judgment, when we see the introduction of the new heavens and new earth, how far will holiness spread then?

On this eighth day observance, this last day of the feast, let's look more closely at the meaning of this holy day, and in particular, the concept of holiness.

The concept of holiness permeating creation and the spirit realm. First, we're going to look at holiness in us, and then secondly, holiness in the rest of humanity.

Let's go ahead and turn to Isaiah 6. The prophet Isaiah was given a vision of the throne of God, and in graphic detail, he wrote down what he saw.

What do you think it would be like to experience the presence of God in vision as Isaiah did? Isaiah's experience here promotes the concept of holiness. Isaiah 6, verse 1. In the year the king, Isaiah, died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Verse 2, above it stood Seraphim. Each one had six wings, with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And verse 3, and one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.

If you think about the universe, it's awesome. Looking up into the heavens can be an emotional experience. I know while we've been here at the feast, we've seen Jupiter next to Saturn every night, and Mars coming up after that. And Mars is actually at its brightest and nearest proximity to earth, as it has been in many, many decades. So Mars is really bright and big right now. The mind and the power that created all this has to be so powerful, beyond our imagination. And the throne of God is like holy ground. Isaiah wrote that God is holy, holy, holy, not just once, but he said it three times in a row. Now, one of the most important doctrines in the Bible, from cover to cover, is the doctrine of the resurrection. This power, our God, can remember who we were after we were dead, and bring us back.

The resurrection from the dead is a very foundational doctrine in the Bible. It's actually one of six very basic beliefs. Let's go back to Hebrews 6 for a moment. Look at the first two verses. The beginning of Hebrews 6 is a discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, some of the most basic elementary beliefs that we have. In Hebrews 6, verse 1, we are told, therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go into perfection. And then these six elementary principles are listed. Not lying again, number one, the foundation of repentance from dead works, and two, faith toward God, three, the doctrine of baptisms, four, the laying on of hands, and then five, of resurrection of the dead and six, of eternal judgment. And those last two are critical, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Because that is what this day really focuses on. These are the elementary principles of Christ. Today is called the eighth day of sacred assembly, in Numbers, chapter 29, verse 35. If you wonder where we get the name for the day, it's Numbers 29, verse 35, the eighth day of sacred assembly. It focuses on the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment, the great white throne judgment. That's what's pictured here today, and it's very foundational to our belief. It's part of the elementary principles of Christ. They're listed in Hebrews, chapter 6. We understand from Scripture that there's a first resurrection. So that means if there's a first resurrection, why would you say it's the first? Unless there's to be a second and even a third. And even a third. It begins with the first to be resurrected, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, a man who died for us, was both Davidic and divine.

He became human. He died, and he was resurrected. He now sits at the right hand of the Father, and he is the first in that sense of the resurrection. Next, he will return and resurrect the saints, the firstfruits, those filled with the Holy Spirit, those whom he has chosen over the centuries to become kings, priests, and judges.

Those of us sitting here today. We're reminded in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 22 and 23, for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive. Talking of our resurrection. Verse 23, but each one in his own order. Christ, the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ that he's coming, and then we read later even more after that, right?

James 1, verse 18 tells us, of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

We are those firstfruits, those who will be in the first resurrection. The firstfruits, the first to be resurrected, will be the saints, those part of Christ's church. As we've been reminded this festival many times, in Revelation 19, verse 7, we read, let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come. And his wife has made herself ready. It's like a wedding, a marriage, as we heard about yesterday so eloquently.

But yes, the wife has to be made ready, talking of us. Let me read to you Ephesians chapter 5, verse 27. Ephesians 5 and verse 27, that he, Christ, might present her, the church, that Christ might present the church to himself, a glorious church, not having a spot or a wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So the bride that is being prepared and made ready has to be righteous and holy. We have to be righteous and holy.

Just like Isaiah pictured with God's holy throne, we are to be a glorious holy church, preparing for the wedding.

We are not to live our lives forgetting about our wedding.

In one sense, much of our life could be defined as a bride getting ready for the wedding. The church is preparing to meet the bridegroom by becoming holy and cleansed.

How important is getting ready for the wedding in your thinking and daily life?

How holy are we becoming as a church and as individuals? Picture this scene. It's a perfect summer day. Friends and family have gathered to join in the joyful occasion. We're all gathered here for a wedding. The decorations are elegant. The mood is festive. And today, you the groom will marry the woman of your dreams.

And your thoughts are interrupted as the audio engineer at the back plays the wedding march.

The congregation stands up, turns to the rear to face the beautiful bride who's about to enter.

Then, a collective gasp.

The bride clumsily staggers in with curlers in her hair and in sweatpants. And she looks in horror at all of you gathered here before her, and suddenly the meaning of it all sinks in. I'm so sorry, she cries. I forgot what day it was today.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?

What bride would ever forget her wedding day? Would not be prepared for it.

But do you sometimes forget about your wedding day?

Do you live in anticipation of the resurrection and the marriage of the lamb?

How important is getting ready for the wedding in your thinking and daily life? It's a serious question. Are we preoccupied with life here and now instead of focusing on becoming holy?

It takes diligence to become holy and prepare for Christ's return. But often we're distracted and consumed with everyday life. Are you actively seeking to get ready for the wedding that we've been hearing about this whole feast? By pursuing holiness.

Though we don't know exactly when Christ will return, the Scripture tells us how to live now in preparation for it. Ready for the call. The bridegroom is coming. The bridegroom is coming. Look at 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 13 through 16 for a moment. 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 13. Because of all this, therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And when Christ returns to resurrect us. Verse 14. As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lust as in your ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Because it is written, be holy for I am holy.

We are to be holy in all our conduct. At the end of 1 Thessalonians in chapter 5 verse 23, after exhorting the church to live godly lives, the apostle Paul encourages them with this. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 23. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. Sanctify means to make holy. May the God of peace make you holy completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In several of his epistles, the apostle Paul shares an important insight about the lifelong process of pursuing holiness. And I want to read to you Ephesians 4 verse 24. Ephesians 4 verse 24, Paul says that you put on the new man, put on the new woman which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Holiness. As new creatures now, as baptized, converted members of the body of Christ, we are to put off anything and everything that is part of our old, corrupt, fleshly, sinful habits, wrong attitudes, and impure motives. But it's not just enough to put off the old life. In its place, by God's grace and by the power of his Holy Spirit, we must actively put on the new self, those holy, qualities of the life of Christ within us.

Listen to the difference between hypocrites and people who are truly holy. There's an interesting list. I want to read a couple from it. It's in a book titled, The Heart Like His by Beth Moore. And in this list is contrasted holy versus hypocrite, because, quite honestly, sometimes it's hard to tell a difference when you're looking at something from the outside. Holy people, here's the list. I've just got a few of them. I'm not going to read them all. Holy people behave in certain ways because they love God. Hypocrite behave in certain ways because they want others to think they love God.

So from the outside, I'm going to kind of look the same at first. Holy people are concerned about being pleasing to God inside and out. Hypocrite are concerned about how they are perceived by others.

Holy people have a heart to love and serve others regardless of their socioeconomic status. Hypocrite like to associate with movers and shakers and the up-and-coming to enhance their own standing. Holy people give themselves unreservedly to God and are patient with others who are still in process. Hypocrite expect more from others than they are willing to give of themselves. Holy people have a humble estimation of themselves because God is their standard. Hypocrite compare themselves to others and develop a spiritual superiority complex. Holy people are real. Hypocrites pretend.

So am I? Are you displaying holiness or hypocrisy?

Only you can answer that.

God judges our hearts, as we know. I cannot. But the religious leaders of Jesus' day were greatly respected and considered themselves to be holy. They were experts in the Old Testament law. They prided themselves on keeping the law down to the smallest letter. Their outward behavior could not be faltered. Imagine their indignation when Jesus appeared on the scene and began to confront them over the one thing no one but God could see. Their hearts. And remember, the heart is deceitful above all things. So be careful.

Look at Mark 7. Here's just one example of many encounters Jesus had with the leaders who thought they were holy. Mark 7, first eight verses. Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. When they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? But eat bread with unwashed hands. And Jesus answered and said to them, Well, well, did Isaiah prophesy of you, hypocrites. As it is written, This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men, all stuff they had made up.

For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other things such as you do. So it was an outward show of cleanliness, of purity of holiness. But their heart, they were told by Jesus, was far from God. They had a list of dos and don'ts that were not from Scripture, but from their own made-up laws. And at the same time, the Pharisees were neglecting the wayier matters of life.

Matthew 23, if you want to turn there, records another occasion on which Jesus strongly rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. Among other things, he accused them of not practicing what they preached to others. To others, and doing their spiritual deeds in order to make a good impression to appear holy to others. Matthew 23, verse 5.

But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. Verse 6, they love the best places at least, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi. Verse 23 says Jesus, of Matthew 23, Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anise in common, and have neglected the wayier matters of the law, justice and mercy in faith.

These you ought to have done, though, but without leaving the other undone. And further, Jesus said there was a world of difference between what they appeared to be, based on the outward evidence, and what they actually were, based on the inward reality. Verse 25, Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence, talking of their own lies, though actually quite greedy.

Verse 28, Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. So you see, a hypocrite can appear wholly on the outside, to others who are not judging the heart. But the Pharisees' hearts, what God knew was on the inside, did not match up to all their impressive spiritual talk and behavior.

They were scrupulously clean on the outside, but they were corrupt on the inside. They exalted themselves even above the word of God, and considered themselves godly because they conformed outwardly, at least, to their man-made standards. They kept certain laws meticulously, like tithing on everything, including tiny little grains of spice, counting it out, while managing to bypass the heart behind the laws, and truly loving God and others. On the face of things, the behavior of someone who is genuinely holy, you know, we're not perfect, but we're living in humble obedience to God, and someone who is a hypocrite may seem quite similar.

But God doesn't look on the face of things, does he? He looks at all our hearts, and he doesn't just glance at our hearts, he searches our heart.

Does this apply to your life in any way? To my life in any way? What does God see when he searches my heart or your heart? True holiness or hypocrisy?

Are you really as godly and holy as others think you are at church?

Or are you really a hypocrite? Someone who just looks and acts spiritual? Is the impression others have of you consistent with what God knows to be the real condition of your heart? And so these are all questions for us on this day as we prepare to be the first to inherit eternity, the first to inherit eternity. Here in the sermon today, I'll title it holiness, a brief look into eternity. Holiness, a brief look into eternity. As this feast day pictures, eventually, not just the firstfruits, but the entire creation will be filled with holiness. That's kind of like a serious beginning for us to think about when it comes to holiness and what God is doing to prepare the bride of Christ. And what we've looked to up to this point concerns the saints, the firstfruits. We know that Jesus Christ will return and the saints will be resurrected. And we will then have a thousand years of peace and the truth will spread across the earth. And all throughout the millennium, people will come to understand God's way of life and accept it. But here on this eighth day, what about those people who died never having the opportunity for salvation? When will they be offered the character of God and holiness that God is now extending to us? What is the rest of humanity, those who lived and died before the millennium ever came about, who never had that opportunity to know Jesus Christ as their Savior, let alone to have the Father revealed to them? Millions and billions of people died without being exposed to the hope of salvation. Or maybe they were exposed to it, saw the gospel message, but the pressures of society and the God of this world worked on them. As you know, in the millennium, there'll be no pressure from Satan and his demons. There'll be a much more positive environment. What about those who lived and died before the millennium and never had a clear head to make that kind of decision? The truth of today, this holy day, is there will then be resurrected after the millennium and finally have the opportunity in a very positive environment, a millennial environment, to then finally be educated in God's way of life.

This period of time could be perhaps a hundred years, depending on how you understand Isaiah 65.20. Perhaps they'll have a century to live out a new life and prove that indeed they are going to make a serious commitment to God's way. Their first opportunity to be called. Because there's a period of time after the millennium when the dead are resurrected, there's that doctrine of resurrection again, and given an opportunity once and for all to make their decision. It's a decision they really couldn't make before. Until that time, there were too many complicating factors, too much confusion, no opportunity to yet be called by the Father for them to really make a decision.

Now, yes, everyone will be accountable for the life they lived at the time, so not everyone will start out on the same playing field. Each person will have to be handled differently depending on how they lived their past life, and they'll be resurrected and will have that opportunity to finally make a righteous decision to be called to salvation and eternal life.

Let's turn to Matthew 12 and look at just one example of what we're talking about here. Let's highlight a few verses in Matthew 12, verses 41 and 42. Jesus here is speaking, and in Matthew 12, verse 41, he says, The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation of Christ's time and condemn you guys, because they repented back in Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah, and indeed are greater than Jonah is here with you now. Verse 42, the queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, queen of the south will rise up in a resurrection with you guys, and she'll condemn you as well. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and indeed a greater than Solomon is here with you now. Jesus speaking of himself. So here we have first century Jews and the people of Nineveh from Jonah's time all being resurrected together. Jesus Christ here is referring to a post-millennial judgment for people who never had the opportunity to be called, never able to make the commitment that needs to be made to receive eternal life from thousands of years ago.

Let's go to Revelation 20. This is also post-millennium, here this passage. This is why we have this festival, this eighth day, this last great day, tacked onto the end of the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, because this day represents a period after the millennium.

This day pictures a post-millennial time. Revelation 20 verse 11. Then I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. Then Revelation 20 verse 12. I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was open, which is the Book of Life, and the dead were judged. This is their first opportunity to be judged, according to their works by the things which were written in the books. So the books opened are very likely the books of the Bible, God's Word, that we even have in front of us now. And the Book of Life is open, and people are judged. The reward God is going to give could never be earned, of course, by any of us. Salvation is by grace. But we can disqualify ourselves if we turn back to a life of sin, to remain in sin and disqualify a person. I want to read to Hebrews 9 verse 27, which is critical. Hebrews 9 verse 27 tells us, it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. So after death there is a judgment. There is a second death, which is very finite. And after the first death, we can be resurrected. We can be brought back from our first death, but not from the second death. I'm going to go back to Daniel 12 and read verses 2 and 3.

In this prophecy, Daniel writes, Daniel 12 verse 2, many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, shall be resurrected, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. In verse 3, those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. So most will receive eternal life, but some will be incorrigible. As we read there in verse 2, some will have a different kind of resurrection, one to shame and contempt. They, a few, will refuse to live God's way. If that's the case, they'll have to be put out of their misery and also to ensure their misery is not passed on to the rest of creation, because all of creation is going to have to become holy. Let's go back to Revelation 20, where we see the destiny of the righteous and of the incorrigible sinner, because a loving God will not allow the misery of sin to continue. In Revelation 20 now, verses 13 and 14, which really gets to the core of the meaning of today's message and this holy day. In Revelation 20, verse 13, the sea gave up the dead, these are all the people now being judged from the books and by the book of life, the sea gave up the dead who were in it and death and Hades, which in a poetic sense just means the grave, the grave delivered up the dead who were in them and they were judged, each one now according to his works. Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. So those who are incorrigible be cast into the lake of fire and then it says this is the second death. Yes, there is a final second death. After this, though, there is no more death. Anybody sentenced to death is going to be put to death. Everyone else will be spirit and immortal and then there will be no more death. The wicked who will not repent become ashes. This doctrine, theologically, is known as annihilationism. It means the wicked are ultimately annihilated. It's not eternal punishing but eternal punishment. As a loving God, it doesn't punish eternally, but it's eternal punishment because they're no longer around. We in the Church of God are now being judged. We now have to be living holy lives. Now is our time to become godly and take on holiness. And this is the destiny of those who are part of God's Church before the coming of Jesus Christ. And when He comes, like Daniel said, we will shine like the stars forever and ever. The time is coming. We're going to have a new heaven and a new earth. It'll be a time of no wickedness without any sin. People at that time will become spirit and immortal and holy. Holiness will permeate the entire creation.

I want to conclude in Revelation 21, a couple of verses, and then finally Revelation 22, a final verse. Revelation 21, verse 2. Then I, John, saw what's it called? The holy city. New Jerusalem. Coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and there shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death. The second death is long past, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Those who are incorrigible are gone, and their holiness will permeate everywhere. Here today, as we think of this wonderful period of the new heavens and new earth, what are we doing to prepare? The marriage of the Lamb will take place with or without us. We don't want to be like the bride who forgot what day it was. We must always be thinking of our wedding day.

Holiness in the holy city will fill the existence of the resurrected saints as they live with the Father and the Son into eternity. And after the great white throne judgment, holiness, new Jerusalem, will permeate the entire creation. And evil, death, and sin will be gone from existence. Imagine that. Gone. So as we come to the end of this holiday season, as we are in this eighth day, let's conclude with what the Bible has to say at the very end of the story in Revelation 22, verse 20. From our point of view, Jesus Christ is coming quickly. We only have our own lifespan to stay on the narrow path, to live a holy life, which leads to immortal life. He's coming quickly, and we are living on the cusp of this eternity. In Revelation 22, verse 20, he who testifies to these things says, and this is Christ, surely I am coming quickly. And Revelation says, amen, even so come, Lord Jesus. And so I remind us all, live a holy life. We are living on the cusp of eternity, and we are looking forward to the time when all of creation will be holy.