Understanding Holiness and the Law
The sermon delivered on February 23rd at Skycrest Community Church delves into the profound theme of holiness and the role of the law in the life of a believer. The central focus is on how believers can reflect the character of God through holiness, not by self-righteousness or legalism, but through the transformative power of Jesus Christ.
The Call to Holiness
Holiness is a calling for every believer, a reflection of God’s character in us. However, this holiness is not about being self-righteous or adhering to a joyless set of rules. Instead, it is about embodying God’s grace and love, introducing the world to God by becoming more like Jesus. This is the essence of the series “More than Conquerors,” which explores how God empowers us to overcome our sin issues.
The Illusion of Superiority
Pastor Chris highlights a common human tendency to overestimate our goodness, often thinking we are better than average. This illusion of superiority can lead us to believe we can achieve holiness on our own. However, Romans 7 reveals that we are all born into sin and need divine intervention to escape the realm of sin and death.
The Purpose of the Law
Historically, the Jews believed that the law given to Moses was their pathway to holiness. Yet, despite their best efforts, they could not uphold the law. As Judges 21:25 notes, “In those days, Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” This highlights the human inability to achieve holiness through the law alone.
The law serves two main purposes:
- Revealing God’s Standard: It shows us what God expects and what holiness looks like.
- Exposing Our Sinfulness: It makes us aware of our inability to keep the law, highlighting our need for a savior.
The Law and Sin
Romans 7:5 explains that the law, while holy and good, inadvertently stimulates sin by making us aware of it. Paul uses the example of coveting to illustrate this point. Before the law, he did not recognize coveting as sin, but once the law identified it, his awareness of sin increased.
The Weakness of the Law
The law, though righteous, is powerless against sin. It cannot make us holy or save us from sin. This is why Jesus’ victory is crucial. By dying with Christ, believers are freed from the law and sin, allowing them to live for God’s glory.
The Need for a Savior
The sermon emphasizes that only through Jesus can we overcome sin and achieve true holiness. The law reveals our sinfulness and our need for a savior, pointing us to Jesus, who is “mighty to save.” In Him, we are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37), capable of living the abundant life God desires for us.
Conclusion
The sermon concludes with a call to trust in Jesus rather than in our ability to follow rules. It encourages believers to place their faith in Christ, who fulfilled the law and offers us victory over sin. In Him, we find the strength to live a life of holiness for God’s glory.
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