In this session we will expand upon the idea of holiness explored in the previous session, specifically as it relates to the identity of God, the hope of the gospel and the life of the Christian. We will explore accountability as being crucial to the journey of a disciple.
Session in a sentence
God desires for his people to be holy as he is holy, and it is through submission to the Holy Spirit and accountability in community that we can grow in holiness.
Session background
The words holiness and holy appear more than 700 times throughout the Bible. Holiness is a central theme of the Bible, and God desires for it to be a central reality of our lives. God is holy, which means he is set apart. He is perfect, sovereign and unique, and there is no other like him. We are not holy: every single one of us has fallen short of the perfect standard of our holy God. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that only the holy will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) and Jesus tells us that the pure of heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). Our lack of holiness is a major problem for humanity if we are going to have any hope of a relationship with God. How can the unholy become holy, acceptable to the Lord and able to dwell in his kingdom?
The good news is that Jesus has provided the way by which an unholy people can enter the presence of the perfect holy God and dwell with him forever (Ephesians 5:25–26). Those who put their trust in Jesus share in his holiness, stepping into a brand-new life. True life is holy life. Holiness is also the theme of Jesus’ message about saltiness in Matthew 5:13. In the same way that salt is useless if it loses its flavour, our message is hopeless if we lose our distinctive holiness. Even though our lives are an unfinished work this side of eternity, we are called to live differently so that the world might recognise the authenticity of the message we proclaim.
‘God’s love for us in Christ, as poured out by the Spirit (Romans 5:5), has brought us into fellowship with Him and the Son; from there, we have come to behold the beauty of His holiness, and by beholding it, we become as lovely as He is.’
JACKIE HILL PERRY
The gospel is a holy message, testifying to a holy God who acted in a holy way to make it possible for an unholy people to be restored to their true identity – as the holy people of a holy kingdom.
Session guide
Catch up (10-20mins)
Take time to catch up with one another, sharing stories, encouragements, feedback on opportunities and anything else that would encourage the group. Ask the group to share about their experiences of reading prayerfully through the Psalms (Session Six – Application).
Prayer
Commit the time to the Lord and pray over any situations, positive or challenging, highlighted in the catch up time.
Teaching (30-40 mins)
Work through the following teaching material in your own way, either by reading it word for word, or by reworking it into your own presentation. There are three core scriptures for this session.
1. GOD ALONE IS HOLY
‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel.’
EZEKIEL 39:7
The Bible reveals who God is so that we can know and worship him in spirit and truth. As we read we discover that he is the one true God. Though indivisible, he exists in triune nature, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). He is perfect. He is eternal. He is king.
But what the Bible makes especially clear about God is that he is holy. Holiness is the primary characteristic of God. It means that there is no one like him and that he is set apart from all others: no other being can match up to his identity, to his character, or to the reality of who he is. And it is this characteristic God desires for his people – that we would become a holy people, set apart in our worship and obedience to him, a people of righteousness and purity (Leviticus 11:45). Our lack of holiness – our rejection of God’s holiness – has created a catastrophic problem for humanity. God’s kingdom is a perfect kingdom, but we have chosen imperfection and exclusion from his presence.
2. THE HOLINESS OF JESUS MAKES POSSIBLE THE HOLINESS OF HIS PEOPLE
‘…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.’
HEBREWS 7:24–27
We are made in God’s image and have the potential to be a holy people, but our rebelliousness gets in the way. If God were to allow even the smallest fragment of imperfection into his kingdom, it would cease to be perfect. So, our rejection of holiness excludes us from the holiness of God and the blessings of his kingdom.
The gospel tells us that Jesus stepped in to be our substitute on the cross, taking the death that we had chosen for ourselves. He was able to take our place because he is perfectly holy (without sin or blemish). The unpayable debt of the world’s rebelliousness has been charged to the account of the perfectly obedient Jesus. He has settled the debt that we could never have paid through the inexhaustible treasure of his holiness. Now, when God looks at those who put their trust in Jesus Christ, he sees not the imperfection (unholiness) of man, but the perfection (holiness) of Jesus.
Think about it like this: can you think of a time when you wore a piece of clothing that made you feel especially good about yourself? Perhaps you were getting dressed up for a special occasion, and as you stepped out of the house you felt a little more confident. When we put our trust in Jesus, the Bible tells us God credits the righteousness of Jesus to us and we are clothed in his perfection (Romans 5:18; Philippians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
Paul tells us that instead of gratifying the desires of the flesh, we should ‘clothe ourselves with Christ,’ literally wearing his goodness (Romans 13:14). Compare this to James, who implores his readers to rid themselves of (better translated ‘take off’) all moral filth (James 1:21). We are to take off the former things that were against God and give them to Christ, and in a great exchange he replaces them with his own righteousness.
Have you ever been turned away from somewhere because you didn’t meet the standard of the dress code? The entry requirement for God’s perfect kingdom is perfect holiness, which we do not possess. But as an imperfect people we can enter his perfect kingdom because we now fit the ‘dress code’ through Christ. Nothing less than perfection will do, but nothing less than the perfection of Christ is offered for to us to wear. On the day we finally enter the full reality of the kingdom, we won’t be bringing our imperfection with us, but the clothing of righteousness.
3. SUBMISSION TO THE SPIRIT AND SELF-DISCIPLINE PRODUCE HOLY LIVING
‘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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.’
EPHESIANS 4:23–24
God desires for us to grow in maturity, not repeating the same mistakes over and over as we live for him today. We are covered by his grace, but the evidence of sincere and authentic faith is transformation and growth (discipleship). We must not be content to wear the righteousness of Christ as a get-outof-jail-free card, but choose to honour the cost of the righteousness we wear by living in obedience to the one who paid the price for us. This is our discipleship journey: moving from our initial moment of new birth (justification) to an ongoing development of new life (sanctification).
Not only does this give us an assurance of the future eternal perfection that awaits us, but it gives us the means by which we can live differently today. The transformation that takes place in the life of a disciple is powerfully expressed by Paul’s exploration of the spiritual fruit that flows from the life of a true follower of Jesus (Galatians 5:22–23). The final facet of the fruit mentioned is self-control, or self-discipline. God, by his Spirit, empowers us with self-discipline – but we have to partner with him (Philippians 2:12–13). Here are four practical things we can do to grow in holiness and obedience to God:
- DEVOTION – The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more we will know who God wants us to become. Likewise, by spending time in prayer we can also ask God to help us overcome our weaknesses and temptation. To spend time with Jesus is to learn what it means to be holy while being empowered to become so.Discussion (10 mins)
- SELF-AWARENESS – As we read the Word, so the Word reads us, helping us to examine our own lives and become increasingly self-aware. This self-awareness helps us to recognise our weakness, and means that we can begin to deny ourselves the things that cause us harm.
- COMMUNITY – Being watchful of the life that we live is not only achieved through self-awareness. By committing to Christian fellowship and community, we open ourselves up to loving examination by those around us. Investing in community breeds opportunities for others to speak into your life, and for you to do likewise. Being open with others might bring challenges, but the risk of vulnerability should not deter us from the biblical ideal of journeying graciously together to grow as individuals and as the family of God.
- CONFESSION – James tells us to confess our sins to one another, not for absolution but accountability (James 5:16). Finding a group of trusted friends with whom you can be completely honest and transparent about your struggles, temptations and failures is essential. The enemy wants to keep your struggle in the dark where he can twist it into shame, but God is calling us to journey together, helping to hold one another to account by bringing our failures into the light where he can restore and redeem. Failure need never be final with God: accountability is a way by which we can deal with our struggles in humility and submission to his grace.
As evangelists, the message we proclaim is not just about seeing responses but creating disciples who grow and mature – a holy people (Colossians 1:28–29). It is authentic disciples who will carry God’s message with integrity and power into the world. It is a holy task for a holy people.
Discussion (15 mins)
- How would you describe the holiness of God to someone who doesn’t know him?
- How do we ‘clothe ourselves’ in Christ?
- What helps you to be, or hinders you from being, authentically accountable to others?
‘If you think you can walk in holiness without keeping up perpetual fellowship with Christ, you have made a great mistake. If you would be holy, you must live close to Jesus.’
CHARLES SPURGEON
APPLICATION (5 MINS)
If you don’t already have a small group of trusted friends (separate to the accountability aspect of this Advance group) that you meet up with regularly and to whom you can be completely honest, open and accountable, think about who you could do this with and get something organised as soon as possible. If you are already doing this, share with someone else who isn’t why it is important for you, and help get them set up with any advice, encouragement or tips you can offer.
PRAYER
Recognise and celebrate God’s holiness in prayer. Seek his forgiveness for our rebellion, and give thanks that because of Jesus’ saving work we can share in his righteousness. Ask that God would continue to work in your life to make you holy. Commit to living with discipline in submission to the Spirit’s power as you seek to grow as disciples and become ever more fit-forpurpose as a holy people with a holy message.
ACCOUNTABILITY (25 MINS)
In pairs, use this time as an opportunity to confess to one another any way in which you find yourself falling short repeatedly. By bringing this to the attention of the other person, resolve to ask each other from time to time about how you are getting on in this area and continually pray for one another.
Complete accountability forms, share in pairs or smaller groups and pray for one another.
