Holy

What does it mean to be holy? Holiness is being separated out or set aside for God. It begins with the focus of our hearts. As we focus on Jesus, our lives and priorities begin to reflect his.

What does the Bible say about holiness? -

1. Focus on heaven - Colossians 3v1-2
2. Real life - Colossians 3v3-4
3. Die to greed - Colossians 3v5
4. Free up attitude - Colossians 3v6-9
5. Renewed by Jesus - Colossians 3v10-11

Focus on heaven

Colossians 3v1-2

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. Where are we counselled to put our focus of attention?
2. What does that mean in practice?

Thoughts to consider

It is good to embrace the new life that we have received from Jesus. That involves being present with him, focusing our thoughts and hearts on him. It involves living in such a way as to prepare for our ultimate and eternal destination of heaven.

Real life

Colossians 3v3-4

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Questions for reflection or discussion

3. What motivation is there to keep our lives focused with God?
4. What is the eternal outcome of such a focus?

Thoughts to consider

To live with a focus on God is to live as life is supposed to be, in relationship with Jesus who loves us. The more we orient toward Jesus and live through him, the more this life will be empowered and transformed by him.

Die to greed

Colossians 3v5

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Questions for reflection or discussion

5. What kind of sensual desires are mentioned here that can interfere with this focus on the things of God?
6. Which desires lurking within you are you vulnerable to?
7. What does it mean to put to death such desires?

Thoughts to consider

The behaviours mentioned here are all about taking things that are not legitimately ours. There is an attitude of overwhelming desire that cannot trust God to provide all that we need if we walk with him. It says that God cannot satisfy.

Free up attitude

Colossians 3v6-9

Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

Questions for reflection or discussion

8. What kinds of attitudes and behaviours are mentioned here that might interfere with our ability to love others or be kind to them as Jesus has loved us?
9. How have you seen God intervene to make such behaviour unnecessary?

Thoughts to consider

The Lord asks us to rid ourselves of these behaviours. There are two motivations. The first is that these are not the way God does things and we should be trying to be like him. The second is that God will come into the picture expose what we have done.

Renewed by Jesus

Colossians 3v10-11

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Questions for reflection or discussion

10. What choices are involved in a life that is focused on Jesus?
11. How is our relationship with God central to such a focus?

Thoughts to consider

This life of attitudes and thoughts focused on Jesus is not possible in our own ability. It happens as we take personal responsibility to live like this and then, finding ourselves out of our depth, we ask Jesus to enable us.

Overview questions for reflection or discussion

1. What from these texts do you understand the Bible to mean by the word Holy?
2. How could you develop in holiness?

Overview thought to consider

Holiness is not a list of prohibitions or do and do not activities. It is about choices in life that set us apart for God.

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