1. A Study of Holiness and Co-Resurrection
A Cross Shaped Life
A Study of Holiness and Co-Resurrection

2. A Cross Shaped Life
Through the incarnation Jesus “explained” the divine nature
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:18 (NASB95)
THE INCARNATE CHRIST “EXPLAINED” THE DIVINE NATURE
Phil 2:6-8 shows us that the kenotic mindset of God is not just something that a divine person demonstrated once; rather it is a defining characteristic of the divine nature
The divine persons are essentially kenotic and thus cruciform.
It is this essential characteristic that not only led God to provide an answer to our sin problem, but in fact to create us and reveal Himself to us.

3. A Cross Shaped Life
Through the incarnation Jesus “explained” the divine nature
The call to participate in the divine nature requires co- crucifixion
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20 (NASB95)
THE CALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE IS A CALL TO CO-CRUCIFIXION
It is only when we participate in this attitude that we participate in the divine nature.
This participation requires our co-crucifixion, i.e. joining Christ in

4. A Cross Shaped Life
Through the incarnation Jesus “explained” the divine nature
The call to participate in the divine nature requires co- crucifixion
Likewise participation in the body of Christ requires my co- resurrection
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11 (NASB95)
CO-RESURRECTION - THE NEW LIFE
The Gospel does not leave us on the cross, nor in the grave but describes a new life through resurrection with Christ. It is the nature of that life that we are considering in this lesson
This new life is seen in my participation in a new community
This life is not lived for self but for the body of which I am apart, and of which I am not the head, thus I am called to be cruciform for He is cruciform

5. Called to Holiness
Our holiness is the essential will of God - 1Thess 3:11-13; Eph 5:25-26; 1Pet 1:15-16
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
1 THESS 3:11-13, 4:1-3a - THE ESSENTIAL WILL OF GOD IS OUR HOLINESS
In 1Thess. Paul prays that God will “strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy…” (NIV)
This prayer echoes Ephesians 5:25-26 where we see that Christ is working to “sanctify” or make holy His bride “by the washing of water with the word”
1Peter 1: Here the need for holiness is emphasized on an individual level

6. Called to Holiness
Our holiness is the essential will of God - 1Thess 3:11-13; Eph 5:25-26; 1Pet 1:15-16
Holiness is the intentional participation the body of Christ
The church is comprised of those who were made holy and whose purpose is to be holy 1Cor 1:2
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
Holiness is intentional participation in the divine character and the body of Christ
Paul’s prayer is said with the coming of Jesus and “all his holy ones” (ibid) in view and carries the clear implication that to join with Jesus and the Holy ones the individual Christian must himself be holy

7. Called to Holiness Made holy in Christ Jesus Holy ones by calling
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:2 (NASB95)
Made holy in Christ Jesus
Holy ones by calling
Participating in Christ with all who are holy
1COR 1:2 - The Christians in Corinth are referred to as “sanctified” and “saints by calling”
“sanctified” is the verbal form the term translated “saints” both words come from haigiois or “holy”
“to them that are made holy in Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones…”
Paul sees the church as comprised of those who were made holy, set apart from the world in Christ, but also as a community whose purpose is holiness
This holiness is both found and expressed “in Christ”
It is only as I am holy that I share in the life of Christ

8. Called to Holiness
Holiness demands a cruciform heart and cruciform life
This is more than a call to righteous behavior- 1Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1
Our co-resurrection is made possible by the cross and is focused toward the cross
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15–16 (NASB95)
Having crucified self, the holy one no longer lives to fulfill his/her own desires but their life has become a part of the greater story of Christ
1Peter 1: “Be holy for I am holy”
When viewed alongside Paul’s admonitions to imitate Christ 1Cor 11:1, and to be imitators of God Eph 5:1 we see in this not only a call to righteous behavior but the motivation behind this call
Notice the arrangement of the text (vs ,17-20), the cross stands behind and before this life
In other words this co-resurrection life is provided by the cross and geared toward the cross

9. Called to Holiness Holiness is not mere law keeping
Holiness is the emptying of self in the removal of lust and selfish desires
Holiness is intentional behavior that serves rather than harms the community of believers
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
1 Peter 1:14–15 (NASB95)
HOLINESS IS MORE THAN OBEDIENCE FOR THE SAKE OF OBEDIENCE
Holiness in our “new life” is not demonstrated through heartless, begrudging obedience to laws that we feel are burdensome
Holiness is instead the demonstration of the cruciform mind of Christ as we empty ourselves of the lust and pride that lead us to sin
Thus any action or attitude that elevates self-gratification above the good of others is inherently unholy, un-Christlike and therefore unacceptable in the life of a Christian

10. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NASB95)
Preserving our Holiness
vs Holiness is the controlling and emptying of self, sexual immorality is self-fulfilling enslavement to our lust
vs. 5 - Holiness is the reflection of the image of God in our lives, sexual immorality is the rejection of that image
vs. 6 - Holiness is other centered, sexual immorality is the selfish lack of regard for another
vs. 7 - Holiness is our participation in the divine nature, sexual immorality is our rejection of that nature
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NASB95)
HOLINESS IS MORE THAN OBEDIENCE FOR THE SAKE OF OBEDIENCE
Holiness in our “new life” is not demonstrated through heartless, begrudging obedience to laws that we feel are burdensome
Holiness is instead the demonstration of the cruciform mind of Christ as we empty ourselves of the lust and pride that lead us to sin
Thus any action or attitude that elevates self-gratification above the good of others is inherently unholy, un-Christlike and therefore unacceptable in the life of a Christian

11. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NASB95)
Preserving our Holiness
porneia
“Paul uses here the broadest and most common term in the New Testament for sexual sin, πορνεία (porneia). In contexts like this one which imply no specific a, this term refers to any sexual activity before or outside of marriage, including premarital or extramarital sex and homosexual activity.”
( Jon A. Weatherly, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 1996), 1 Th 4:3.)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NASB95)
HOLINESS IS MORE THAN OBEDIENCE FOR THE SAKE OF OBEDIENCE
Holiness in our “new life” is not demonstrated through heartless, begrudging obedience to laws that we feel are burdensome
Holiness is instead the demonstration of the cruciform mind of Christ as we empty ourselves of the lust and pride that lead us to sin
Thus any action or attitude that elevates self-gratification above the good of others is inherently unholy, un-Christlike and therefore unacceptable in the life of a Christian

12. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NASB95)
Preserving our Holiness
akatharsia
the state of moral impurity, especially in relationship to sexual sin—‘impurity, immorality, filthiness.’
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 769.
7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NASB95)

13. Preserving our Holiness
aslegeia
unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence: Mk. 7:22 (where it is uncertain what particular vice is spoken of); of gluttony and venery, Jude 4; plur., 1 Pet. 4:3; 2 Pet. 2:2 (for Rec. ἀπωλείαις), 18; of carnality, lasciviousness: 2 Co. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 2 Pet. 2:7; plur. “wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc.”
Thayer
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Galatians 5:19 (NASB95)
sensuality - “lasciviousness” KJV, “lewdness” NKJV
sensuality - the enjoyment, expression, or pursuit of physical, especially sexual, pleasure: he ate the grapes with surprising sensuality.
aslegeia - the broadest and the strongest of the terms used in Gal 5:19

14. Preserving our Holiness
aslegeia
“wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc.”
“Dirty” jokes, words
Dancing, “making out”
Pornography
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Galatians 5:19 (NASB95)
sensuality - “lasciviousness” KJV, “lewdness” NKJV
sensuality - the enjoyment, expression, or pursuit of physical, especially sexual, pleasure: he ate the grapes with surprising sensuality.
aslegeia - the broadest and the strongest of the terms used in Gal 5:19
III. The Lust of the Eyes
A. The lust of the eyes is the intense craving for that which one does not have.
1. Does not refer only to that which we can see but the activity of the mind.
a. Includes the voyeurism of today’s culture
2. Characterized by a concern for the surface only. One that is fulfilling the lust of the eye does not think deeply about the target of their obsession, instead they are consumed with the outward appearance. There is no concern in this mindset for the eternal value of a thing.
B. Pornography – again in this we see the restating of that which is intended for good. The attraction of the male eye to the female form is intentional and again designed by God. However when left unchecked and allowed to run to excess this “good” becomes “evil”
1. Our society has learned to take advantage of this very temptation. “Sex sells.”
2. Everything about the prostitution of the female form fits what John is talking about
3. Concerns itself with fantasy rather than reality. Putting that which cannot be had before your mind to entice you, presenting you to the lust of the flesh, and leave one out of touch and disappointed with reality
a. Matt 5:27-28 – This is what Jesus speaks here of that desire that is so intense that all that is lacking is the opportunity to fulfill this lust in the flesh
4. Pornoghraphy comes in may wrappers, the magazine, the tv, and the romance novel

15. Preserving our Holiness
aslegeia
“wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc.”
“Dirty” jokes, words
Dancing, “making out”
Pornography
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
1 John 2:15–16 (NASB95)
III. The Lust of the Eyes
A. The lust of the eyes is the intense craving for that which one does not have.
1. Does not refer only to that which we can see but the activity of the mind.
a. Includes the voyeurism of today’s culture
2. Characterized by a concern for the surface only. One that is fulfilling the lust of the eye does not think deeply about the target of their obsession, instead they are consumed with the outward appearance. There is no concern in this mindset for the eternal value of a thing.
B. Pornography – again in this we see the restating of that which is intended for good. The attraction of the male eye to the female form is intentional and again designed by God. However when left unchecked and allowed to run to excess this “good” becomes “evil”
1. Our society has learned to take advantage of this very temptation. “Sex sells.”
2. Everything about the prostitution of the female form fits what John is talking about
3. Concerns itself with fantasy rather than reality. Putting that which cannot be had before your mind to entice you, presenting you to the lust of the flesh, and leave one out of touch and disappointed with reality
a. Matt 5:27-28 – This is what Jesus speaks here of that desire that is so intense that all that is lacking is the opportunity to fulfill this lust in the flesh
4. Pornoghraphy comes in may wrappers, the magazine, the tv, and the romance novel

16. Places fellowship with the harlot over fellowship with Christ
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him…
1 Corinthians 6:15–20 (NASB95)
Sexual immorality is selfish in that it places fleshly desires above the community
Places fellowship with the harlot over fellowship with Christ
Creates a spiritual adultery

17. Holiness is not mere law keeping
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:15–20 (NASB95)
Holiness is not mere law keeping
Holiness is the emptying of self in the removal of lust and selfish desires
Holiness is intentional behavior that serves rather than harm the community of believers