THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 11-15-15<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE:  “HOLY AND BELOVED!”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

	GOOD MORNING!  LET ME WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO OUR PROGRAM THIS MORNING.  IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US TO HEAR THE LIVING WORD OF GOD.  WE ARE EXCITED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE THIS TIME OF SACRIFICE TO OUR CREATOR.  WON’T YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOUR OWN REVERENCE TO THE LORD, AS WE TOGETHER OFFER THIS TIME OF WORSHIP TO HIM.  MAY ALL THINGS BE DONE, TO GOD, FOR GOD AND UNTO HIS GLORY.  LET’S BEGIN OUR OFFERING TO GOD WITH A PRAYER! <br> <br> 

	PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE, THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE YOU AND TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN. AND FATHER, HELP US EACH AND EVERY DAY TO REALIZE JUST HOW BLESSED WE ARE IN THE FACT THAT YOU GIVE US ALL THINGS WE NEED SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL - YOUR SON JESUS AND THE SACRIFICE HE GAVE ON THE CROSS, AS WELL AS HIS RESURRECTION. HELP US TO LIVE EVERY DAY WITH OUR FOCUS ON HIM AND THOSE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT - THUS THROUGH YOUR GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY. THESE THINGS WE PRAY THROUGH JESUS' NAME, AMEN.<br> <br>

	NOW IT’S TIME TO JOIN TOGETHER IN PRAISING OUR GOD!  OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING REMINDS US OF US OUR NEED TO STAND STRONG FOR OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. SO, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, “STAND UP FOR JESUS.” <br> <br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

	HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THAT AS CHRISTIANS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS WHICH THE BIBLE SAYS WE ARE TO “GET.”  FOR EXAMPLE, BACK IN PROVERBS 4:7, WE READ, “WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING; THEREFORE GET WISDOM. AND IN ALL YOUR GETTING, GET UNDERSTANDING.”  HERE WE FIND THAT WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING ARE THINGS WE NEED TO GET, IN ORDER FOR US TO BE BETTER EQUIPPED IN THE SERVICE OF OUR LORD.  <br> <br>

	ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THINGS WE NEED TO GET, IS FOUND IN 2 PETER 1:5.  IN THIS PASSAGE PETER BEGINS BY SAYING, “BUT ALSO FOR THIS VERY REASON, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD TO…,”  NOTICE THOSE THINGS HERE WE ARE TO ADD TO OR GET IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES TO BE FOUND MORE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT.  THE SCRIPTURE CONTINUES LIKE THIS, “ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE, TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE, TO KNOWLEDGE SELF-CONTROL, TO SELF-CONTROL PERSEVERANCE, TO PERSEVERANCE GODLINESS, TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS, AND TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS LOVE.”  WOW, CONSIDER ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO EQUIP OURSELVES WITH AND GET IN OUR LIVES IF WE ARE TO BE PROPER SERVANTS IN HIS EYES.  THESE VERSES GO ON TO SAY THAT THOSE WHO DO SUCH ARE FRUITFUL BEFORE GOD, BUT THOSE WHO DON’T ARE SHORT SIGHTED.  CERTAINLY, NONE OF US WANT TO BE SHORTSIGHTED IN THE EYES OF GOD! <br> <br>    

	THE APOSTLE PAUL IN HIS LETTERS, ALSO TALKS OF THE MANY THINGS WE MUST “PUT ON!”  HE TELLS US TO PUT ON CHRIST, THE NEW MAN, THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR, FAITH, THAT WHICH IS INCORRUPTIBLE, AND SO ON.   AGAIN THE IDEA IS CLEARLY PRESENTED HERE OF STUDYING, LEARNING GOD’S WILL, AND “GETTING,” THOSE THINGS FROM IT WHICH GOD WANTS AND APPLYING THEM TO OUR LIVES.  

	SO WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO “GET,” AND APPLY IN YOUR LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF GOD.  WILL YOU CHOOSE TODAY TO BETTER EQUIP YOURSELF AND COMMIT TO DOING GOD’S WILL IN HIS WAY?  <br> <br>

	AS FAR AS OUR MAIN STUDY OF THE DAY, WE WILL BE STARTING A NEW SERIES TOGETHER ENTITLED, “THE ELECT OF GOD.” IN THIS SERIES, WE WANT TO EXPLORE SOME OF THOSE CHRISTIAN ATTRIBUTES WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL IN GOD’S SIGHT. THE SPECIFIC LESSON TODAY IS CALLED, “HOLY AND BELOVED!”  SO PLEASE STAY WITH US THIS MORNING AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, I WILL BE LEADING OUR MAIN THOUGHTS OF THE DAY. <br> <br>  

	SO, FOR NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “SWEETER THAN ALL.” <br> <br>



LESSON <br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

	WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS MORNING AS WE GO TO GOD'S WORD AND LOOK AT OUR NEW SERIES TOGETHER CONCERNING THE ELECT OF GOD. AND WE WANT TO BEGIN THERE IN THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS.  SPECIFICALLY IN CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 12, WHERE WE READ THE WORDS OF PAUL TO THE CHURCH AT COLOSSAE AND HE SAYS, “THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD.” WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF THE ELECT WE HAVE MANY WORDS OR IDEAS IN THE ENGLISH THAT EXPRESS THIS CONCEPT; THE CONCEPT OF ELECTIONS OR THOSE THAT WE MIGHT VOTE FOR. BUT REALLY WHAT HE'S MORE SPEAKING ABOUT HERE IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT IS ONE THAT IS CHOSEN, ONE THAT IS BY ELECTION GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE CHOICE, ONE WHO HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN, SO TO SPEAK. IF WE THINK ABOUT THE IDEA ALSO, WE FIND IT OVER IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1. IT SAYS THERE IN VERSE 4,  “JUST AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM.” IN OTHER WORDS, THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN US. THAT WORD CHOSEN THERE IS THE BASIC FORM OF THE SAME WORD WHICH WE FIND IN COLOSSIANS; OF THE ELECT. SO THE CHOSEN ONES OF GOD, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED, AND SELECTED ACCORDING TO, AS WE EVEN SEE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1, THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS SET IN MOTION. <br> <br>

	CERTAINLY GOD DIDN'T CREATE ALL OF US JUST TO SAY THIS MAN IS SAVED. THIS MAN IS NOT SAVED. THIS MAN IS SAVED.  CERTAINLY GOD DID NOT PREDESTINE US IN THE SENSE THAT I HAVE NO SELF WILL OR ABILITY TO CHOOSE BETWEEN RIGHT OR WRONG. GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS – YES, BUT GOD THROUGH JESUS SENT THE FREE GIFT OF GRACEF FOR WHO? ALL OF MANKIND. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES, NOT THE ONES GOD'S ALREADY CHOSEN... NOT THE ONES WHO HE HAS ALREADY PRESELECTED. BUT THOSE WHO ARE THE ELECT BY THE PLAN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST THAT WAS FOREORDAINED EVEN BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD. THE IDEA THAT MAN WOULD NEED TO BE REDEEMED AND THUS A SAVIOR, A MESSIAH, WOULD BE SENT. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN IN WHAT? IN HIM. WE HAVE BEEN THE ELECT IN HIM THROUGH HIM, THROUGH HIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECONCILE US TO THE FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. <br> <br>

	SO THEREFORE, AS WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE TEXT IN COLOSSIANS 3, WE REALLY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE CHOSEN OR THE ELECT OF GOD. BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY DISCUSSING ABOUT AFTER THE FACT, AFTER WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, CHILDREN OF GOD. AFTER WE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE PUT ON CHRIST. AND SO IN DOING THAT, EARLIER IN THE SAME CHAPTER, HE BEGINS TO MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE. AND WHAT HE BEGINS TO SPEAK OF THERE, EVEN AS EARLY AS VERSE 2, IS THE FACT THAT WE MUST SET OUR MINDS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE. GUESS WHO IS ABOVE? CHRIST. GUESS WHAT IS ABOVE? OUR FATHER GOD IN HEAVEN. AND SO THEREFORE, IF WE THINK ABOUT GODLY THINGS, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE RIGHTEOUS THING, THOSE GODLY THINGS, THOSE CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. NOT THOSE THINGS ACCORDING TO THE EARTH OR THE WICKED OR EVIL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO THE FLESH WHICH IS OF THIS EARTH. <br> <br>

	AND SO THEREFORE, IF YOU'LL NOTICE WITH ME IN THE TEXT, HE TWICE SPEAKS ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PUT OFF OR PUT TO DEATH CERTAIN THINGS. FOR INSTANCE, IN VERSE 5, HE SAYS, “PUT TO DEATH YOUR MEMBERS.” AND THEN AGAIN IN VERSE 9 HE SAYS BECAUSE, “YOU HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN.” WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, HE'S OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC SINS THAT ARE MENTIONED BEGINNING IN VERSE 5 THOSE MEMBERS THAT WERE NOT GODLY, NOT OF CHRIST, NOT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GOD. THOSE MEMBERS LIKE FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, PASSION, EVIL DESIRES, COVETOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, AND ANYTHING THAT IS ACCORDING TO VERSE 6 IT SAYS, DISOBEDIENCE WHICH BRINGS ABOUT THE WRATH OF GOD. HE ALSO MENTIONS MORE OF THEM IN VERSE 8. HE SAYS ANYTHING THAT PERTAINS PUTTING OFF ALL ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, BLASPHEMEY, FILTHY LANGUAGE.  ALL THOSE THINGS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH THAT AGAIN, IN VERSE 9 ARE ACCORDING TO THE OLD MAN. <br> <br>

	WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BECOME A CHRISTIAN? WELL, WE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN. WE DIE TO THE OLD MAN OF SIN AND WE RISE AS A NEW CREATION. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT PAUL TEACHES US THERE IN THE SCRIPTURES AND HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND. WHEN HE TELLS US IN ROMANS CHAPTER 6 THAT AS CHRIST DIED, WE DIE, AND AS CHRIST RESURRECTED ON THE THIRD DAY, WE RESURRECT. SO IN A SENSE THAT WE DIE, WE DIE WHAT? TO THE OLD MAN OF SIN. AND THE SENSE THAT WE RESURRECT, WE RESURRECT TO THAT NEW CREATION; THE NEW MAN. WE DIE TO WHAT WAS BEFORE THOSE THINGS THAT SEPARATATED US FROM GOD, THE THINGS THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM GOD AND WE NOW LIVE TO CHRIST. SO AGAIN HE SAYS SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE BECAUSE YOU PUT THE DEATH ALL OF THAT STUFF IN THE PAST, YOU PUT TO DEATH THAT SIN, YOU PUT TO DEATH THAT OLD MAN, AND RATHER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE (VERSE 10 SAYS) YOU HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, THE NEW CREATION. THE ONE WHO IS NO LONGER ACCORDING TO THE WORLD BUT THAT SPIRITUAL FOCUS TO MAN THAT IS ACCORDING TO GOD. THEREFORE, SINCE I'M SPIRITUALLY FOCUSED ON GOD AND SET MY MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, I HAVE THE SPIRITUAL MAN IN CONTROL. THEREFORE, EVEN THE SPIRITUAL MAN HELPS CONTROL MY FLESHLY MAN - THE FLESHLY DESIRES, THOSE THINGS THAT I HAVE PUT TO DEATH THAT I MIGHT BE VICTORIOUS IN CHRIST AS HE HELPS ME TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS THAT AGAIN MIGHT SEPARATE ME FROM MY GOD RATHER THAN KEEPING ME WITHIN THOSE WHO ARE THE ELECT. <br> <br>

	NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE NEW MAN THAT IS MENTIONED IN VERSE 10. HE SAYS WE ARE, “RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE ACCORDING TO THE IMAGE OF HIM,” GOD AGAIN, THAT ONE THAT WE'RE LOOKING UP TO. THE ONE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW. THE ONE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMITATE. HE SAYS, THE IMAGE OF HIM, I'M TRYING TO EMULATE CHRIST. I'M TYRYING TO LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE AS PETER SAID THAT HE LEFT THOSE FOOTPRINTS, AND I'M TRYING TO DO WHAT IT IS ACCORDING TO THE CHARACTER OF GOD THAT I SHOULD DO TO BE FOUND WHAT? ACCORDING TO THE NEW MAN, ACCORDING TO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, NOT THOSE THINGS OF THE EARTH THAT I HAVE DIED TO AND PUT OFF. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN HE GETS EVENTUALLY TO VERSE 12 HE HAS JUST SAID, THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK IN CHRIST. WE ARE ALL ONE. IT'S NOT A THING THAT ONE MAN IS ABLE BECAUSE OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR BECAUSE OF THEIR COLOR TO PUT ON CHRIST AND ANOTHER IS NOT ABLE TO PUT OFF THE OLD MAN. HE SAYS WE ARE THE ELECT OF GOD. WE ARE THE CHOSEN OF GOD; THOSE WHO HAD DONE WHAT? THOSE WHO HAVE SET OUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE AND THOSE WHO HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN AND WHO ARE STRIVING TO PRESENT THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. BECAUSE WE CLEARLY CHOSE BY PROOF OF FAITH THAT WE HAVE DIED TO ALL THOSE OLD WICKED AND SINFUL AND UNGODLY THINGS. <br> <br>

	NOW THE NEXT THING THAT WE BEGIN TO NOTICE IN THE SAME TEXT IS THAT HE MENTIONS AS THOSE WHO ARE CHOSEN, SELECTED, OR THE ELECT OF GOD WHAT IS THAT REALLY IS PRESENTED WITHIN THIS NEW MAN. CERTAINLY WE'VE ALREADY MADE MENTION THAT IT IS THAT IMAGE OF CHRIST, BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT IMAGE? WHAT THINGS WAS IT THAT CHRIST DID? OR WHAT CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD ARE WE TO EMULATE OR TO FOLLOW IN ORDER THAT WE ARE, NOT ONLY KNOWN BY GOD, BUT THOSE AROUND US AS THE FAITHFUL? WELL, THE VERY FIRST THING THAT HE SAYS IS - IF YOU'LL LOOK WITH ME THERE IN VERSE 12 AGAIN IN COLOSSIANS 3 IS, “THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED.” NOTICE BEFORE HE EVEN STARTS TALKING ABOUT THINGS HE'S GOING TO SAY, WE MUST PUT ON ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE TENDER MERCIES, THE KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS. BEFORE HE EVER STARTS MENTIONING THAT LIST OF CHARACTERISTICS THAT CERTAINLY ARE ACCORDING TO THE THINGS ABOVE AND NOT OF THE EARTH. ACCORDING TO THAT NEW MAN AND NOT ACCORDING TO THE OLD MAN, A FLESH THAT WE HAVE DIED TO. HE BEGINS BY SAYING THE ELECT ARE HOLY AND BELOVED. SEE, YOU'RE NOT OF THE ELECT OR A PART OF THOSE WHO ARE CHILDREN OF GOD. YOU'RE NOT A PART OF THE CHOSEN OF GOD IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY TRYING TO MEET SOME SORT OF STANDARD, SOME SORT OF REQUIREMENT, OR ACHIEVEMENT ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, THE BLESSINGS FOUND IN HIS WORD. <br> <br>

	AND SO THEN WHEN HE SAYS, AS THE ELECT ARE CHOSEN OF GOD, YOU ARE HOLY. YOU ARE THOSE WHO ARE BELOVED. AND SO WHAT DO THESE WORDS OBVIOUSLY MEAN? FIRST OF ALL THIS CONCEPT OF HOLINESS. IT'S REALLY FOUND THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE AND YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY BACK UP WITH ME TO THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. FOR EVEN THE LAW THAT WAS GIVEN TO MOSES FOR THE SAKE OF THE ISRAELITES YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THERE WITHIN THE LAW, EARLY ON IN THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS IN CHAPTER 11, THAT THIS MENTION OF HOLINESS IS CERTAINLY SEEN AS A REQUIREMENT. HE'S JUST BEEN MAKING MENTION OF SPECIFIC LAWS IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT COULD BE OR COULD NOT BE EATEN BY THE ISRAELITES. AND NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 44. HE SAID, “FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU SHALL THEREFORE CONSECRATE YOURSELVES, AND YOU SHALL BE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY. NEITHER SHALL YOU TO DEFILE YOURSELVES WITH ANY CREEPING THING THAT CREEPS ON THE EARTH.” WHY? “FOR I AM THE LORD WHO BRINGS YOU UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT (VERSE 45 SAYS), TO BE YOUR GOD.” AND AGAIN HE REITERATES, “YOU SHALL THEREFORE BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE CONCEPT OF GOD, THE LAW OF GOD, WHAT DOES GOD SAY? I'M A HOLY GOD. I'M, AS WE MIGHT DEFINE, A PURE GOD. I AM A SACRED GOD. <br> <br>

	BUT WHEN WE APPLY THAT NOW TO OURSELVES IN RELATIONSHIP TO HUMANITY AND THOSE WHO HAVE PUT ON CHRIST, WHO HAVE BECOME THE ELECT, OBVIOUSLY THE HOLINESS IS NOW A CLEARER DISTINCTION FOR YOU AND I. OBVIOUSLY GOD IS GOD. GOD DOESN'T NEED TO GET CLOSER TO GOD, HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE SEPARATED FROM SIN BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SIN. HE'S PERFECT. BUT YOU AND I STRIVING TO BE HOLY HAVE LEARNED TO WHAT? TO BE HOLY THUS SEPERATE OR SEPARATED IS IMPLIED IN THE ORIGINAL WORD HERE. SEPARATED FROM WHAT? THAT WHICH WOULD KEEP ME FROM GOD  (ISAIAH 59 ) LIKE SIN, SEPARATED FROM THE SIN OF THE WORLD THAT I MIGHT BE WHAT? RECONCILED TO GOD AND THUS STRIVE TO BE PURE, CONSECRATED, SANCTIFIED, THOSE THINGS THAT PRESENT ME AS WHAT? AS WHAT WE'VE ALRAEDY LOOKED AT, THE IMAGE OF GOD. THOSE THINGS THAT IN MY ACTIONS SHOW FORTH GLORY TO GOD, SHOW FORTH THAT GOD HIMSELF IS APPROVED IN WHAT I AM DOING. BECAUSE I'M DOING WHAT HE HAS SHOWN ME OR COMMANDED ME BY EITHER DIRECT COMMAND OR EXAMPLE. BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE THERE THAT WE FIND BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST TO ISRAEL THAT THESE THINGS WERE SAID. <br> <br>

	WELL, WE REALLY CAN TURN ALSO INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT, SPECIFICALLY TO THE BOOK OF PETER. AND IN 1 PETER CHAPTER 1 WE'LL NOTICE THERE AGAIN THIS CONCEPT OF NEEDING TO BE ABLE TO MEET A CERTAIN STANDARD JUST LIKE WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THERE IN THE LESSON FROM PAUL. BUT IN VERSE 13 BEGINNING FOR INSTANCE, HE SAYS, “THEREFORE GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND. NOTICE PAUL HAS SAID SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE. BUT GIRD UP CONTROL, CONTROL AND CONFINE THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND, BE SOBER, AND REST YOUR HOPE FULLY ON THE GRACE THAT IS TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.” THAT YOU MIGHT WHAT? HAVE THE GRACE OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. BUT THEN NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 14. HE SAYS, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, NOT IGNORANT CHILDREN, BUT KNOWLEDGEABLE CHILDREN. CHILDREN THAT KNOW WHAT THE PARENT WANTS. WHO'S OUR PARENT? SPIRITUALLY OUR PARENT IS THE FATHER. <br> <br>

	BUT NOW NOTICE WHAT VERSE 15 AND 16 SAY. IT SAYS, “BUT AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY,” HE SAYS, “YOU ALSO BE HOLY.”  BUT THEN HE'S VERY SPECIFIC, “IN ALL OF YOUR CONDUCT.” WHAT IS THE GOAL THAT WE'RE STRIVING FOR. WELL, PERFECTION. PERFECTION IN WHAT? ALL THAT WE DO, NOT JUST SOME. YOU SAY, RAY THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. WELL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES, WE'RE GOING TO STUMBLE, WE'RE GOING TO SIN FROM TIME TO TIME. BUT WHAT IS OUR GOAL? THE GOAL IS TO BE HOLY AS GOD IS HOLY. AND NOT JUST SOME THINGS, BUT IN EVERYTHING. SO THE GOAL IS PERFECTION. WE WANT TO BE COMPLETE IN HIS SIGHT, AND THEREFORE WE KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT COMPLETE OR ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING JUST PERFECT, IT IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT CAN PRESENT US AS PERFECT AND THEREFORE RECIPIENTS OF THE GRACE OF GOD. BUT HE DOESN'T JUST SAY IT ONCE, HE SAYS BE HOLY IN ALL OF YOUR CONDUCT. BUT THEN IN THE NEXT VERSE, 16 HE SAYS, “BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN, ‘BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.’ HE SAYS AS IT WAS OF OLD. EVEN IN THE OLD COVENANT THE PENTITUDE, BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY. HE SAYS IT STILL IS. GOD IS STILL A HOLY GOD AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM MUST FOLLOW HIM WHAT? IN HOLINESS, SACREDNESS, IN CONSECRATION, IN THAT WHICH IS PURE AND ACCORDING TO HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MAN OR THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THIS WORLD.<br> <br>

	 BUT THE OTHER WORD THAT IS FOUND THERE IS, AS THE ELECT OF GOD KNOW THAT WE ARE ALREADY STRIVING TO BE HOLY, BUT HE ALSO SAYS AS THE BELOVED. AND THE WORD THE BELOVED THERE COMES FROM ACTUALLY THE CONCEPT OF AGAPE, OR ONE OF THE GREEK WORDS. AND THAT'S THE ROOT THAT WE FIND BUT HERE IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF A TWIST. AND THE REASON THAT IT IS A NOUN, LIKE THE BELOVED, IS BECAUSE IT ADDS THE ELEMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE LOVED. THOSE WHO ARE LONGED FOR BY ANOTHER. THOSE WHO'S PLEASURE IS TAKEN IN, AND SO TI MEANS THAT PAUL IS NOT JUST TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO IS MAYBE A FELLOW BROTHER THAT HE'S NEVER MET, BUT HE'S TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO IS A FAITHFUL-BELOVED-ENDURING TO HIM BROTHER, WHO IS SO DEAR AND CLOSE. AND HE LONGS FOR THEM. HE LONGS FOR THEIR FAITHFULLNESS THAT THEY MIGHT CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE THAT ELECTION.<br> <br> 

	WELL, WE FIND THIS WORD LITERALLY THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT AND OTHER WRITERS LIKE PETER AND JOHN, YOU CAN READ THROUGH THEIR BOOKS AND YOU'LL FIND TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHAT THEY SAY TO THE BRETHREN: BELOVED! BELOVED! AND WHAT THAT AGAIN MEANS IS THOSE WHO ARE PRESENTED AS LOVED WORTHY OF LOVE AND FAITHFUL TO THE PRECEPTS OF GOD. NOT JUST BELOVED BY PAUL AND PETER AND JOHN, BUT BELOVED EVEN IN THE SENSE OF WHAT GOD HAS SEEN IN THEIR LIVES; THEIR FAITHFULNESS. THEIR ELECTION HAS BEEN AFFIRMED IN EVERY RESPECT. THEY ARE KEEPING ON IN THE THINGS OF GOD. THEY ARE ACCOMPLISHING THE TASKS THAT GOD HAS REQUIRED AND THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT, THEY ARE WHAT? HOLY AND BELOVED. THEIR MIND HAS BEEN SET ON THINGS ABOVE. THEY ARE A NEW CREATION, A NEW MAN ACCORDING TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. THEY ARE STRIVING TO LIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIED TO THE OLD MAN. THEY HAVE PUT AWAY THE FLESH AND HAVE LEFT THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD BEHIND THAT THEY MIGHT BE SEEN AS DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, SPECIAL, THE CALLED OF GOD, THE CHOSEN OF GOD. AND CERTAINLY THEN THE ELECT. <br> <br>

	SO THE QUESTION IS CLEAR TODAY AS THOSE WHO LOVE GOD: ARE YOU FIRST OF ALL CONSIDERED AS THOSE WHO ARE ELECT? HAVE YOU DONE WHAT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MET THE STANDARD OF THE NEW MAN AND HAVE DIED TO THE OLD MAN? BUT MORE THAN THAT, AS THE ELECT OF GOD ARE YOU CONTINUING HOLY AND AS THE BELOVED IN YOUR SERVICE TO GOD? WHY NOT GIVE GOD YOUR BEST? IT'S WORTH IT TODAY - BUT MORE THAN THAT IT'S WORTH IT ETERNALLY. DON'T YOU WANT THE REWARD OF HEAVEN SOMEDAY? 

<br> <br>

CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

	LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY, IN THIS OFFERING TO GOD.  I HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND BLESSING TO ALL OF US.  WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS WORSHIP TO GOD! <br> <br> 

	BUT FOR NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM?  POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES?  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br> <br>

The Living Word

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	ARE WE DILIGENTLY COMMITTED TO LIVING AS GOD COMMANDS AND TO OBEYING HIS PERFECT WORD?  LET’S MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY WE LIVE AS THE ELECT OF GOD, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND FULLY PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT.

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