Significant portions of Leviticus are devoted to what it means to live holy before God. To live holy is a description of a life well-lived with a God who is totally present and totally pure. The pinnacle of this way of living is described in Jesus’ summary of God’s instruction: love God with all of who we are and love our neighbor as ourselves (which is drawn from Leviticus 19:18). The problem is that we often fall short of this well-lived life through sin, brokenness, and evil. Jesus is the only One who is totally obedient.
(Leviticus 11-15; 18-20, including 19:18; Matthew 5:17-20; 22:34-40; Romans 5:19; 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8)
Sermon Outline
“I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45)
A Holy God Calls His People to be Holy (Leviticus 11-15; 18-20)
- God is holy
- God’s people are called to be holy
- The meaning of clean and unclean
- Holiness touches every area of life
- Two aspects of holiness:
- Living with a holy God
- Reflecting a holy God
Jesus the Holy Obedient One
- The meaning of clean and unclean by Jesus’ day
- Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s law
- Jesus is the only holy One who can fully live with a holy God
- Jesus is the only holy One who can fully reflect a holy God
Living with Jesus the Holy Obedient One
- Live with our holy God by relying upon the faithfulness of Jesus
- Reflect our holy God in the world by relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What do you think of when you hear the word “holy”? What do you think it really means?
- This week we continue our Lenten sermon series entitled, “Holy God, Wholly Given: Lent in Leviticus.” This six-week series explores key themes of Leviticus seen through the life and work of Jesus the Messiah. Whether on your own or with others, begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you through this study.
- Background: The word “holy” occurs more times in the book of Leviticus than any other book of the Bible. It is a word that means something is set apart for special purpose or, in the case of God, that God is completely different than human beings.
- Read Leviticus 11:44-45. What do these verses tell us about the starting point for any discussion of holiness?
- Along with reflecting who God is as holy, God’s people are also supposed to be different than those around them in how they relate to one another and the world. Read Leviticus 18:24-28. How does what we read there inform our understanding of the holiness codes in Leviticus?
- The New Testament book of Hebrews picks up key themes about the priesthood and how Jesus fulfills that calling and role. Read Hebrews 4:14-5:10. What stands out to you about Jesus’ ministry as the true and final high priest?
- What is one thing God speaking to you personally through this week’s study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then pray about what you shared. If you are on your own, write it down, pray about it, and consider sharing your thoughts with someone this week.
Dig Deeper:
- Consider memorizing 1 Peter 1:14-16
- Read through Leviticus 18:24-19:18. Pause in silence after reading it. Let God search your heart in relation to these words. Lent is traditionally a time to turn from sin, so is there something in these guidelines that leads you into repentance?
- This week, set aside 30 minutes to prayerfully read and reflect on these two verses of Scripture: “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10) and “by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (10:14). What stands out to you from these verses? What is God speaking to you personally through them?
- Explore some or all of these resources:
- The Bible Project video “Holiness”
- J. I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness: Know the Fullness of Life with God
- Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness