1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

A. The Motivations to Pursue a Holy Life: Part 1 & Part 2

1. Looking ahead to Christ’s return
2. Looking back to Christ’s sacrifice

B. Responsibilities/Actions/Attitudes toward Holiness

1. Holiness demands obedience
2. Holiness is a family trait
3. Holiness requires the exercise of negative restraint
4. Holiness requires the exercise of positive initiative
5. Holiness is comprehensive in life

C. Model of a Holy Life: Our Heavenly Father: Part 1

1. Defining Holiness
2. What Holiness is not: Part 2
3. What Holiness Is: Part 3 & Part 4

D. Model of a Holy Life: Our Lord Jesus

1. The Glory of Christ in eternity past – Proverbs 8:22-31 – Part 1
2. The Glory of Christ in His incarnation – Philippians 2:5-7, 1 John 1:1-3, 14 – Part 2
3. The Glory of Christ in His servant life – Philippians 2:5-7 – Part 3

4. The Glory of Christ in His obedient death – Philippians 2:8 – This Message

– The Centrality of the Cross in Jesus’ life and teaching – Luke 2:49, Luke 9:18-22, Luke 9:51, Matthew 20:25-28, Luke 22:19

– The Centrality of the Cross in the early church (preaching) – Acts 2:22-23, Acts 3:12-15, Acts 4:5-11, Acts 7:52-53, Acts 13:26-30, Acts 17:1-3, Acts 26:22-23

– The Centrality of the Cross in periods of revival – 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

– The Centrality of the Cross in the Christian life – Romans 6:6-8, 14, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 6:14

Handout:

O what a melting consideration is this! (John Flavel, “The Fountain of Life” 1671)

“Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

O what a melting consideration is this! That . . .
out of His agony, comes our victory;
out of His condemnation, comes our justification;
out of His pain, comes our ease;
out of His stripes, comes our healing;
out of His gall and vinegar, comes our honey;
out of His curse, comes our blessing;
out of His crown of thorns, comes our crown of glory;
out of His death, comes our life!

Of Christ’s Humiliation

It were an easy thing to lose ourselves in this delightful maze and labyrinth of love: – the righteous Judge of all the world righteously accused and condemned; the Lord of life was dying; the eternal and ever-blessed Son of God struggling with his Father’s wrath; He that had said, “I and my Father are one,” (John 10:30), crying out in His bitter agony, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). “He that “hath the keys of hell and of death,” (Rev. 1:18) lay sealed up in another’s grave. Blessed and dear Savior, whither hath thy love to sinners carried thee? Well might the apostle in a holy rapture and ecstasy express himself in an elegant contradiction, when he desired [that] the Ephesians might “know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge!” (Eph. 3:19)

John Meriton