Perfecting Holiness

2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Corinthians 7:1

INTRODUCTION: Believe it or not, holiness is one of the most difficult subjects to grasp in scripture. There has been much talk through the years about holiness, but more so the discussion has centered around what holiness is not. While it is true that holiness is an attribute of God that should first manifest itself in the heart of a man, holiness is also to be a practical application manifesting itself outwardly.

I. THE UNEQUAL YOKE (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

A. The Charge (2 Corinthians 6:14)

1. The recipients of the charge—“ye”
2. The command in the charge—“Be…not…yoked together with unbelievers”
3. The concern of the charge—“unequally”

B. The Challenge (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

1. Fellowship—“what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”
2. Communion—“what communion hath light with darkness?”
3. Concord—“what concord hath Christ with Belial?”
4. Part—“what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
5. Agreement—what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?”

II. THE PROMISE (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)

A. The Fellowship Promise (2 Corinthians 6:16)

1. I will dwell in them.
2. I will walk in them.
3. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

B. The Reception Promise (2 Corinthians 6:17)

1. The charge
a. Come out from among them.
b. Be ye separate.
c. Touch not the unclean thing.
2. The promise—“I will receive you”

C. The Familial Promise (2 Corinthians 6:18)

1. I will be a Father unto you.
2. Ye shall be my sons and daughters.

III. THE RESPONSIBILITY (2 Corinthians 7:1)

A. The Foundation of Our Responsibility

1. The statement of the responsibility—“Having therefore these promises,”
2. The explanation of the responsibility
a. Positionally, there are some biblical truths that apply to the believer because of who he is in Christ. These truths do not change regardless of the believer’s daily practice.
b. Practically, the truths unwavering concerning our position should make us want to change our practice.

B. The Care in Our Responsibility

1. The expression of the care—“dearly beloved”
2. The understanding of the care
a. These people were loved of the Lord.
b. However, they were DEARLY loved of the Lord.

C. The Call to Our Responsibility

1. The person bearing the responsibility—“Let us cleanse ourselves”
2. The dual nature of the responsibility
a. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh.
1.) This assumes that your flesh is plagued by filthiness.
2.) This would include all of your actions.
b. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the spirit.
1.) This again assumes the filthiness of a part of you, but this time it is your spirit.
2.) This would include your thoughts and attitude.
3. The result of the responsibility—“perfecting holiness”
4. The motivator of the responsibility—“in the fear of God”

CONCLUSION: Are you taking responsibility to cleanse the filthiness of your flesh? Are you taking responsibility to cleanse the filthiness of your spirit? If not, you are not perfecting holiness in the fear of God.