THE CALL TO HOLINESS

THE CALL TO HOLINESS

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Key Verse: "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." — 1 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: 1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:22-24; Romans 6:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

Description: The call to holiness is God's invitation for believers to separate themselves from sin, live in purity, and reflect the character of Christ in every area of life.

INTRODUCTION

Holiness is not merely an outward religious appearance; it is a life set apart for God and governed by His truth. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul confronted the Corinthian church because serious sin had been tolerated among them. He used the picture of leaven to show how a small amount of corruption can gradually influence the whole community.

The Corinthian believers had received the Gospel and belonged to Christ, yet they were allowing sinful conduct to remain among them without appropriate spiritual correction. Paul reminded them that Christ, our Passover, had been sacrificed for us. Because of what Christ has accomplished, believers are called to live as people who have been cleansed and separated unto God.

Holiness therefore requires intentional living. We must reject the old patterns of sin and embrace sincerity, truth, purity, obedience, and righteousness. Grace does not give us permission to continue in sin; rather, grace empowers us to live differently because we belong to Christ.

1. UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN

Paul's illustration of leaven demonstrates that sin should never be treated as insignificant. What appears small can eventually influence an entire life or community.

a) Sin Spreads Gradually (1 Corinthians 5:6)
Like leaven working through dough, tolerated sin can influence other areas of life. What is not confronted may eventually become deeply established.

b) Sin Corrupts Fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:7)
The holiness of the church matters because the conduct of individual believers can affect the spiritual health of the entire body.

c) Sin Must Be Confronted (Ephesians 5:11)
Believers are called to expose and reject works of darkness rather than quietly accommodate them.

d) Sin Has Consequences (Galatians 6:7-8)
God's grace does not cancel the principle of sowing and reaping. What we continually practise eventually produces consequences.

Biblical Example: Achan's hidden sin affected the entire nation of Israel and contributed to their defeat at Ai, demonstrating the destructive influence of tolerated disobedience (Joshua 7:1-12).

2. REMEMBER THAT CHRIST HAS CLEANSED YOU

The call to holiness is rooted in what Christ has already done for us. We do not pursue holiness to earn salvation; we pursue it because we have been redeemed.

a) Christ Is Our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Paul reminds believers that Christ sacrificed Himself for us. His death provides the foundation for our freedom from sin.

b) You Are A New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Those who are in Christ have received a new identity. The old life should no longer control them.

c) You Have Been Sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Believers have been washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ. This new position should produce a new lifestyle.

d) Live From Your New Identity (Colossians 3:9-10)
Because the old nature has been put off and the new nature put on, believers must increasingly reflect Christ.

Biblical Example: Zacchaeus demonstrated the transforming effect of salvation when his encounter with Jesus led him to repent and make practical changes in his life (Luke 19:1-10).

3. REMOVE THE OLD LEAVEN

Holiness requires separation from sinful patterns. We cannot sincerely ask God to make us holy while deliberately protecting the things that corrupt our lives.

a) Put Away Malice (1 Corinthians 5:8)
Malice poisons relationships and produces attitudes contrary to the character of Christ. Believers must reject bitterness and intentional harm.

b) Reject Wickedness (1 Corinthians 5:8)
The Christian life requires a deliberate rejection of practices that contradict God's righteousness.

c) Put Off The Old Nature (Ephesians 4:22)
Paul teaches believers to put away the former manner of life and its corrupting desires.

d) Flee Sinful Influences (2 Timothy 2:22)
Some temptations should not be negotiated with. We must deliberately flee what threatens our purity.

Biblical Example: Joseph refused to participate in sexual immorality with Potiphar's wife and fled from the temptation rather than attempting to manage it (Genesis 39:7-12).

4. PURSUE SINCERITY AND TRUTH

Paul contrasts the old leaven with "the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth". Holiness must involve both inward integrity and outward truthfulness.

a) Be Genuine Before God (Psalm 51:6)
God desires truth in the inward parts. Genuine holiness begins within the heart.

b) Walk In Truth (3 John 4)
Our conduct should correspond with the truth we have received. Christian faith must be visible in everyday living.

c) Reject Hypocrisy (Luke 12:1)
Jesus warned against hypocrisy because outward religious appearance without inward transformation is spiritually dangerous.

d) Maintain Integrity (Proverbs 10:9)
Those who walk uprightly experience stability because they do not have to live in fear of exposure.

Biblical Example: Daniel maintained his integrity in Babylon even when doing so placed him under pressure and personal danger (Daniel 6:4-5, 10).

5. LIVE AS A HOLY PEOPLE

Holiness is not merely about avoiding what is wrong; it is also about actively pursuing what pleases God.

a) Be Holy In All Conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16)
God calls His people to reflect His holiness in every area of life, not merely during religious activities.

b) Pursue Peace And Holiness (Hebrews 12:14)
Holiness must be pursued intentionally. It does not happen accidentally.

c) Present Yourself To God (Romans 12:1)
Believers are called to offer themselves to God as living sacrifices, surrendering their bodies, minds, and lives to His service.

d) Grow In Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
God's will for believers includes progressive growth in holiness and purity.

Biblical Example: Samuel served God faithfully from childhood and maintained a life of integrity before Israel, demonstrating that holiness can be cultivated throughout one's life (1 Samuel 3:19-21; 12:1-5).

CONCLUSION

The call to holiness is a call to live consistently with our new identity in Christ. Because Jesus has sacrificed Himself for us, we must not return to the old life of sin and corruption. Sin may appear small, but like leaven, it can spread and affect our spiritual lives, relationships, families, and churches.

Therefore, remove the old leaven, reject malice and wickedness, pursue sincerity and truth, and continually offer yourself to God. Holiness is not achieved by human strength alone; it is the work of God's grace in a surrendered life. Let your life demonstrate that Christ has truly redeemed and transformed you.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, give me grace to understand the seriousness of sin and never treat any form of disobedience as insignificant, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, thank You for the cleansing, forgiveness, and new identity I have received through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.

3. Father, remove every old pattern of sin, corruption, bitterness, malice, and wickedness from my life, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, purify my heart and establish sincerity, truth, integrity, and righteousness within me, in Jesus name.

5. Father, deliver me from hypocrisy and every form of outward religion without genuine inward transformation, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, give me strength to flee every temptation, sinful influence, and relationship that seeks to pull me away from holiness, in Jesus name.

7. Father, help me to live according to my new identity in Christ and continually reflect His character in my conduct, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, sanctify my thoughts, words, relationships, decisions, and actions and make every area of my life pleasing to You, in Jesus name.

9. Father, let holiness become a consistent lifestyle in me and make my life an example that encourages others to follow Christ, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, preserve me in holiness until the end and help me remain faithful to You in sincerity and truth throughout my earthly journey, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall walk in holiness and increasingly reflect the character, purity, and righteousness of Jesus Christ in every area of your life.

2. Every tolerated pattern of sin that has attempted to spread through your life shall be confronted by God's truth and broken by His grace.

3. You shall not return to the bondage of your former life; your new identity in Christ shall increasingly become evident in your words, decisions, and conduct.

4. The Lord shall cleanse your heart from malice, bitterness, wickedness, hypocrisy, and every attitude that contradicts His character.

5. You shall receive strength to recognise temptation early and wisdom to flee every influence that threatens your spiritual purity.

6. Your thoughts, words, relationships, habits, and decisions shall increasingly come under the influence of God's holiness and truth.

7. You shall walk in sincerity and truth, and your private life shall remain consistent with the testimony you present publicly.

8. The grace of God shall strengthen you to overcome sinful desires, resist compromise, and remain faithful even when you face strong temptation.

9. Your life shall become a godly example, and those who observe your conduct shall be encouraged to pursue holiness and follow Christ.

10. You shall remain faithful to the end, growing continually in sanctification and standing before the Lord with a life that honours His name.