Sermons on Leviticus 19:1-2
The various sermons below interpret Leviticus 19:1-2 by emphasizing the concept of holiness as a form of separation and distinctiveness. Both sermons highlight the Hebrew word "kadosh," which means to cut off or separate, to convey the idea that God's holiness is about being in a completely different category from anything else. This notion is illustrated through analogies, such as professional athletes who defy comparison and "good dishes" set aside for special occasions, to help the audience grasp the concept of being set apart. The sermons agree that God's holiness is not an achieved state but an inherent aspect of His being, making Him the ultimate source and standard of moral purity. They also stress that holiness is a requirement for God's people, achievable only through Jesus.
While both sermons focus on the theme of holiness, they diverge in their theological emphases. One sermon presents holiness as both comforting and terrifying, highlighting that God's holiness assures justice but also demands judgment for unholiness. It underscores that holiness is a divine requirement, attainable only through Jesus. In contrast, the other sermon frames holiness as a process of transformation and submission to God's will, rather than an immediate state of being. It emphasizes that holiness is not about achieving perfection but about being set apart for God's purposes.
Leviticus 19:1-2 Interpretation:
Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Reflect (Forward Church Cambridge) interprets Leviticus 19:1-2 by emphasizing the concept of holiness as God's separateness and otherness. The sermon uses the Hebrew word "kadosh," meaning to cut off or separate, to explain that God's holiness is about being in a completely different category from anything else. The analogy of professional athletes who defy comparison is used to illustrate God's incomparable nature. The sermon also highlights that God's holiness is not an achieved state but an inherent aspect of His being, making Him the source and standard of moral purity.
Embracing Holiness: Living as God's Set-Apart People (South Lake Nazarene) interprets Leviticus 19:1-2 by focusing on the idea of holiness as separation. The sermon explains that the primary Old Testament word for holiness means to cut or separate, emphasizing that holiness involves being set apart from what is unclean and consecrated to what is pure. The sermon uses the analogy of "good dishes" that are set aside for special occasions to illustrate the concept of being set apart for God's purposes.
Leviticus 19:1-2 Theological Themes:
Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Reflect (Forward Church Cambridge) presents the theme that holiness is both comforting and terrifying. It comforts by assuring that God will judge and make right all sin and injustice, but it is terrifying because it means God will also judge us for our unholiness. The sermon emphasizes that holiness is God's requirement for His people, and it is only through Jesus that we can be made holy.
Embracing Holiness: Living as God's Set-Apart People (South Lake Nazarene) introduces the theme that holiness is not about perfection but about being set apart for God's purposes. The sermon highlights that holiness is a process of transformation and submission to God's will, rather than an immediate state of being.
Leviticus 19:1-2 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Embracing Holiness: Living as God's Set-Apart People (South Lake Nazarene) provides historical context by explaining that Leviticus was written after God rescued the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. The commandments in Leviticus were given to set Israel apart from pagan nations and to demonstrate God's holiness to the world. The sermon emphasizes that Israel's holiness was meant to be an example to other nations of what it means to live in relationship with God.
Leviticus 19:1-2 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Reflect (Forward Church Cambridge) references 1 Peter 1:16, which reiterates the call to be holy because God is holy. The sermon also references Matthew 5:48, where Jesus calls His followers to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect, reinforcing the idea that God's holiness is the standard for His people.
Embracing Holiness: Living as God's Set-Apart People (South Lake Nazarene) references 1 Peter 2:9, which describes believers as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. This passage is used to emphasize that Christians are called to be set apart and to reflect God's character to the world.
Leviticus 19:1-2 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Reflect (Forward Church Cambridge) references John MacArthur, who describes God's holiness as the attribute that most uniquely describes Him and is a summation of all His other attributes. The sermon also quotes A.W. Tozer, who states that what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us, and Paul Tripp, who emphasizes that God's holiness is revealed in everything He does.
Leviticus 19:1-2 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Reflect (Forward Church Cambridge) uses the analogy of professional athletes like Shohei Ohtani and Victor Wembanyama, who defy comparison in their sports, to illustrate God's incomparable nature. The sermon explains that just as these athletes are in a league of their own, God's holiness places Him in a category all by Himself, beyond any human comparison.