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Holiness. Rev. Brian A. Burrows. St. John’s Smiths Falls, 26th June,’26. 

Text: Lev.  10:44,” For I am the Lord your God who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

Intro: - 

    I’ve been reading Leviticus with its theme of holiness. This is a challenge for us as individuals and as a church. From all the long and tedious details, I detected three themes; water, blood and fire. I believe that these words also appear in the New Testament and can reflect our own spiritual journey, personally, and as a church.  

  1. Water! 

As the people tried to obey God’s commands, water was the element to combat their problems. Hence, to be holy was to be clean. Water washed clothing, bodies, stones and houses. Thus, the priest and the people tried to be holy by living clean lives, by keeping the 10 Commandments, to as it were, be holy as God is holy. 

    In the New Testament we have the witness of John the Baptist who baptized the people in the River Jordan. Jesus also came to be baptized and as a result, Christians take the first step in their spiritual journey by the waters of Baptism. Psalm 51:10,” Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” 

  1. Blood! 

    Aaron and his sons, as priests offered sacrifices to God and sprinkled blood on the corners of the altar and on parts of bodies. The blood was to them, I believe, the life of the animal, sacrificed to God and deemed holy. Their precious animals were to be given to God as offerings to assure them of the forgiveness of their sins. 

    This view of sacrifice is then seen in the crucifixion of Jesus. We talk about the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The blood indicates life and Jesus’ life was given that we might live. 

    We then, who live with blood in our veins are called to give our life to Jesus, to be like Him – to live a holy life, to be a holy church founded upon the one who shed his blood for the forgiveness of sins and for the life of the world. 

  1. Fire! 

  Aaron and his sons also offered burnt offerings to please God. This early view of a God who smells burnt sacrifices points to the sacred presence of a holy God – a God had appeared as pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night! 

     When John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness he said, Matt.3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” 

     When the disciples met on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.” Divided tongues. As of fire, appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them.” Fire is then associated with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Such energy inspired the early Church and grew to spread everywhere. 

Conclusion: 

     We as individuals and as a church are called to be renewed in faith, washed, as it were, with water, re-charged with the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit and to be light and warmth to the people with whom we share this world, called to be holy as God is holy.