* Unwavering Holiness

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, 

before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 

Galatians 3:1

We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures.  What does that mean:

√      That the Bible is infallible (incapable of making mistakes or being wrong, never failing; always effective) in its declaration,

√        final in its authority,

√        all-sufficient in its provisions (supplying things of use) and

√        comprehensive in its sufficiency. 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  2 Timothy 3:16

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.   For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  2 Peter 1:20-21

The first account of man being inspired by the Holy Ghost to write is recorded in

And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.  Exodus 17:14

If you don’t believe in the authenticity of the bible, then we may as well stop here!  Everything we know about God, every last element of our belief set comes from the word of God.  If you don’t believe that 'in the beginning God . . .'  then you’re already lost!

The bible tells us that we are to be Holy . . . according to the word of God, what does that mean?

One of the tenets of the bible is that we be holy and unmovable or unwavering; not according to our ideology of what we consider holiness but according to what the word of God declares regarding holiness.  It is recorded in His word:

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  Hebrews 12:14

Apostle Paul had to admonish the Galatians because they were becoming swayed by those that were preaching another gospel which was not according to Gods word.  He told them:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  Galatians 1:6-9

At the same time, Peter tells us:

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  1 Peter 1:13-16

Where did Peter get this from?  We have to go back to the scripture that He is talking about. 

For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy,  for I am holy.   Leviticus 11:45

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.  Leviticus 19:2

We can see here that it was not a suggestion or a random thought, it was a command!  And it still is a relevant command today.  Why, because God has not changed; the same yesterday, today and forever!    

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  Hebrews 13:8

To be holy refers to a state of being set apart from defilement. The Hebrew word translated “holy” comes from a term meaning “separate.” Thus, what is holy is separated from common use, or held sacred, especially by virtue of its being clean and pure.

So where do we get are standard of holiness.  From God!  God is holy to the highest supreme degree. 

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.  1 Samuel 2:2

This is how God exclusively sets the standard of what is holy.  That’s why we can’t treat God like a common friend; we do well to remember that yes, 

     the bible tells us he is our friend,

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.  John 15:15

     the bible calls Abraham and Moses a friend of God, 

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.  James 2:23

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. . .  Exodus 33:11

and Jesus said the disciples were His friends,

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  John 15:15

But rest assured, you are not ‘bff’s' or 'best buds'; that’s a commonality that does not pertain where God is concerned.  We are not on equal standing or footing with God; He is and always will be higher than us and we are seeking to be like Him.

First, let's look at God's holiness. What does it mean that God is holy? Passages like –

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.  1 Samuel 2:2

and

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  Isaiah 6:3

 – are just two of many examples of passages about God’s holiness.  

God is unlike any other –  

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.   Hosea 11:9

– and His holiness is the essence of that “otherness.” His very being is completely absent of even a trace of sin.  The very nature of God is holiness just as love envelopes His essence.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  James 1:13

God is holy because He is more “set apart” from His creation than anything or anyone else. Basically, God’s holiness is demonstrative of his supremacy. Because He is high and exalted, there is nothing in this universe that can compare to God in His glory, majesty, essence, power, and purity; it would be like holding a lit matchstick to the sun!

Moses asked the question:

Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11

He is high above any other, and no one can compare to Him

Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.   Psalm 40:5

– that’s not a ‘give up’ statement, it is a ‘but I am ever striving to be like Him' declaration!

God is explicit in His word and shows us through various accounts what it means to be holy.

So up against the beauty of God’s holiness, what does it mean for us to be holy?

When God told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11 and 19, He was instructing them to be 

distinct from the other nations by giving them specific 

standards to govern their lives. 

Israel is God's chosen nation and God has set them apart from all other people groups. They are His special people, and consequently they were given standards that God wanted them to live by so the world would know they belonged to Him and that He was their God. 

When Peter repeats the Lord's words, he is talking specifically to believers.

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  1 Peter 1:16

As believers, we need to be "set apart" from the world unto the Lord. We need to be living by God's standards, not the world's. God isn't calling believers so much for us to be perfect, but to be distinct from the world.  

Peter describes believers as "a holy nation."

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  1 Peter 2:9

It is a fact!   When we look back at the children of Israel, we see in Exodus where God first delivered them from bondage and by the time we get to Leviticus, He, through Moses, begins to teach them how to be holy according to His standards; not the standards of the world.  The fact that He delivered them did not make them Holy.  They became Holy by following His instructions. 

In like manner, when God delivers us from our bondage, He separates us from the world and it becomes our task to become and live holy, consecrated lives.  We are to live out that reality in our day-to-day lives, which Peter tells us how to do

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  1 Peter 1:13-16

Finally, how can we become holy?  Holiness only results from a right relationship with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior (accepting His gift of eternal life) and being filled with the gift of His Holy Spirit. If we have not placed our faith in God's Son alone to save us from our sins, then our pursuit of holiness is in vain. So, we must first make sure we are born-again believers (see John 3). If we truly are believers, then we recognize that our position in Christ automatically sets us apart from the world (1 Peter 2:9). After all, we have a relationship with the living God! Then we must daily live a set-apart life, not trying to be as close to the world or seeing how closely we can straddle the fence, but instead living according to God's Word as we study the Bible and grow in its knowledge and apply it to our lives. 

Holiness becomes our lifestyle; 

it is not something that we put on and take off 

like a loose fitting garment.

However, we still need to consider exactly what Scripture means by the terms holy and holiness. Given that it is such an important concept, we must understand exactly what it is to be holy.

Most Christians think of righteousness, sanctification and consecration  when they hear the term holy. After all, God’s Word in many passages associates holiness with righteous living and being cleansed from sin

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  1 Peter 1:14–16

Nevertheless, holiness in Scripture, while associated with moral uprightness, is not chiefly about doing the right things; rather, to be holy is, first and foremost, to be set apart from that which is common. It is to be different or unique in comparison to this world.

In the bible, it is found that holiness is not a quality that people alone can possess, but activities, places and things can also be holy.   

√      When God talked to Moses in the burning bush, the ground on which the encounter took place became holy ground:   Exodus 3:1–6

√       The room in which the ark of the covenant was located in the tabernacle was the “Holy Place”:  Leviticus 16:1–2

√        Old covenant feasts and festivals made time itself holy to the Lord (Leviticus  23).

Here, you can see the word “holy” can be applied to anything that is directly connected to God, especially things that are set aside for exclusive use in worship. 

We are set aside in the same manner.  For example, Aaron was “set apart,” separated from the other Israelites, to offer sacrifices on behalf of God’s people and mediate between them and God:

The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.  (1 Chronicles 23:13)

Something or someone is made holy when God sets it apart for a special use or purpose.  The children of Israel were set apart so that the world through them would come to know God as the one true living God.  Likewise, believers today – the church (body of God) – are set aside for God’s purpose; to share the good news of Jesus Christ to a dying world.  

Holiness, among other things, can be seen in our lifestyle.  So as those of us who are declared holy, each of us needs to ask, “How well is holiness being seen in my day-by-day living?”

Apostle Paul admonishes us to

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  Romans 6:19  

remembering that sanctification and holiness go hand-in-hand.

Holiness allows us to be inclusive in that glorious church:

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  Ephesians 5:25-27

Biblical Studies

02/08/22