Holiness, believers’ growth in

Holiness begins with God’s initiative

God chooses who and what is to be holy

2 Chronicles 7:16 NASB95

“For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

See also Ex 20:11; 2 Ch 29:11; Nu 16:7; Zec 2:12

God chooses and calls his people to holiness

Dt 7:6; Eph 1:4

See also 1 Pe 1:2; Col 3:12; Dt 14:2; Ro 1:7; 1 Pe 1:15

Holiness is conferred by the holy God

Holiness is conferred by the presence of God

Exodus 29:42–43 NASB95

“It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. “I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory.

See also 2 Ch 7:1–2; Ex 3:4–5; Ex 19:23

Holiness is conferred through covenant relationship with God

Exodus 19:5–6 NASB95

‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

See also Dt 28:9; 1 Pe 2:9; Eze 37:26–28

Holiness is conferred by the sovereign action of God

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB95

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

See also Heb 2:11; Le 20:8; Ac 15:9; Zep 1:7; Eze 36:25; Is 4:3–4

Holiness through the OT rituals

Cleansing from what is unclean

Numbers 8:6–7 NASB95

“Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them. “Thus you shall do to them, for their cleansing: sprinkle purifying water on them, and let them use a razor over their whole body and wash their clothes, and they will be clean.

See also Ex 19:14; Nu 19:9; Ne 12:30

Purification and atonement through sacrifice

Nu 8:12–14 The OT sacrificial system and holiness laws foreshadow the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ that enables believers to grow in holiness through faith.

See also Le 8:14–15; Ex 29:35–37; Le 16:5–10; Le 16:15–22; Le 16:29–30

Consecration by anointing

Leviticus 8:10–12 NASB95

Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.

See also Ex 29:21; Ex 40:9

Holiness through Jesus Christ

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ

Hebrews 10:10 NASB95

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

See also Heb 10:19–22; Col 1:22; Heb 10:14; Heb 1:3; 1 Jn 4:10; Eph 5:25–27; Heb 13:12; 1 Jn 1:7; 1 Jn 2:2; Heb 9:13–14; Heb 9:23–28

Through relationship with Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB95

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

See also 1 Co 1:30

Holiness through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit

2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB95

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

See also 1 Pe 1:2; Tt 3:5; Jn 3:5–8; Ro 15:16; 1 Co 6:11; 1 Th 4:7–8

The human response to holiness

Repentance

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

See also Ezr 10:1–4; Ac 2:38; Jas 4:8; Ezr 9:1–7; Ps 51:1–10; Ro 6:11–13

Faith

Galatians 5:5 NASB95

For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

See also 2 Th 2:13; Ro 1:17–18

Obedience

1 Peter 1:22 NASB95

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

See also Jn 17:17; Ps 119:9; Ro 6:16–19