Holiness

Introduction

1 Peter 1:13–16 KJV 1900

13 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; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Body

What is Holiness?

The English words “holy” and “holiness” might means something entirely different than what the bible is trying to convey.

Because of that, it’s important that we explore the idea of holiness from the perspective of the Old Testament Israelites themselves. When God taught THEM about Holiness, what did they hear? What did they understand?

EVERYTHING gets filtered through our presuppositions

Unfortunately, our presuppositions are affected, and influenced by our society.

Because of this, it becomes more and more imperative that we get a solid understanding of scripture, and interpret it, n (ot through our presuppositions, but by the Spirit of God.

The Language of Holiness in the Bible

The English words “holy” and “holiness” are translated from the biblical Hebrew word group qds (kee-DASH) and include the following terms:

qodes (KO-desh) - referring to something “holy”

qados (ka-DOSH) - meaning “holy”, commanding respect, awesome, singled out

miqdas (meek-DASCH) - meaning sanctuary

qades (ka-DESH) - referring to one who is consecrated, or to a cult prostitute

qades barne (ka-DESH bar-NAY-uh) - referring to Kadesh-barnea

The Language of Holiness in the Ancient World

A broad survey of literature from the ancient world suggests that the people of the ancient Near East developed the language of holiness to express membership and proximity to the realm of the divine. Ancient Near Eastern tests generally use the language of holiness in the sense of “consecration,” referring to the dedication of a person or object to a deity. The sense of moral purity or perfection is absent from this context. —Lexham Bible Dictionary

Differing Approaches to Understanding Holiness in the Bible

People through the ages have used different methodologies to reach differing conclusions as to what “holiness” means.

Using an etymological approach concludes that holiness refers to separation or moral purity.

Anthropologists examine holiness within the broader context of ancient cultures and define “holiness” as “transcendence”

Some have used a broader approach that views God’s entire character as representing holiness

Fundamentally, holiness is a cutting off or separation from what is unclean, and consecration to what is pure.

Holiness, is, primarily, separation

Defining Separation

Separated To God

Colossians 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

If we are risen with Christ, we will seek those things that are spiritual and not those things that are carnal

This can only happen once we receive salvation, not before.

This isn’t automatic, but an act of our will.

We seek spiritual things. We have spiritual goals; we seek spiritual results.

We can do this because we have chosen to set our affections on something else, not what we used to love

God gives us the desire to pursue spiritual things now, and the desire to put away carnal things

We decide to act on that desire in a manner that pleases God

In the end, we separate ourselves from the old things, the carnal things, because we submit ourselves to the will of God and become obedient to Him.

We surrender to His command to be holy as He is holy.

We surrender to His command for His character to be reproduced in us.

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Again, we find our duty to God to be complete, even laying our own bodies on an altar to God

God considers this “reasonable”

We are not our own, but are bought with a price

We are slaves of Jesus Christ

We are to present ourselves to God “holy and acceptable unto God”

God will only accept the firstfruits of our hands for a sacrifice, never the dregs

God gave us His firstfruits on the cross

He goes on to command us to stay away from the world. Don’t be conformed to it! Don’t look to the world for an example.

But let God renew your mind.

Your presuppositions. Your worldviews. Your hopes and dreams. Your affections. Let them all be renewed.

Let God bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Philippians 2:5–8 KJV 1900

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Separation From Sin

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

1 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.

Filthiness of the flesh

Colossians 3:5 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Filthiness of the spirit - Secret sins

Hebrews 12:1 KJV 1900

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Perfecting Holiness - we must work at holiness daily

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Separation From Unbelievers

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 KJV 1900

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We separate ourselves from unbelievers because we desire to be separated unto God

If God does not dwell with unrighteousness, what business do we have dwelling with unrighteousness?

IF God is light, then everything not of God is darkness. We must separate ourselves from darkness and unto light

1 John 1:7 KJV 1900

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We will be required to give up some things…separate ourselves from some things…to serve Jesus Christ.

What we give up in the world, we gain both in the spirit, and with a relationship with God Himself.

Separated With Christ

Hebrews 13:12–15 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Made holy by the blood of Christ

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Holiness brings reproach and persecution

Living holy always brings persecution

John 15:16–20 KJV 1900

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

The more separated we become, the more we begin to look like Jesus

The more we begin to look like Jesus, the more the world will hate us

Conclusion

God is perfecting His image in us, and will continue to do so as we continue to move farther away from the world and closer to Jesus.