HOLINESS
- CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF HOLINESS
The basic concept of holiness in the bible is that of separation – Separation from sin and separation to God.
The call of holiness is based on the character of God being a holy God. No one can embrace God and fail to embrace holiness.
Holiness is an experience that takes place in a particular moment in time and initiate a process of growth that will continue until we die.
Holiness is an attribute of God. (Exo. 15:11, 1 Chro. 16:29, Psalm 47:8, 93:5, Titus 1:2)
The Church of God is called a mountain of Holiness. (Jer. 31:23 Psalm 60:6, Isaiah 62:9)
The people of God are meant to be holy. ( Isaiah 63: 18, Heb. 12:14, 2 Cor. 7:1)
God imparts us with his holiness at salvation and we are partakers of it. (Heb. 12:10)
God’s holiness is centered to understanding who and what He is.
God is holy and we can share the same communicable traits though we can never approach His perfection.
DEFINITION OF HOLINESS
- KJV dictionary defines it as the state of being holy. Purity or integrity of moral character.
Applied to God.: it denotes perfect purity of integrity of moral character (Exo. 15)
Applied to Man: it is the purity of heart or dispositions , sanctified affections, moral but not perfect goodness .
Applied to Church & things: It is sacredness. The consecrated or
hallowed to God or to His Worship.
- Holiness is Christ-likeness (Rom. 8:29)
- Holiness is to be set apart . to be consecrated, sanctified or hallowed.
- It is pureness of heart (Matthew 5:8)
- It means to be set apart for honourable use. (2 Tim. 2:21)
- Holiness is total Obedience to God and His Word. (Psalm 119:9/11)
- Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God according as we find His mind described in the scriptures.
- Holiness in the highest since belongs to God (Isaiah 6:3, Rev. 15:4) and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service in so far as they are confirmed in all things and the will of God. (Romans 12:1-3, 6:19-22, Ephesians 1:4, Titus 1:8 1 Peter 1:15)
- God saved us from sin by grace. (Titus 3:3-5, 1 Cor 6:11) and set us apart from the world for godliness (Romans 12:2)
The pursuit of holiness doesn’t end when we come to Christ but It begins. There is a positional holiness that we inherit at regeneration and a practical holiness which we must actively pursue. (1 Pet. 1:14-16)
God expects us to cultivate a lifestyle of holiness and commands us to cleanse ourselves of all defilements, perfecting holiness. (2 Cor. 7:1, 1 Pet. 1:14-16)
- Bringing Holiness to perfection is a continuous thing. I means that we should increase in spiritual fruitfulness, consider ourselves dead to sin and refuse to go back to our old selves. (Romans 6:11 2 Tim. 2:21)
- Holiness is the mark of every true Christian. (1 John 3:9-10)
- Holiness is a combine work between God and His Children. (Phil. 2:12-13) we work out what God works in us. Our responsibility is to yield to His wishes. Holiness will not be brought to completion in our lives with no effort in our part..
IS BEING HOLY POSSIBLE SINCE ONLY GOD IS HOLY?
Holiness is not only a possibility for Christians, it is a requirement. (Hebrews 12:14, John 3:7-9)
The difference between God and us is that He is inherently holy while we become holy in relationship with Christ and increase in practical holiness as we mature spiritually.
Holiness is meant to be pursued in this world and attained in the world to come.
IS HOLINESS THE SAME AS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Righteousness is a state or condition of rightness in amoral sense and/or right standing in a relational sense (especially with God). Righteousness is the mind and way of God. It is exclusively of God to be righteous. Therefore it is imputed in a man.
Holiness is sourced in righteousness. It is a fruit of righteousness. It is walking and living in the spirit. (Galatians 5:16/25)
It takes righteousness to be holy. Righteousness is a gift. Until one stands right, he can never walk right and live right(holiness).
There is no true holiness without righteousness. Purity is a fruit if an upright heart and rightful mind.
- Meaning of Holy life
- A life that is pleasing to God (1 Thess. 4:1)
- A life going on with God. (2 Pet. 3:18)
- A life of clear cut separation. (1 Thess. 4:3-7, 2 Cor. 7:1)
- A life the body is kept under control (1 Thess. 4:4, Romans 12:1, 6;13)
- A life that is transformed. (1 Thesis. 4:5, Romans 6:4)
- It is a love filled life. (1 Thesis. 4:9-10, Rom. 5:8)
- A life of absolute honesty (1 Thess. 4:12)
Note: A holy life requires a Crisis and a Process. A crisis — (a definite act of surrender and of faith which takes place in a moment and a process which is progressive and requires the build on the positional holiness.
- Motives of Holy Life (What compels us?)
- God commands it. (1 Thess 4:1-2)
- The world expects us to live a holy life.
- Steps to attaining a Holy life
We can never by our own strength make ourselves holy. God gives us His Holy Spirit, who helps us to work out holiness. (1 Thesis. 4:8)
The Holy Spirit is the secret of a holy life.
Does that mean that we have nothing to do? No! Holiness is responsible.
- We must recognize a his presence. (1 These. 4:8)
- We must respect His person.
This calls for the adjustment of life and dealings of those things that will grieve Him.
- We must receive His power. Count on Him to make and keep us holy
- CHARACTERISTICS OF A HOLY MAN.
- A holy man will endeavor to shun every kind of sin and keep every known commandment. He will desire to do His will and will have a greater fear of displeasing God. He would please God than please the world and will love all His ways. (Romans 7:22, Psalm 119:128)
- A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus. He will labour to have the mind of that was in Christ and confirm to His image. (Romans 8:19, 12:1, Phil. 2:5)
- A holy man will follow after meekness, longsuffering and other fruits of the spirit. (Gal. 5:22-24 2 Samuel 16:10, Num. 12:3
- A holy man will follow after temperance and self denial. He strives to mortify the flesh. (Luke 21:34, 1 Cor. 9:27)
- A holy man will follow after charity and brotherly kindness. He endeavors to observe the Golden rule. (Romans 13:8)
- He follows after the Spirit of mercy and benevolence toward others.(Acts 9:36 2 Cor. 12:15)
- A holy man will follow after purity of heart. (Matthew 5:8)
- A holy man will follow after the fear of God. (Neh. 5:15)
- A holy man will follow after humility. (Phil.2:3)
- A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all his duties and relations in life (Col. 3:23, Romans 12:11)
- He will follow after spiritual mindedness. (Psalm 63:8, 119:57, Col. 3:1-2)
WHAT HOLINESS IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT
Holiness is the ability to keep from sin made possible by the power of God within.
Holiness is not freedom from mistakes
Holiness is the purification of heart. (Prov. 4:23)
Holiness is an individual thing. It is expected of every believer at salvation to work out his/her holiness.
Holiness is practical. It is an action.
Holiness is not a denomination
Holiness is not a false outward appearance or a religious superiority that reveals itself in arrogance.
It is not something that we put on.
It is an outward expression of an inward dedication to a God who is holy.
It is one of the essential attributes of divine nature.
Holiness is an everyday attribute of a believer. It doesn’t have time and season. (Eccl. 3:1)
Holiness cannot save us. It cannot put away sin, cover iniquities or pay our debt to God. It is by grace we are saved through faith. (Eph 2:8-9)
Holiness is an imperfect work. The work will continue until we reach heaven.
Holiness does not come to ripeness and perfect all at once.
Sanctification is a progressive work. Some are in the blade, some ear and some full Corn.
Holiness is not some spiritual state of ecstasy. It is a verb of action that one prepares to do in his mind. (1 Pet 1:13-15 NIV)
Holiness entails rapt obedience.
Holiness is a commandment (1 Pet. 1:16)
It is an end-time agenda (Zech 14:20-21)
- KINDS OF HOLINESS
-Holiness of men
- Ceremonial Holiness
The ceremonial holiness is one that corresponds to the impersonal objects and depends upon their relation to the outward service to God.
- Priest and Levites (Exodus 29:1, Lev. 8:12, 30)
- Nazarite (Num. 6:5)
- Israel (Exo. 19:6, Lev. 20:24)
- Ethical, Personal, Spiritual Holiness
This is a higher holiness. Man was made in the image of God and is capable of reflecting the divine likeness. And as God reveals Himself as ethically holy, he calls man to a holiness resembling His own. (Lev. 19:2).
Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonition on watchfulness, prayers and perseverance. (1 Cor. 1:30 2 Cor. 7:1, Ephesians 4:23-24)
- REQUIREMENTS OF HOLINESS
- Self Denial ( Matthew 10:37-38, 16: 24-25, Luke 14:26-27)
- Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)
- Submission to Jesus even unto death. (Ephesians 4:1, James 4:7)
- ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF HOLINESS
- To be holy, one must be connected to God –the source of Holiness. (Exo. 15:11, 1 Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 40:25)
This begins with Salvation.
- To be holy one must be separated to God as His possession. (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, Leviticus 20:26, 1 Cor. 6:19-20)
This aspect is called positional holiness.
- To be holy, one mist be separated from the common/ordinary/profane/unclean. (Ezek. 22:26,44:23, Lev. 10:10)
Unclean and clean has nothing to do with neatness. It is a religious term to clearly state and emphasize that God has a standard of moral and ethical rights and wrongs.
- To be holy, be must be separated from all that God says is defiled morally. (Habakkuk 1:12-13 NIV, 1 Peter 1:14)
To be holy, one must be obedient to God’s word. (Lev. 19:2-3, 20:7-8)
In addition to the positional holiness there is an ethical holiness which requires obedience to Gods word.
IMPORTANCE OF HOLINESS (Why is Holiness important?)
- We must be holy because of the voice of God commands it. (Matthew 5:20/48, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, I Peter 1:15-16, Leviticus 20:7)
- We must be holy because it is the ground end and purpose for which Christ came into the world. (2 Cor. 5:15, Ephesians 5:25, 26, Titus 2:14 I Peter 1:2 Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 12:10)
Believers are said to be elect through the sanctification if the Spirit, predestinated to be confirmed to the image of God’s son, chosen to be made holy, called with a holy calling, and suffer to be partakers of holiness.
- We must be holy because this is the only sound evidence that we have saving faith in our Lord Jesus. (James 2:17)
A dead faith is one which goes no further than the profession of the lips and has no influence in a man’s character. True faith shows itself by its fruits, sanctify and walk by love, overcomes the world and purify the heart.
- We must be holy because it is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. (John 14:15 21, 23, 15:14)
- We must be holy because it is a evidence that we are true children of God. (John 8:39,42, Romans 8:14)
- We must be holy because it is the most likely way to be good to others (1 Peter 3:1)
- Without Holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven because it is a holy place. (Rev. 21:27)
- We must be holy because our present comfort depends in it.
There is a connection between sin and sorrow, holiness and happiness, sanctification and consolation.
BENEFITS OF HOLINESS
- Assured way to see God (Matthew 5:8)
- Qualifies us to possess our possession in Christ (Obadiah 17)
- It brings us to a place of health relationship with God. (1 John 1:6)
- Holiness is an access (Rev 3:7-9)
- It is a criterion for heaven (Rev. 21:27)
- It distinguishes (Exodus 15;11)
- It qualifies us to be used of God. (Isaiah 6:6-8)
- Holiness brings a man to a place of boldness. (Proverbs 28:1)
- It is a spring board for a new thing or level. (Joshua 3:5)
- A man walking in holiness is a mobile altar. (John 4:23-24)
- It ensures a speedy answer to prayers. (Psalm 66:18)
- Holiness brings us to sit with God in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)
- Holiness is a pathway to power. (Ephesians 1:4)
- It is an essential requirement for true worshipping (John 4:23-34)
- It is a highway to glorification. (Isaiah 35:8-10, Exodus 15:11)
- It is a key requirement o praising God. (Leviticus 19:24)
- It unlocks the door to understanding everything about God.