What is "Holiness"?

[Vickilynn]

Ironically enough, while reading this thread, the hymn "Holy Holy Holy" was playing on the radio. The third verse says:

"Holy holy holy! Tho the darkness hide Thee, Tho the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see; Only Thou art holy--there is none beside Thee. Perfect in power, in love and purity."

Only God is holy. We can strive; we cannot attain.

Shalom Isaiah,

Not true. We are TOLD to be holy in the Scriptures. We would not be told to do it if it were impossible.

It is impossible to attain holiness in our strength and will alone. It is possible when we SUBMIT ourselves, heart, will and body to Jesus and walk in HIS holiness. That's what it's all about. Dying to self and living in Jesus by the power of His Spirit.

[undone]

I agree. But those answers would seem to be there in the Gospels. Is there anything about Jesus' life that would lead someone to think He was similar to "Goth" people? See, question answered.

Shalom,

Umm, you and I agree. I gather you aren't talking TO me, but around me to someone else.

Maybe to me. I used Goth. Yes, there is something about Jesus' life that leads me to think He was similar to "Goth" people: both are different from the norm.

(It's amazing to me how people can pick up on one word in a comment and totally disregard the rest of what was said!)

Hmm.

Jesus and me are just fine, and we both have little to do with Goth.

[PreciousRubi]

Kadosh = Holy: separate or set apart.

In God....we are made holy, by separating ourselves or setting ourselves apart from corruption of the world, and dedicating our lives to Him.

1Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints (HOLY or SET APART); here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ"

[Sconzy]

To have a clean and pure heart>>>

[tsth]

Sorry for repeating myself, but I wanted to carry my response over from the other thread:

So what is holy???

Holy is being set apart as God's people, and being noteable for doing what Our Father says to do...........that would mean getting down to the Specifics/Truth.

It would mean actual life-application of the principals given in His Word about ALL issues, not just the ones we find acceptable to do.

In His Love,

Suzanne

To be holy, would also mean "sanctified" as well:

John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

If we never get down to the specifics, and the Christian body, just keeps talking in generalities, we'll never accomplish what God desires. He desires specifics, because HE speaks specifics with regard to the Christian walk/faith. So, we must start speaking and addressing specific topics, rather than just saying "we must be like Jesus". We've got to deal with the specifics of what Jesus said, and stop being afraid to touch the subjects because some of the topics are taking place within the body. We don't want anyone mad, or to leave the church, so we just won't talk about certain things. (i.e. - living together before marriage, or multiple marriages, or debt/coveteousness, etc.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Sconzy]

To be holy, would also mean "sanctified" as well:

John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

If we never get down to the specifics, and the Christian body, just keeps talking in generalities, we'll never accomplish what God desires. He desires specifics, because HE speaks specifics with regard to the Christian walk/faith. So, we must start speaking and addressing specific topics, rather than just saying "we must be like Jesus". We've got to deal with the specifics of what Jesus said, and stop being afraid to touch the subjects because some of the topics are taking place within the body. We don't want anyone mad, or to leave the church, so we just won't talk about certain things. (i.e. - living together before marriage, or multiple marriages, or debt/coveteousness, etc.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

[dugmando]

Hi All,

Vickilynn I think you are right the Word of God is fairly plain from OT to NT, God commands His People to be Holy.

Lev. 11:45

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.

Luke 1:74 & 75

That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear. In Holiness and Righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

2 Cor 7:1

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.

Heb. 12:14

Follow peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.

1 Peter 1:16

Because it is written, Be ye Holy, for I am Holy.

Now I don't think I or anyone is confused and thinking nor saying we can or will be as Holy as God is, but through Jesus and the power He gives us we can overcome our flesh.

Neither am I saying we won't struggle with Holiness but it is definitely a command and must be a choice of obedience.

You must choose to give up this or that, so that it will not get in between you and God.

You must choose to do what is right even when no one is looking at you.

You must choose to be truthful and honest.

You must choose to keep yourself dead center in the will of God as possible.

Are you always Perfect and Holy... No but by His Grace and only by His Grace you can and will make it.

One other point for so often people have struggled with Holiness, many people are critical of the Pentecostal and Holiness churches who teach this as doctrine and as a way of life and to prove their point because they think no one can live that way, they say there was only one Perfect Man and I ain't Him.

Many of these churches have been way to hard putting forth a standard, a standard of our convictions too hard for people to live by.

But far to often the truth is we are guilty of believing and professing one standard but not living it.

This is where I believe people get hung up on the saying living Holiness.

The only Standard of Holiness we should strive for is as someone else has already posted the Standard of Jesus Christ!

For if I can be more and more like Him everyday then I will be Holy for He is Holy.

Doug-E

[WayneB]

Sorry for repeating myself, but I wanted to carry my response over from the other thread:

So what is holy???

Holy is being set apart as God's people, and being noteable for doing what Our Father says to do...........that would mean getting down to the Specifics/Truth.

It would mean actual life-application of the principals given in His Word about ALL issues, not just the ones we find acceptable to do.

In His Love,

Suzanne

To be holy, would also mean "sanctified" as well:

John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

If we never get down to the specifics, and the Christian body, just keeps talking in generalities, we'll never accomplish what God desires. He desires specifics, because HE speaks specifics with regard to the Christian walk/faith. So, we must start speaking and addressing specific topics, rather than just saying "we must be like Jesus". We've got to deal with the specifics of what Jesus said, and stop being afraid to touch the subjects because some of the topics are taking place within the body. We don't want anyone mad, or to leave the church, so we just won't talk about certain things. (i.e. - living together before marriage, or multiple marriages, or debt/coveteousness, etc.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

Me too Suzaanne... I got lost after your thread was split. I wanted to throw in my 2 cents of what it means to be holy so I have carried my post from your thread over here.

I think people confuse the Law with what it truly means to be Holy... set apart to do God's work. If we allow God to set us apart to serve Him, all else pretty much begins to fall in line. Too many folks put the cart before the horse so to speak... trying to please God with their filthy rags rather than simply turning themselves over to Him. What God wants is our very being... and what will He do? He will transform us... His work, not ours.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:17,18

I have found that my walk with Christ is strengthened when I serve Him. I feel closer to Him when I am working for Him than any other time day or night... to include sitting in a church service. When I am working in His vineyard, I have little time for anything else but to cultivate and work. When I get into trouble is when I am doing things to serve myself.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus cursed the fig tree, especially when it was out of season? The tree had beautiful leaves but had no fruit. The tree is much like the church today with a beautiful covering of religiosity but which bears no fruit, or works of righteousness. It is time for the church to produce fruit... there is no out of season. This is the season, which is the message that Christ was conveying when He cursed the fig tree.

What is the Fruit we speak of? The Fruit of the Spirit... "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22 And the winepress takes that Fruit and produces acts of righteousness. That winepress that Jesus spoke of is the church.

So it isn't about the Law. The Law is not the Fruit. The Law is simply intended to bring us to our knees... to show us our need for our Redeemer, who is Christ Jesus. If the Law could save, Job, a blameless and upright man, would not have had to experience the loss and pain that was inflicted upon him. Job needed to meet His Redeemer and through his suffering , he came face to face with HIM.

So that is what I meant when I wrote that Holiness is what we are to strive for... a willingness to be set apart to do God's work.

In Christ,

wayne

[EricH]

I like Wayne Grudem's definition:

"God's holiness means that He is separated from sin and devoted to seeking His own honor" (Systematic Theology p. 201)

[tsth]

So that is what I meant when I wrote that Holiness is what we are to strive for... a willingness to be set apart to do God's work.

I agree wayne, especially with the above comment.

Also, this morning in my quiet time, I came across the Psalm, that I was led to post here:

Psalm 15

1 L~ord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?

Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things will never be shaken.

In His Love,

Suzanne