Spending just a few minutes each day reading the Bible, with the help of a plan and some notes, makes the it easier to understand.
Holiness
What does 'holy' mean?
The word "holy" means "being separate", or "set apart", and is a fundamental attribute of God. The state or quality of being holy cannot be separated from God, who is sacred and endowed with extreme purity. Psalm 96 refers to "the splendour of his holiness" and invites all the earth to "tremble before him" (v.9, NIV).
Being the supreme Creator and sustainer of all life, God is set apart from all mankind, as Scripture repeatedly indicates. In the presence of God Moses was told to "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Exod. 3.5). He later exclaimed: "Who is like unto thee, O LORD … glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exod. 15.11).
The Tabernacle and the Priests
The details of the tabernacle made all recognise this. The high priest's headgear emphasised it with its inscription "Holiness to the LORD". The tabernacle's construction and symbology led the worshippers to recognise signs that drew them towards this aspect of God; the most inner sanctum was termed "the most holy place" and reserved solely for the Almighty: the high priest entering by invitation only.
So we can conclude that this holy characteristic of the Almighty sets Him totally apart from us. It indicates His ultimate and unquestioning superiority and purity, as Psalm 99 repeatedly stresses: God's name "is holy" (v.3), "he is holy" (v.5) and "the LORD our God is holy" (v.9).
A theme of the Bible
This theme of God's holiness runs right through the Scriptures from Genesis to the vision in Revelation where the living creatures surrounding the throne never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (4.8). Copying God's holiness Our readings from Leviticus which we commence this month repeatedly include the words "holy" or "holiness", but then enjoin God's holiness on ourselves: "I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy" (11. 44).
This opens up holiness as something to be expressed by individuals in every aspect of life, not something to be reserved for special places or occasions. In stark contrast, human nature leads us in the opposite direction, because our thinking is unlike the Almighty's. Naturally speaking, it is impure, not set apart, making this characteristic of God alien to the human mind. As Paul remarked: "When I would do good, evil is present with me" (Rom. 7.21).
Even though we strive to combat defilement, it is impossible for us to exhibit the level of holiness that is attributed to the Almighty. Nevertheless, we are encouraged, indeed commanded, to be holy in the practical outworking of our calling and probation. We therefore need to nurture and express this characteristic in practical ways.
How to be holy
Take Peter's comments as an example:
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy' " (1 Pet. 1.13-16, NIV).
What is needed is holiness with humility. But in carrying this out there is a danger that we might feel more holy and righteous than others, possibly thinking that our application of holiness in minor matters of conscience is an expression of what God requires from us. Paul told those at Corinth: "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Cor. 10.12, NIV).
So our holiness cannot be judged against others, and however successful we feel in achieving holiness and separation, we need to always be humble enough to recognise that our efforts are puny compared with the extreme purity of the Almighty. This also runs hand in glove with the recognition that eternal life is the gift of God and not something we can achieve by our own efforts, but ultimately relies upon the mercy and forgiveness of God.
However, we still have an important part to play in our endeavours to achieve a level of holiness, for without this separateness and purity we will fail:
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, for without this no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled" (Heb.12.14-15).
How can we "be holy in all that we do", as Peter exhorts us? God looks on the heart. Maybe we could ask the question as to how the Almighty sees us? It is clear that God does not look on the outward appearance of man, and therefore we cannot display holiness by what we wear; but our badge of dedication is worn in the heart and mind.
Everything we say or do in life is prompted by some mental decision – although at times we possibly do not recognise it as that. For example, raising our arm cannot happen unless our brain has sent the message for it to respond. Holiness is therefore a mental state of separation and purity resulting from the way we are thinking. By it we push out of our mind the carnal thoughts of human nature and in our everyday lives fill our minds as much as possible with reverence toward God. This comes over in Christ's conversation leading to the parable of the good Samaritan, when Jesus emphasised the first great commandment:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10.27).
Notice that heart, soul, strength and mind, comprise our whole being, forming a natural progression leading to "Love your neighbour as yourself". Paul was very conscious of the change needed by one who wished to accept Christ's call by a change of mind. He invited the Ephesians to "Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (4.22-24).
With God holiness is perfection and absolute purity of mind and action; but with us it is a shadowy characteristic of the Divine personality that fights against our natural inclinations.
The reward for holiness
The result of developing holiness will be apparent at the return of Christ. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians: "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (1 Thess. 3.12- 13). But if we are found holy and blameless in that day it will not be of our own achieving but because of the mercy extended to us by God through the work of our mediator.
If we were honest with ourselves, I would expect us each to concede that we fail miserably in our endeavours to be holy. We live in a defiled world that can so easily encroach into our lives. But if we desire to be found blameless at the last we must now strive to maintain our separation from the world, and preserve purity of thought, so that we may reach an acceptable level of holiness before God.
So we need to aim for holiness, with all purity of mind and action, striving to be like the one who was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7.26). If we do this we can trust that God's mercy will prevail, and we will receive the gift of eternal life.