The Character of Holiness:
Def: “Even the sum of all the attributes and activities of the holy is insufficient to exhaust its meaning, for to one who has experienced its presence there is always a plus, a something more, which resists formulation or definition. Its connotations are as diverse as the cultures which seek to describe its mysterious nature, but common to all is an awareness of an undefined and uncanny energy, a sense of the imponderable and incomprehensible, an inarticulate feeling of inviolable potency outside and beyond, removed and distant, yet at the same time near and fascinating, invading the everyday world of normal experience.
Holiness extends into every area of existence, in the Bible it appears as related to almost everything in the realm of human experience and conduct. When Gods holiness sets a man apart unto divine service he and the whole pattern of his life is changed forever.
Sometimes when the scriptures speak of holiness it is used in a moral sense, and other times it has little ethical connotation. Whatever was devoted to God and His service was declared Holy, whether it be people property, or places.
This did not necessarily signify that they were partakers of Gods nature, but that they had been separated unto his use. They were holy because they belonged to the Holy one.
Holiness as seen in the Godhead:
God the Father:
(1 Pet 1:15-16) 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.” The first time the word holiness is used in the Bible is in the song of Moses right after the Lord had slain the Egyptian army in the sea, thereby delivering Israel from her enemy. Moses led the Israelites in singing, “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the Gods ?” “who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exod 15:11) (Isa 57:15) Isaiah gave us the revelation that the Name of the Lord is Holy. (Isa 6:3) Seraphim chanted one to another, “Holy , Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts.”
As used in scripture, holiness describes both the majesty of God and the purity and moral perfection of His nature. Acknowledging His holiness is one of the ways we are to praise God. (Rev 4:8).
(Heb 12:14) “Make every effort to be Holy; without Holiness no one will see the Lord.”
The Holiness of God is an exceedingly high standard, a perfect standard, but it is nevertheless one that He holds us to. While God accepts us solely through the merit of Christ, Gods standard for our character our attitudes, affections, and actions is, “Be Holy, because I am Holy.”
God the Son (Jesus Christ)
(Acts 4:30) “Thy Holy child Jesus.” God appointed Jesus to a very special task, sending Him forth separated from the Glory of Heaven and commissioned through divine holiness to remain separate from the sin and ungodliness of this world. (Luke 4:34) Demons declared Him to be the Holy One of God. The life of Christ showed that true Holiness is attractive to people, not repulsive. It is only self-righteousness, mans filthy substitute for divine holiness that repels others. Christ demonstrated that holiness can survive in an unholy environment; that the power of Gods holiness is far greater than the power of sins un-holiness, and that men can be infused with Gods Holy Spirit and learn to develop holy lives. (1 Pet 2:21) Christ left an example for us, to follow.
God the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit, like Christ, is Holy in the sense of being separated unto Gods specific service, for His mission and commission is to adapt holiness to mankind thereby effecting radical changes in their natures. The Spirit of God, is Holy by name, Holy by Nature, Holy by mission, and Holy in His manifestation.
The Commitment of Holiness:
God has revealed His Holiness directly to us in the Old Testament, directly to us through Jesus in the New Testament, and directly to us in his present dispensation through the Holy Spirit. (Amos 3:3) “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Heb 13:8) God will not change. (Math 6:27) Man cannot change himself.
Thus the only hope we have is to allow God to change us. This can only be done when we submit our will to God. God will then set that man apart from sin unto Gods service, and then the Holy Spirit of God will begin to progressively change that man into the character of God. This work is called sanctification.
Sanctified Body:
(1 Thess 5:25) Paul prays for preservation of our whole Spirit, Soul and Body. Thus sanctification is a work of God through the Holy Spirit that effects the entire nature of man. (1 Cor 9:27) Paul says that He keeps his body under, and brings it into subjection. Thus he is disciplining his body, making it his slave. (1 Cor 3:17) Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and if you destroy it, God will destroy him. (Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Sanctified Soul:
(Eph 4:18) The mind is tempted to be alienated from God. Jesus taught that even if we keep our body from doing wrong it is not righteousness in Gods sight unless our desires are as pure as our behavior. Because the mind is the seat of our affections and desires, and is the link between our Spirit and the world in which we live it should be renewed by the Word of God and transformed.
(Phil 2:13) For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Our responsibility is to guard our minds and emotions, being aware of what influences our minds and stimulates our desires, which we will to do. As we do our part, we will see the Spirit of God to do His part in making us more Holy.
Sanctified Spirit
(2 Cor 7:1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (Prov 23:7) “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
NB!!
Saw a thought, reap an act;
Saw a act, reap a habit;
Saw a habit, reap a character.
(Phil 4:8) Think on the things of God. Think the positive not the negative.
Although your Spirit has been set free from sin, it has not been set free from your lower nature. Your spirit is not in control of you, you are in control of it.
God begins to sanctify us in the Spirit, for it is this part of us, that is in contact with God. If the Spirit is reserved then so will the Soul and Body be.
Holiness and Righteous Obedience:
Our obedience brings us to Holiness. (1 Pet 1:2) “Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience.” We must be Obedient to the truth, which is the Word of God. (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy truth.” This is the washing of the word, for the sake of our Souls. The word must be quickened in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and must be obeyed in our lives. (Rom 8:13) God has made provision for our holiness, by us living in the Power of the Holy Spirit. (Col 3:5) Paul says that we are to put to death everything that belongs to our Earthly Nature. (2 Pet 3:14) We must make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him.
In stating his plea for demonstrated holiness through obedience to the truth, Paul began with:
THE AGED MEN: (6 things required)
- Be Sober. ]
- Be Grave. ] Their Bearing
- Be Temperate. ]
- Be Sound in Faith ]
- Sound in Clarity] Their Conduct
- Sound in Patience]
THE AGED WOMAN:
- Behave in a Holy Manner.
- Not to be False Accusers.
- Not to be Slanderers.
- Not to be Scandalmongers.
- To teach good things.
- Teachers of Virtue.
YOUNG WOMAN:
- Be Sober. (Show discretion)
- Must learn that Godliness with contentment is much gain
- Be Chaste.
- Learn how to Love their Husbands and Children
- Be Good.
- Be obedient to their own husband.YOUNG MEN:
- Be sober minded. (Self-restrained)
- Let no man despise thy youth.
- Be an example in Word; Conversation; Charity; Spirit; Faith; Purity.
SERVANTS: (in the Church)
- Obey their Masters.
- Don’t talk back, nor steal, show yourselves to be entirely trustworthy.
- Holiness is Achievable:
(Phil 3:13-15) Paul did not consider that he had arrived, or achieved the ultimate. He continued to press on, to climb, to rise higher into the Nature of God, and exhorted us to do the same.
The Blood of Christ brings us to Holiness:
(2 Pet 1:3) It is not just what was done on Calvary that brings us to holiness, but through the knowledge of Christ who shed His blood for us, that we have received all things that pertain unto Godliness. (Heb 7:25) Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us.
Faith brings us to Holiness:
Peter refers many times to Faith being an active agent is bringing us to Holiness.
(Rom 3:22). “Even the righteousness of God which is by Faith in Jesus Christ”.
(Rom 1:17) From faith to faith. The just shall live by Faith.
Love brings us to Holiness:
(Gal 5:6) Faith worketh by Love. (Gal 5:22) It is the first fruit of the Spirit to ripen. (John 13:35) We shall be known as disciples of Christ if we love one another. (John 14:15) “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:23) “If a man Love me, he will keep my words.”
Truth brings us to Holiness:
(Eph 4:15) Speak the truth in Love. Peter declares, (1 Pet 1:23) “We are born again by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. Our sanctification is limited by our restricted knowledge of the word of God, and by our lack of obedience to God’s word. (Eph 5:26) “Washing of water by the word.” (John 15:3) “clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
Beholding Christ brings us to Holiness:
(2 Cor 3:18) “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
(1 John 3:2) Beholding we are changed. When we see Him, we shall be like Him.
(1 John 3:2-3) “Every man that hath hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
The Joy of Holiness:
(Rom 14) The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of right righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Only those who walk in the true Holiness, experience true joy. (John 15:10-11) If we are obedient and remain in the Love of God, His joy will be in us, and it will be made full. (Psa 16:11) In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy. True joy comes only from God and He shares this Joy with those who walk in fellowship with Him.
(Heb 12:1-2) Jesus was motivated to endure the cross by anticipating the Joy of His reward. (Math 25:21,23) Well done thy good and Faithful servant. (Neh 8:10) The Joy of the Lord strengthens us to live a Holy life.