Holiness
Without it being evident, NO Christian can be 'Saved'!
In both the Old and New Testaments, God demands that ‘holiness’ becomes evident in His people as a way of life, as stated below:
TO THE JEWS
“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall [strive to] BE HOLY: for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)
TO THE CHRISTIANS
"but as HE WHICH HATH CALLED YOU IS HOLY, SO BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION [or lifestyle]; 16 because it is written, BE YE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY…18 forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:15-19)
WARNING TO CHRISTIANS
“FOLLOW peace with all men, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO [Christian] MAN [or woman] SHALL SEE THE LORD: 15 looking diligently lest any [Christian] man [or woman] FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many [Christians] be defiled [by Satan];” (Hebrews 12:14-15)
What is ‘Holiness’?
The word “HOLINESS” is found 30 times in the OLD Testament and 13 times in the New Testament.
In simple terms it means that for someone to be “worldly” - this indicates their mind and their behaviour is focussed on worldly things, such as:
Ball games - football, baseball, cricket, etc.
Clothes, beauty care, etc.
Making money, etc.
“(For after all these things do the Gentiles [or unsaved people] seek): for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (Matthew 6:32)
“But SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things [that the Gentiles seek after] shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Fourteen ways that "Holiness" is used of God:
1. He is glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11). (This refers to His nature.)
2. He sits on throne of His holiness (Psalm 47:8).
3. He lives in the mountain of His holiness (Psalm 48:1; Jeremiah 31:23).
4. He speaks in holiness (Psalm 60:6; Psalm 108:7).
5. He swears by His holiness (Psalm 89:35).
6. His holiness becomes His house (Psalm 93:5).
7. Holiness is associated with His power as producing obedience (Psalm 110:3)
8. The highway going up to His capital building on Earth will be called the highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8).
9. His house is called courts of holiness (Isaiah 62:9).
10. His habitation is one of holiness (Isaiah 63:15).
11. His chosen are called the people of His holiness (Isaiah 63:18).
12. His words are of holiness (Jeremiah 23:9).
13. His Spirit is called the Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4).
14. He is to be worshiped in the beauty of holiness (1 Chron. 16:29).
Ten things that are "Holiness" unto God:
1. Priests (Exodus 19:6; Revelation 20:6)
2. Israel (2 Chron. 31:18; Isaiah 63:18; Jeremiah 2:3)
3. God's house (Psalm 93:5)
4. Commerce (Isaiah 23:18)
5. Highway to God's house (Isaiah 35:8)
6. Courts of God (Isaiah 62:9)
7. God's habitation (Isaiah 63:15)
8. Mt. Zion (Obadiah 1:17)
9. Horses (Zech. 14:20)
10. Pots (Zech. 14:21)
Ten Facts: Christians and Holiness:
1. Christians are created in righteousness and true holiness at their New Birth (Ephes 4:24 and John 3:3-8)
2. Christians are commanded to live in holiness before God all their days (Luke 1:74-75; Romans 6:19 Hebrews 12:14)
3. Christians must bring forth fruit unto holiness (Romans 6:22)
4. Christians must perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1)
5. Christians must have hearts unblameable in holiness before God (1 Thes. 3:13)
6. Christians are called to holiness (1 Thes. 4:7)
7. Christians must continue in holiness to be blessed (1 Tim. 2:15)
8. Christians must govern lives according to holiness (Titus 2:3)
9. Christians must be partakers of God’s holiness (Hebrews 12:10)
10. Christians must follow [or demonstrate a lifestyle of] holiness, without which no Christian man shall see God (Hebrews 12:14)
What are the requirements to being “Holy”?
Although true Christianity is NOT about observing rules and regulations - it is about Christians conforming their life to become more like their Saviour Jesus Christ - IF we are to be seen by God the Father as us being His “sons and daughters” that have been truly “born-again” into His kingdom:
“But PUT YE ON THE [holiness, manner and likeness of our] LORD JESUS CHRIST, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14)
“For as many of you as have been [spiritually] baptized into Christ [Luke 3:16] have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)
“and [I - God] will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18)
Some attributes reflective of Godliness (or Holiness)
“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)
“But thou, O man of God, FLEE THESE THINGS; and FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, MEEKNESS. 12 FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE…” (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
If Christians endeavour to become as “holy as Christ is holy” - he or she will become like a black sheep in a flock of white sheep. In other words, the white sheep represent those who follow are particular religious creed; whereas the black sheep read and do ‘faithfully’ what the scriptures tell them to do.
In contrast to this, those Christians who follow what Christ and the apostle’s words say and reject what “…the doctrines and traditions of man” say (Matthew 15:6), these will then appear (spiritually) to other Christians as being a black sheep in their midst.
“MY [black] SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, and THEY FOLLOW ME:” (John 10:27)
If you feel your are a 'black sheep’ in the Christian community (as I am) and would like some online fellowship, feel free to contact me - https://mygospel.info/contact-form/
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