Holiness
The subject of holiness has been very misunderstood and controversial. The church as a whole does not teach on this subject. Christians are not discipled in the way of holiness. Some Christians think that if you teach holiness, that you are legalistic, or “holier than thou.” There is no clear understanding of what holiness is and why we as believers are to pursue it in our lives. Yet if you do a word study on holiness, it is referenced in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance 43 times, and if you add the word holy to your study it is referenced 604 times. The word holy in the book of Exodus alone is referenced 54 times, and in the book of Leviticus is referenced 90 times. So you can see that it’s an important subject to God.
In the Old Testament, the word holy and holiness in the Hebrew can be used interchangeably. The main word for holiness or holy in Hebrew is: (qodesh) – it means a sacred place or thing, a consecrated, dedicated, or hallowed thing, holiness. It is from the prime root (qadash) – (to be, to make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonial or morally), consecrate, dedicate, hallow, (be or keep) holy; prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify. The main words that people can relate to regarding holiness are consecrate, dedicate and sanctify, or to set apart.
There are several words that comprise the concept of holiness in the New Testament, we are going to look at two. The first word – hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos’) is translated either holiness or sanctification. Romans 6:19,22; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 12:14. It signifies (a) separation to God, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2 (b) the resultant state of conduct befitting those so separated, 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4,7. Sanctification is thus the state predetermined by God for the believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it. Hence they are called “saints.”
Note: The corresponding verb to hallow or sanctify – hagiazo (hag-ee-a-so) denotes “to set apart to God.”
The second word – hagiosune (hag-ee-o-soo’-nay) denotes the manifestation of the quality of “holiness” in personal conduct; (a) used in Romans 1:4, of the absolute “holiness” of Christ in the days of His flesh, which distinguished Him from all merely human beings; this (which is indicated in the phrase “the spirit of holiness”) and (in vindication of it) His resurrection from the dead, marked Him out as (He was “declared to be”) the Son of God; (b) believers are to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” 2 Corinthians 7:1, i.e., bringing “holiness” to its predestined end, whereby (c) they may be found “unblameable in holiness” in the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 3:13. In each place character is in view, perfect in the case of the Lord Jesus, growing toward perfection in the case of the Christian. Here the exercise of love is declared to be the means God uses to develop likeness to Christ in His children. The sentence may be paraphrased thus: The Lord enable you more and more to spend your lives in the interests of others, in order that He may so establish you in Christian character now, that you may be vindicated from every charge that might possibly be brought against you at the Judgement-seat of Christ; 1 John 4:16,17. [From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 108, 115
Holiness is paramount to walking out our salvation. Without the holiness of God no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
All of the teaching Apostles taught those they were discipling holiness of character. Holiness is Christ-like Christian character. Hebrews 12:10; Romans 6:19,22. It is living a separated life before God and man. 2 Chronicles 31:18. Because God is holy, he expects his people to be holy as well. God has called us to be holy, separated from sin and separated from the world. 1 Peter 1:14-16. One that professes to be a Christian, can’t just say a magical prayer to receive Christ’s salvation and then live whatever way that he/she wants. We are to live for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:15. Christlikeness is central to holiness and Christianity. Ephesians 4:17-24. Holiness is central to the Christian faith, and therefore must be seriously pursued by all who call themselves Christians.
