HOLINESS


Presenter - Jacky Chhakchhuak

INTRODUCTION
The term Holiness[1] is used for God, human and others. In terms of human holiness we usually focus on the outward appearance. Whereas the Bible holiness laid stress on the inward holiness. Being a follower of Jesus Christ, we are expected to be holy in every way. Lev. 19:2 says, “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” Regarding holiness there can be many topics under it, in this paper we shall deal with the meaning of the term, nature and purpose of Holiness in brief.

DEFINITION
According to Harpers’ Collins Bible Dictionary a term Holiness in Hebrew probably meaning separate from the ordinary or profane. Also in Hebrew and in Greek "holy" implies connection with God or the divine. Thus, God is holy and people, things, and actions may be holy by association with God. Holiness may also include the ideas of consecration to God and purity from what is evil or improper.[2]

The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines Holiness in Hebrew qōdesh; and in Greek hagiōsunē; in both cases “separation,” or “setting apart,” holy, from Saxon, “halig,” “whole,” “sound”. Holiness is a general term used to indicate sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect; i.e., it is moral wholeness. The term is used with reference to persons, places, and things.[3]
According to Rev. David K. Bernard, Holiness is one of God’s basic characteristics. In reference to Him, the word denotes absolute perfection and purity. Only God is holy in Himself. When the word is applied to persons or objects it refers to that which has been separated or set apart unto God. For the Old Testament Hebrews, holiness included both the negative concept of “separation” and the positive concept of “dedication.” For born again Christians it specifically means separation from sin and the world and dedication to God.[4]
HOLINESS OF GOD
Rev. David K Bernard explains the holiness of God as; God is holy; holiness is an essential aspect of His nature. With respect to Him, it means absolute purity and moral perfection. With respect to humans, holiness means conformity to the character and will of God. It means thinking as God thinks, loving what He loves, hating what He hates, and acting as Christ would act. It means having the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5).[5] God’s holiness, Webster stresses, is relational. The holiness of God is not only that which separates us from God (God’s transcendence) but is also the majesty, freedom and sovereign power which descends down to us in mercy and is in our midst, God with us (God’s condescension).[6]

Holiness is the centerpiece of God’s attributes. At the centre of His being, He is holy. Exodus 15 shows a great picture of God’s holiness as Moses and the “sons of Israel” sing about their deliverance from Pharaoh and his army.[7] The Israelites regarded God as holy (Isa 41:4; 43:14). This means that they recognized him as the purest and highest standard of holiness and justice. This is evidenced by the use of the word ―holy (Heb qādôš) and its derivatives over 600 times.[8] It is, on the one hand, entire freedom from moral evil and, on the other, absolute moral perfection. The Scriptures lay great stress upon this attribute of God (Ex. 15:11; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 71:22; 99:9; 111:9; Isa. 6:3; Hab. 1:12; Rev. 15:4; etc.). Of great consequence in this connection is the revelation of God’s holiness in the character and work of Jesus Christ. By the holiness of God, it is not implied that He is subject to some law or standard of moral excellence external to Himself, but that all moral law and perfection have their eternal and unchangeable basis in His own nature. He is the One in whom these eternal sanctities reside, who is Himself the root and ground of them all. In this sense it is said without qualification, “No one is holy like the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:2); “For You alone are holy” (Rev. 15:4).
The holiness of God is set before us in the Scriptures as of great practical consequence. (1) It is the special ground of reverence, awe, and adoration (Ps. 71:22; 111:9; Isa. 6:3; etc.). (2) It is the standard of all holiness (Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet. 1:6; etc.). (3) It implies necessarily the divine opposition to, and condemnation of, all sin (Hab. 1:13; 1 Sam. 6:20; Isa. 6:5; etc.). (4) The contemplation of this attribute is accordingly peculiarly adapted to awaken or deepen human consciousness of sin. (5) It is revealed to men, nevertheless, as setting before them the highest end of their aspiration, hope, and endeavor (Ex. 19:6; Lev. 20:7; Heb. 12; 1 Pet. 1:16).[9] Thus, the holiness of God is His intrinsic and transcendent purity, the standard of righteousness to which the whole universe must conform. [10]
HOLINESS IN THE BIBLE
1.     In the Old Testament: The Old Testament concept of holiness was “separation from and dedication to.” In the OT God is the Holy One par excellence. Israel's earliest hymn praises God as "majestic in holiness" (Ex. 15:11). Both Psalms and Isaiah frequently refer to God as the Holy One (Isa. 1:4; 5:19; Ps. 99) and in Isaiah's vision of the heavenly court the angels sing praise to God as "Holy, holy, holy" (Isa. 6:3). Places where God appeared and was customarily worshiped were also holy. At the burning bush (Ex. 3:5) Moses is instructed to remove his shoes because he stands on holy ground. After Jacob receives a vision at Bethel, he consecrates it as a holy place (Gen. 28:11-22). Other ancient Israelite shrines were consecrated by similar contact with God. The Temple in Jerusalem was the most holy place in Israel because God's presence dwelled there (1 Kg. 8:10-11).
2.     In The New Testament: The New Testament teachings about holiness urges the Christian to “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world.” (I Joh. 2:15-16).[11] Christian life is a daily walk of faith (Rom. 1:17). No one is saved by individual predestination; all are saved as they respond in faith to God’s universal grace (Joh. 3:16; Tit. 2:11-12). The Bible does not teach unconditional security; each person lives by obedient faith in Christ (Rom. 11:17-23; Heb. 2:1-4; 10:35-39). If Christians remain in Him, they have assurance of eternal life, for no external force can take away their salvation (Rom. 8:35-39; Heb. 6:11; 10:22).[12]
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Specifically, holiness consists of two components: (1) separation from sin and worldliness and (2) dedication to God and His will. “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be my sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (II Cor. 6:17-7:1). “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2). The truth of Christ is “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24).

THE DIVISION OF HOLINESS
We can divide holiness into two types, i.e, inward and outward holiness.
1.     Inward Holiness: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,” (Eph. 4:31-32). Attitudes are the most important elements of holiness. If a person has the proper attitude towards God and his fellow man, his holiness will be manifested in all areas of life. If he does not have the right attitude, no amount of outward holiness will compensate for the lack of inward holiness in the sight of God.[13]
2.     Outward Holiness: It may include actions, appearance, and physical stewardship. Holiness involves both the inner person and the outer person (I Cor. 6:19-20; I Thes. 5:23).[14] We are to perfect holiness in our lives by cleansing ourselves of filthiness both of the spirit and of the flesh (II Cor. 7:1).[15]

THE PURPOSE OF HOLINESS
God is holy and demands a holy people that will be like Him (I Pet. 1:15-16). Beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve, man’s sin has separated him from a holy God. The only way to restore the original communion between man and God is for man to be separated from sin. The choice is either separation from God or separation from sin. There are only two families—the family of God and the family of Satan, who is the god of this world system (I Joh. 3:10; II Cor. 4:4). There is no neutral ground. These two families are distinct and separate. One is a holy family—a holy priesthood (I Pet. 2:9). The other is an unholy family. The call for separation from this unholy world is clear and explicit. “Come out from among them, and separate, says the Lord” (II Cor. 6:17).[16]

The first reason for holiness is to please God. We belong to God in a double sense: by creation and by redemption. Therefore, we have no right to live contrary to God’s will.[17] We may not be able to mention all the importance of Holiness in Christian life in this paper. Here are some of the significance and purpose of Holiness which I would like to chalk out in brief;[18]
1.     Holiness is taught by the Bible: The Bible does not try to give specific answers to the countless situations that may face an individual. That is the purpose of the Holy Ghost and of the ministry. The Bible tells us what God likes and what He dislikes. It tells us those practices and attitudes that God will not accept and those which He expects of His people.[19]
2.     We are the Temple of God: When we once born of water and of the Spirit, we are the temple of God. I Cor., 3:16-17 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
3.     In order to see the Lord: Heb. 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” The new birth is the initial experience of salvation, but the work of salvation does not end there. God calls the Christian to a continued life of holiness. It is imperative for the born-again believer to experience the continuing work of sanctification, which comes by daily submission to the leadership and control of the Holy Spirit. Just as we must be born again to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5), so must we follow holiness or sanctification in order to see the Lord.[20]
4.     We are going to be the bride of Christ: II Cor. 11:2 says, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Our bridegroom will be our Lord Jesus, who is Holy God for that we must live a holy life.
5.     Holiness is imparted by the Holy Ghost: Man can only become holy through divine assistance. Sanctification (separation) begins with the hearing of the gospel and continues through faith, repentance, and water baptism in Jesus’ name; but it is accomplished primarily by the infilling and indwelling of the Holy Ghost (I Pet. 1:2).[21]

CONCLUSION
Being citizens of this worldly sin, living a holy life is not that easy. Phil. 2:12 says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” There’s always spiritual warfare against good and evil, therefore, we must always abide in Lord Jesus and we shall be able to overcome the trials and temptations in our everyday life. In order to be holy in the sight of God we must abstain from various types of sin mentioned in the Bible. Otherwise, our worshiping and devoted to God and to His church will be in vain. We are Pentecostal Christian, who live according to Bible teachings. We are supposed to be Christ like, meanwhile we cannot be sinners at the same time. In fact, we must hate sin and live a holy life.


 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper Collins Bible Dictionary. New York: HarperCollins Publishers,1996.

Bernard David K. Essentials of Holiness. Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 2000.

Bernard, David K. Doctrines of the Bible. Hazelwood: World Aflame, n.d.

Bernard, David K. Practical Holiness. Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 1997.

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On. Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2008.

Evans, Tony. “The Holiness of God”, Theology You Can Count On. Moody Publishers: USA, 2008.

Freedman, David N. Anchor Bible Dictionary. DoubleDay: USA, 1992.

Lalmuanpuia, C. “Thianghlimna”, Doctrinal Department Zirlaibu. Aizawl: General Sunday School             Department, 2017.
           
Loretta and David K. Bernard. In Search of Holiness. Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 1998.

Malsawmzela, C. Papers. Ambassador for Christ in Holiness. Shillong: Calvary Bible College.

Unger, Merrill F. and R.K. Harrison, eds., “Holiness”, New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Chicago:         Moody Press, 1988.

Webster, John. Holiness. London: SCM Press, 2003.




[1] The main Hebrew root denoting holiness is qd , ―to ‎be ‎holy; ‎sanctify,‎which‎ appears ‎as ‎a ‎verb, noun, and adjective over 850 times.
[2] Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper Collins Bible Dictionary (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1996), 431.
[3] Merrill F. Unger and R.K. Harrison, eds., “Holiness”, New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988), 802.
[4] Loretta and David K. Bernard, In Search of Holiness (Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 1998), 10.
[5] David K. Bernard, Essential of Holiness (Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 2000), 10.
[6] John Webster, Holiness (London: SCM Press, 2003), 46.
[7] Tony Evans, Theology You Can Count On (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008), 61.
[8] David N Freedman, Anchor Bible Dictionary (USA: DoubleDay, 1992), 2686.
[9] Merrill F. Unger and R.K. Harrison, eds., “Holiness”, New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988), 803.
[10] Tony Evans, “The Holiness of God”, Theology You Can Count On, (USA: Moody Publishers, 2008), 60.
               [11] C. Malsawmzela, Papers, Ambassador for Christ in Holiness (Shillong: Calvary Bible College), 3.
               [12] David K. Bernard, Doctrines of the Bible (Hazelwood: World Aflame, n.d), 19.
               [13] Loretta and David K. Bernard, In Search of Holiness, 42.
               [14] C. Malsawmzela, Papers, Ambassador for Christ in Holiness, 7.
               [15] David K. Bernard, Essentials of Holiness (Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 1988), 13.
               [16] Loretta and David K Bernard, In Search of Holiness,11.
               [17] David K Bernard, Essentials of Holiness,15.
[18] C. Lalmuanpuia, “Thianghlimna”, Doctrinal Department Zirlaibu (Aizawl: General Sunday School Department, 2017), 144.
               [19] David K Bernard, In Search of Holiness,13.
               [20] David K Bernard, Practical Holiness (Hazelwood: World Aflame Press, 1997), 22.
               [21] David K Bernard, In Search of Holiness,12.

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