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]
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.
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.
[18] C. Lalmuanpuia, “Thianghlimna”, Doctrinal Department
Zirlaibu (Aizawl: General Sunday School Department, 2017), 144.
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