What is Holiness?

(A study by Richard P. Duffield)

This lesson proposes a question, and the question is a valid one. How can a person be held accountable for conducting their life according to God’s mandates if the definition of the word in question isn’t clear? What indeed is Holiness? Let’s endeavor to find out.

The fact that God requires holiness from His children should not be foreign to us, after all, throughout the Old Testament, and as well the New anything and everything that was in fact His had to be holy! His utensils in the tabernacle, His tabernacle itself, His priests, His altar, His ark, His very name was to be esteemed as holy!  Why should we expect it to be different for His children?

We are the arks of His presence! Remember that we are now “Temples” (or arks) of the living God’s Holy Spirit. “Don’t you knowthat you yourselves are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16), “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God?” ( 1 Corinthians 6:19)

He is holy, He declares it in His word and He requires that we too become holy! “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44, 45) and “but He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1st Peter 1:15,16)

Let us begin at this point, searching the scriptures of God to see what He acknowledges as Holiness (and what’s not) and clarify any misunderstanding we might have regarding the word, its meaning, and how it relates to us. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

In this verse we see that filthiness of the flesh or spirit is in direct opposition to holiness.

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” (1 Thess. 4:3-7) Here we can find a number of things accounted as being contrary to holiness in God’s eyes! Also note that it is His will that we are sanctified, that our lives are lived in holiness!

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things” (Titus 2:3) These words tell us what holiness is not

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) It says without holiness no one will see the Lord! Do I have your attention? (I’ll repeat this verse again later, it shows how important holiness before God is!)

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” (Hebrews 12:14-16) Again, more of what holiness isn’t!

Returning to the first scripture above that determines that the “filthiness of the flesh” is accounted as unholiness, let us see the following scripture which shows us what God considers said “filthiness of the flesh” to be.

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly (fleshly) nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. & But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old (flesh) self with its practices” (Colossians 3:5 & 8,9)

Certainly I could go on and on (there are countless other scriptures declaring what holiness is not) but lets simply make a “short list” of what holiness is not to clarify what it is that we must strive for in trying to conform to God’s wishes as expressed by the Apostle Peter in the verses following: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you

had when you lived in ignorance. 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.” (1 Peter 1:13 ­ 16)

Short List of what holiness isn’t:

1. sexual immorality
2. lack of self control
3. ungodly lust
4. taking advantage of another
5. drunkenness
6. bitter root of unforgiveness
7. godlessness
8. evil desires
9. greed
10. anger (ungodly)
11. malice (plain old meanness)
12. lying tongues
13. filthy language
14. false accusations (taken to gossip)

 

2nd Timothy reveals more of such traits uncharacteristic of holiness, take a look at these verses: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will belovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

Some of these traits are listed on our short list, some aren’t. One can certainly see and must agree that all of the sins or characteristics of unholiness can be summed up by the three that the Apostle John speaks of in the words he penned in 1 John 2:16. “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 of the world. ”

3 traits sum it all up, 1. the lust of the flesh, 2. the lust of the eyes, and 3. the pride of life.

Back in 1 Peter 1:13 ­ 16 we found some keys to walking in holiness, pleasing to God, let’s take a look at them. Empowerment to live a life of holiness begins with these 4 key issues: 

1. Faith in God, 2. submission, 3. obedience, and 4. self-control

Allow me to repeat the 3rd & 7th verses of 1 Thessalonians: It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

The Apostle Paul tells us that it is God’s will that we be sanctified, that He called us to holiness. God has done the calling, He has “positioned” us through the righteousness He’s given us according to the atoning blood of Jesus, it’s now our turn to do something!

This is not an option nor is it something that will “magically” take place, this takes effort on our behalf! We must actively pursue holiness in our lives!

It all goes back to the aforementioned 4 keys to a life of holiness:

1. Faith in God, 2. submission, 3. obedience, and 4. self-control

The characteristics of holiness itself could probably best be described as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. (Gal. 5:22,23) Together these describe a life of holiness.

This whole study is directed to those whose names are already listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life, if your name is not there, please advise the person nearest you right now so we can remedy that situation! It is also God’s will that none perish but all be saved! (1 Tim. 2:3,4 & 2 Peter 3:9!)

Having believed in and been saved by the Lord Jesus, you must next have faith in Him and what His word tells us about our COMPLETE victory over sin! This is found throughout the Bible but a good description is found in Romans Chapter 6. Please, if you do not thoroughly understand where you stand here, go back and read that chapter MINIMUM before you proceed any farther. To know God’s description of holiness is one thing, how to attain to holiness in our life is another. Please read and meditate on the steps listed below and you will know the “secret” of living a life of holiness!

Having faith that the victory is ours, we now through submission allow His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and reveal to us where we are going wrong in our walk and where we are falling short. We have to pay attention to our Spirit’s advise (that little queasiness in our stomach, that little voice telling us no, you know what I’m talking about) and in obedience decide in our mind and then our will to right whatever wrong we might be committing or have committed. Only through self-control can we continue to walk on the path of holiness! Self-control is all important after we’ve been advised by our Spirit that something is amiss! God will not force us to walk in the light, He will only make a way for us to escape but it is our choice whether we escape or fall deeper into the mess! “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Cor. 10:13) He won’t drag you out, the choice is yours and self-control through obedience and submission as we have faith in Him is the key to walking in holiness!

Sounds simple! Yes! Is it? No! Why? Because somewhere we miss keeping some part of our side of the deal. Either we don’t or won’t submit, we are disobedient, we have no self-control or simply won’t use it, or our faith is found wanting! The Apostle Paul gave us a wonderful example of how he did it: “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline (another version says BEAT) my body and bring it into subjection” (1 Cor. 9:26, 27) He didn’t say he sits back and sings “Cumbaya” or prays for God to do it in “His good timing”, he says he “runs”, “fights”, “disciplines” or “beats” and “brings into subjection” his body!

That was an active stance in determining how his walk while here on earth would be forever remembered! It’s an active stance that we must assume as well!

Further he said, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” (2 Cor. 10:5, 6)

Once again we see words of action, words of determination! Demolish, take captive, make obedient, punish! No passivity found in these words or verses!

That was “making his own destiny”! Yes, God certainly empowered or enabled him but he made the choice and followed through with determination and self-control!

If we are born again, filled with God’s Spirit, we are just as empowered, just as enabled as Paul was! The only difference is found in our level of determination. In our resolve!

Briefly I’ll recap: we must first through faith understand our position of power over sin through our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. Acting upon that Faith in God, we must submit to the guiding of His Holy Spirit who teaches us when and where we go wrong. In submission, we gain the knowledge of where we fall short and inobedience to God’s will and the Holy Spirit’s revelations, we determine by our wills to obey. Having decided to be obedient, we must then exercise self-control to follow through on our decision.

That’s it! If any part is lacking the whole train can and will come to a halt! We must keep in mind that our flesh has ruled for many years in most of our lives and as such our ability to practice submission to the Spirit and self-control is somewhat limited. Please do not allow this to hinder you, determine like the weightlifter to start small and build up. Muscle tone is best built a little at a time through lots of repetitions of light weights, not less repetitions of heavy weights. Exercise your self-control daily. Start with the small things. When you say something and the Spirit says to take it back, do it! When you get angry at someone and the Spirit says make it right, do it immediately! When you tell a “white lie” and you know it’s wrong, confess it without delay!

Start small, work your way up as you go and grow confident in His power!

Submission and obedience many times come easier for the one who truly loves the Lord, they just follow the natural way of things. (Love tends to make it easier to submit and be obedient)

Self-control however stumbles many mature Christians due to muscles that are not exercised sufficiently. (Without sufficient exercise, muscles grow flabby, even atrophy if left too long without use!)

Just start somewhere and build on that. That’s how it’s done. Line upon line, precept upon precept, (Isaiah 28:10, 13) a little at a time Hear me fellow saints, stubbornly determine to START NOW!

Some helpful tips to better enable you on your quest for holiness: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think (meditate) about such things.” (Phil. 4:8) “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph.5:1 ­ 2) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (through the reading of & meditating upon His word). Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

(2 Peter 1:5 -7) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith“(1 Peter 5:6­ 9)

I might add that it would be very helpful to read and meditate daily on the powerful verses Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus , chapter 6, verses 10 through 18! “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13) Read the entire section, it’ll help incredibly! There is power in these words! I’ll repeat the hints mentioned above: Meditate on Godly things, imitate God, live a life of love, make every effort, be humble, be self-controlled, cast your cares upon Him, be alert and resist the devil while you stand firm in the faith!

Oh how I could and would love to list scriptures like the above forever, no, it’s better you keep in your Word daily, seeking the many ways spelled out to aid us in walking in a manner pleasing to God! Brothers and sisters, what I’ve been talking about is not optional!

The warning is clear and should stimulate you to think and take action

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9, 10) “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19 ­ 21) “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelations 21:9)

Need I say more?

The punishment for failure to comply with God’s requirements in this matter is very serious as we can clearly see above! It behooves us to take holiness seriously and begin work immediately to bring our bodies into subjection as Paul did and in so doing please our loving and holy Lord.

This “holiness” is the part Paul speaks about when he refers to our need to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”. (Phil. 2:12) It’s the outward working of what God has already done inwardly! We always stop with that verse but do not despair, be encouraged, for the following verse says, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) God has done the inward work, it is completed, “It is Finished” (John 19:30) but we now have to work it out in our outward life that others might see Jesus in us to the glory of God the Father!

Sound hard, maybe it is, surely it is! But “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without faultin the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Phil. 2:15,16) You see, there you have it, when we practice holiness in our lives; we serve as lights of the gospel to this lost and perverse world and in so doing please God! (The very reason He called us for!)

Remember saints of God, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10) and never forget “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6)

As Paul prayed, so do I. God is faithful, He will help you on your road to holiness! “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:29, 30)

Do your part and He’ll do His!