What is holiness according to the Bible?
Holiness in the Bible has to do with God and his work in us. God is holy! He is the only one who is completely pure, perfect, blameless and without blemish. There’s no one like him.
But holiness involves another important aspect: God calls his children to be holy. He wants his children to live pure lives, consecrated and dedicated to him . Therefore, the day to day of those who love and serve God must reflect the heart and nature of the Father. This must be so at all times and in everything that is done, as we read in 1 Peter 1:15-16:
Rather, be holy in all that you do, just as he who called you is also holy; for it is written: “Be holy, for I am holy.”
(1 Peter 1:15-16)
For God saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of our own works, but because of his own determination and grace. He granted us this favor in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
(2 Timothy 1:9)
On the one hand, the children of God are already saints thanks to their relationship with him. The very moment they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior they became children of God. All of the above was left behind and thanks to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross they are now holy, pure and clean of all sin. That is your identity.
On the other hand, the children of God are called to live in holiness : “Be holy” (1 Peter 1:16). This means that their lives must show that they have chosen to follow Jesus and that they have allowed him to transform their being. In other words, that holiness will be noticed in his character, in his actions and in his words.
Holiness, a life dedicated to God, will impact your attitudes. Who lives in holiness does not speak or act as do those who do not love God. To live a holy life is to live life as God wants . To achieve this, one must have a very close relationship with God, remaining attentive to his voice, obeying him in everything. Everything that is done, said or thought will testify to that life of holiness.
Before, you offered the members of your body to serve impurity, which leads more and more to evil; offer them now to serve the justice that leads to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the dominion of justice. What fruit did they harvest then? Things that now embarrass them and lead to death! But now that they have been freed from sin and placed in the service of God, they reap the holiness that leads to eternal life.
(Romans 6:19b-22)
Loving God and receiving him as Lord is a transforming experience. God frees us from the power of sin, all that impurity is left behind. The process of transformation and sanctification begins, which will culminate in the moment in which we leave the earthly body and begin to enjoy eternal life in all its fullness.
CHECKOUT:
Hebrews 12:14: Without Holiness No One Will See The Lord meaning
What is holiness and how can I live in it
5 Biblical Principles for Growing in Holiness
characteristics of holiness
1. Our relationship with others
Seek peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble and corrupt many.
(Hebrews 12:14-15)
May the Lord make you grow to love each other more and more, and everyone, just as we love you. May he strengthen you interiorly so that when our Lord Jesus comes with all his saints, your holiness may be blameless before our God and Father.
(1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)
2. Purity of body and spirit
Since we have these promises, dear brothers and sisters, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, to complete in the fear of God the work of our sanctification.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
God did not call us to impurity, but to holiness.
(1 Thessalonians 4:7)
God’s will is that they be sanctified; that they turn away from sexual immorality; that each one learn to control his own body in a holy and honorable way.
(1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, he himself will be destroyed by God; because the temple of God is sacred, and you are that temple.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
3. the renewed mind
Therefore, brothers, taking into account the mercy of God, I beg each of you, in spiritual worship, to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Do not conform to the present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. In this way they will be able to verify what is the will of God, good, pleasant and perfect.
(Romans 12:1-2)
With regard to the life they previously led, they were taught that they should take off the clothing of the old nature, which is corrupted by deceitful desires; be renewed in the attitude of your mind; and put on the clothing of the new nature, created in the image of God, in true justice and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:22-24)
4. The proclamation of the gospel
But you are a chosen lineage, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, so that you may proclaim the marvelous works of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
(1 Peter 2:9)
Other verses to deepen the subject:
Verses about the holiness of God:
Who, Lord, is compared to you among the gods? Who compares to you in greatness and holiness? You, maker of wonders, impress us with your wonders.
(Exodus 15:11)
No one is holy like the Lord; there is no rock like our God. There’s no one like him!
(1 Samuel 2:2)
…and the inhabitants of Bet Shemesh said: “The Lord is a holy God. Who will be able to appear before him? And where can we send the ark so that it doesn’t stay with us?”
(1 Samuel 6:20)
Exalt the Lord our God; Worship him on his holy mountain: Holy is the Lord our God!
(Psalm 99:9)
But you are holy, you are king, you are the praise of Israel!
(Psalm 22:3)
And they said to each other: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
(Isaiah 6:3)
And I will make myself known in the midst of my people Israel. I will no longer allow my holy name to be profaned; The nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
(Ezekiel 39:7)
Each of them had six wings and was covered with eyes, above and below the wings. And day and night they repeated without ceasing: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
(Revelation 4:8)
Who will not fear you, O Lord? Who will not glorify your name? Only you are holy. All nations will come and worship you, because the works of your righteousness have come to light.
(Revelation 15:4)
I am the Lord your God, so sanctify yourselves and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy.
(Leviticus 11:44a)
Verses about holiness in God’s people:
For God saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of our own works, but because of his own determination and grace. He granted us this favor in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
(2 Timothy 1:9)
Since we have these promises, dear brothers and sisters, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, to complete in the fear of God the work of our sanctification.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
If now you are completely obedient to me, and keep my covenant, you will be my exclusive property among all nations. Although the whole earth belongs to me, you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
(Exodus 19:5-6)
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those who everywhere call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of them and of us
(1 Corinthians 1:1-2)
…he granted us freedom from fear, by rescuing us from the power of our enemies, so that we might serve him in holiness and justice, living in his presence all our days.
(Luke 1:74-75)
Because with a single sacrifice he has made perfect forever those whom he is sanctifying.
(Hebrews 10:14)
