Index To All Four Sections
ON THIS PAGE
What is Holiness? Part I - Separation
Separation - Emphasized From Cover to Cover of The Bible
Change of Familial Status and Citizenship
In Summary... Part II - Perfection
From The Old Testament To The New
Jesus echoed His Father's instructions to "be perfect". Sin Causes Us to Fall Short of Perfection
One of the biggest problems is that sin usually seems to be fun, pleasurable, or beneficial in some way.
It also estranges us from the Father.
What is Holiness?
In the 21st century, the word "holy" can convey some very negative connotations as it is often used to describe someone who is self-righteous, smug, sanctimonious, goody-goody, priggish etc. The phrase "holier than thou" indicates a person who's attitude is one of superior virtue. To most Christians the word "holy" implies moral goodness however, this is only part of the meaning. As said by James Patrick Holding
"While holiness certainly implies goodness, the core meaning of holiness, it is not "good" but rather "set apart" -- and therefore, "good". [01]
In other words, the Biblical answer to the question is short. Holiness consists of the intertwined and inseparable concepts of Separation and Perfection.
Part I - Separation
Separation - Emphasized From Cover to Cover of The Bible
In Leviticus 26 the Lord told the people that if they walked in His statutes and kept His commandments (particularly mentioning not making for themselves any graven image, pillars or idols that they bowed down to) He would set His tabernacle among them, walk among them, and they would be His people and He would be their God. (Leviticus 26:12 NASB)
'I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
Paul reiterates this promise in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, in which he uses the Greek word aphorizo translated into the English separate. (See other uses of aphorizo in Footnote I). (14) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (15) Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? (16) Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (17) "therefore, come out from their midst and be separate (Gk. aphorizo) ," says the Lord. "and do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. (18) "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NASB)
Note that verse 17 is actually a paraphrase of Isaiah 52:11, which says "Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord.." Isaiah was speaking in the context of the end of Israel's exile in Babylon. The prophet God was calling on the people to depart from Babylon and to return to their own land however, they were to leave in a pure state and not contaminate themselves with any of the Babylonian's objects of idolatry. Paul used Isaiah's words to emphasize exactly the same concept. Deuteronomy 7:1-5
The instructions the Father gave the nation of Israel just before they went into battle with the seven nations that occupied the land of Canaan were that they were not to make any covenant with them or favor them in any way. They were also instructed not to intermarry with any of the people but to tear "down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire." In fact they were to utterly destroy the Canaanites for which there was very good reason. See The Days Of Noah (particularly section III) In other words, in all respects they were to keep themselves separate from the surrounding people and tribes. Verse 6 begins with the word "for" that tells us why they were to keep themselves so separate from the pagan nations - i.e. they were set apart and belonging exclusively belong to God, something that could be said of no other nation on earth. "For you are a holy (Heb. qôdesh) people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6 NASB)
In the Old Testament, the English word "holy" was usually translated from the Hebrew word... Qôdesh
In it's almost 500 occurrences in the Old Testament, qôdesh has occasionally been used of God's "Holiness" and "Holy Name" (Ezekiel 39:7, Amos 4:2), However it most often refers to an inanimate object not a person. Since inanimate objects cannot be morally good or bad the word "holy" indicates a sacred, consecrated, or dedicated place or thing. Something set aside exclusively for God's purpose. Here are some examples. The Altar: "For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy (Heb. qôdesh), and whatever touches the altar shall be holy (Heb. qâdash). (Exodus 29:37 NASB) The Sabbath: Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy (Heb. qôdesh) Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning." (Exodus 16:23 NASB) High Priest's Garments Used in Temple Ceremonies: the woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy (Heb. qôdesh) garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.'" (Exodus 35:19 NASB) Also See Ezekiel 42:14 The Holy of Holies: "Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the holy (Heb. qôdesh) place, and shall leave them there. (Leviticus 16:23 NASB) Jerusalem: "For they call themselves after the holy (Heb. qôdesh) city and lean on the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is His name. (Isaiah 48:2 NASB)
Many of the Old Testament laws that have us scratching our heads were physical representations of the spirit of the law given so people would get used to the idea of separation and learn to differentiate between the holy and unholy, between clean and unclean. . For example "You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, or all the produce of the seed which you have sown and the increase of the vineyard will become defiled. "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. "You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together. (Deuteronomy 22:9-11 NASB)
However, when Christ came to earth, He zeroed on the spirit of the law which is the intention behind the commandment, not necessarily the letter of the law that entailed a physical keeping of that commandment. See Jesus and the Law However, how do we 'come out from among them' (as Paul instructed the Corinthians to do) when we cannot physically leave this planet?
Change of Familial Status and Citizenship
It seems that many Christians are familiar with the New Testament verses that tell them that born again believers become sons and daughters of God.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:4-7 NASB) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NASB)
Most Christians are also probably quite familiar with various statements made by the apostles, that tell them that they are 'citizens of heaven''. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (Philippians 3:20 NASB) remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world... for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, (Ephesians 2: 12, 18-19 NASB)
Tragically these verses are often used to make the case that God doesn't want His children to be broke, but wear the best clothing, drive the best cars, and have the best of everything in this life, provided of course, they claim these blessing for themselves through positive confessions of faith and the 'sowing of seeds'. See The Prosperity and Word of Faith Doctrine on THIS Page so why in the world are we ignoring verses like the following... (All Emphasis Added) All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles (Gr. parepidemos) on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16 NASB) Beloved, I urge you as aliens (Gr. paroikos) and strangers (Gr. parepidemos) to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 NASB)
The members of the 'hall of faith' in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews had the opportunity to return to the country "from which they went out", but they were "seeking after a country of their own", and desired a "better country", which God had prepared for them. Their affections were set on a kingdom, which would not endure for a mere 70 or 80 years with nothing but the grave as a final destination. Their sights were set on a kingdom that would endure for all eternity. Therefore they chose not to be a part of this world, but to live as strangers and sojourners during their time here. The author of Hebrews was very clearly emphasizing that becoming a citizen of Heaven, meant that a believer is not a citizen of this world, and does not belong to it. We are here temporarily... merely passing through. But to be noted is that just as a traveler from one country is expected to comply with the rules of any country he happens to be passing through, we are strongly urged to submit to the governing authorities, and give them their proper due, which includes paying taxes. (See Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:12-14).
In Summary...
Holiness or separation from the world and it's standards is NOT a virtue, it is the commandment of God, and anyone who professes Christianity without holiness is as phony as the proverbial three dollar bill.
The shallowness of our world today is exemplified by the endless pursuit of what's new and what's "hot", regardless of how much 'the latest' pushes the boundaries of decency, or even good taste. Sex, violence and "entertainment" are the hallmarks of modern society. Right and wrong are rapidly becoming a thing of the past, overshadowed by 'situational ethics', which teaches that ethical decisions should follow flexible guidelines, rather than absolute rules, therefore, should be made on a case by case basis.. Being conformed to the world, or even flirting with what the world has to offer, is dangerous ground for the Christian to be treading. What makes it more difficult and complicated, is that in our time, it is perhaps more difficult to maintain, or even define, separateness than it has ever been. I would argue that with the pervasive influence of modern media, the tug of the world is greater now than it ever has been. Daily we are bombarded with attractive people telling us that we cannot be happy unless we own the product that they are selling or adopt the lifestyle that they are pursuing. We thumb through magazines that lure us with beautiful homes, new cars, luxury items, or expensive vacations that all can be ours, if we just get enough money or go into enough debt. There are plenty of credit card offers that will help us get hopelessly in debt, if we're not careful. It is lust for the things of the world that prompts Americans to spend billions on casino gambling and lottery tickets. Just one lucky hit and you will have it all! [02]
All of which brings up the million dollar question of how we as 21st century believers are to apply the principles of separation and perfection to our often very complicated lives in the modern world.
Part II - Perfection
Moral Perfection:
Tâmîym is the other Hebrew word intrinsically linked with the concept of holiness. Used close to a hundred times in the Old Testament Tâmîym means entire or literally, figuratively or morally complete; perfect, or without blemish.
When Abraham was instructed to "be perfect" in Genesis 17:1 (KJV) and Noah was described as such in Genesis 6:9 (KJV), the Hebrew word tâmîym was used in both cases. God instructed Israel to be "perfect" and refrain from the sins of child sacrifice, consulting a familiar spirit, a wizard, or necromancer or using divination/magic. "You shall be blameless (Heb. tâmîym) before the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 18:13 NASB) "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. "For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. "You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 18:10-13 NASB)
Similarly, David associated tâmîym with keeping himself from iniquity. "For all His ordinances were before me, And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. "I was also blameless (Heb. tâmîym) toward Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. "Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness before His eyes. (2 Samuel 22:23-25 NASB)
The word is also used in the sense of completeness or wholeness You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete (Heb. tâmîym) sabbaths. (Leviticus 23:15 NASB) So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole (Heb. tâmîym) day. (Joshua 10:13 NASB)
From The Old Testament To The New...
In Matthew 5:48 and 19:21 Jesus echoed His Father's instructions to Abraham telling His listener/s to "be perfect"
Therefore you are to be perfect (Gk. teleios), as your heavenly Father is perfect (Heb. teleios). (Matthew 5:48 NASB) Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete (Gk. teleios) , go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Matthew 19:21 NASB)
Thayer's lexicon defines teleios as wanting nothing necessary to completeness. Using the related Greek teleiotes the author of Hebrews told his readers that they needed to "press on unto perfection". However, the verse makes much more sense if the last few verses of the previous chapter first. In context... (11) Concerning him (Christ) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. (12) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (13) For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. (14) But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (1) Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (2) of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.(Hebrews 5:11-6:2 NASB)
He stresses that believers needed to progress beyond the basic foundations of the Christian faith or, as he put it, move from milk to meat. In other words, they they should already have thoroughly grasped the basic ABCs and now and needed to progress beyond those. They were to recognize that their original foundation (although sound) was to be used as a base on which to build the rest of the structure - full Christian completeness and maturity, often expressed in the Bible as perfection or completion.
Sin Causes Us to Fall Short of Perfection
The subjects of sin and salvation are the warp and weft of very the fabric the Bible is woven out of.
But what exactly is sin? For very many people, the concept of "sin" seems rather quaint residual traces of the days of simplistic religious beliefs. Many of those that do hold to the concept of a 'higher power' do not believe that there is an absolute moral law. And if there happens to be a God against whom we sin He is too loving to actually hold our 'mistakes' against us, much less punish us for them. If pressed, it is likely that the majority of people in the western world would place themselves in the 'not perfect' category but a far cry from 'sinners' or really bad people - usually defined as the serial killers, rapists and child molesters of the world. An almost universal 'Santa Claus' mentality holds to the idea of rewards for those who's good deeds outweigh the bad and punishment for those for whom the opposite is true. I have to wonder how many believers think of sin simply as a violation of the Ten Commandments. None of these views come anywhere near agreeing with the Biblical definition of sin. People usually judge themselves by the standards of other people whereas the "mark" or target that the Scriptures are referring to is an absolute standard of good... the perfection of God Himself. Anything short of that standard is 'missing the mark'. We might be satisfied with "goodness" but God is not. He demands "perfection". See What Is Sin (According To The Scriptures) Also What and Where is Heaven and What and Where is Hell? The Polluting Quality of Sin
One of the biggest problems is that sin seems to be fun, pleasurable, or beneficial in some way. However, it traps then drags us down. Sin and/or false doctrine was often symbolized by leaven even a little of which, as both Jesus and Paul pointed out, was a very dangerous thing. Leaven was used as a symbol of evil because of how leavening works. Given time the yeast ferments and reproduces then spreads throughout the dough or batter biologically changing the chemistry of its host as it works. Similarly, sin doesn't stay small or contained for very long but quickly spreads. And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6 NASB) Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1 NASB) And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." (Mark 8:15 NASB) Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? (1 Corinthians 5:6 NASB)
This was exactly the same question he asked the Galatians who were turning from the truth of the Gospel to legalism preached by false teachers. You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. (Galatians 5:7-9 NASB)
Note: The feast of Unleavened bread began on the 15th of Nisan (the day following Passover) and continued for seven days until the 21st of Nisan. God commanded the Israelites to avoid eating any leavened foods (food that contained any fermenting product such as yeast or baking powder) during this period. Even modern day Jews who observe the traditional feasts go through a comprehensive and exhaustive search of their houses for any form of leavened food (chametz) every last crumb of which is then removed from the house. The symbolism of the feast of Unleavened Bread is that God's people have to search for and remove every speck of sin in their lives... only possible after putting faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. See The Seven Feasts of Israel
Continue On To Part III - Applying The Principles of Separation
The great importance the Bible places on separation brings up the question of how exactly a believer in the 21st century is to distance himself from the world. HERE
Footnote I - aphorizo
"All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate (Gr. aphorizo) them from one another, as the shepherd separates (Gr. aphorizo) the sheep from the goats; (Matthew 25:32 NASB) While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart (Gr. aphorizo) for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2 NASB) Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart (Gr. aphorizo) for the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1 NASB) For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof (Gr. aphorizo), fearing the party of the circumcision. (Galatians 2:12 NASB) {PLACE IN TEXT}
End Notes
[01] James Patrick Holding. What is holiness? http://www.tektonics.org/whatis/whatholy.html
[02] Pastor Steven J. Cole. Flagstaff Christian Fellowship. Choose Your Love: The World Or The Father?
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-9-choose-your-love-world-or-father-1-john-215-17
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