What is Holiness? (And Why It’s Not About What You "Do")
What is holiness? I know many pulpit preachers equate holiness to a life of not "committing" sins—and they usually have a ready list of sins to prove their point. But really, does holiness (which essentially means being "set-apart") have anything to do with the things we... ahem, "do"? Can one become holy by simply doing good works? Is holiness equal to sinless-ness?
No wonder people—especially young people—are left in total confusion as to what constitutes holiness. After all, the scripture clearly says:
"There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10)
"All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6)
Who is holy, then?
There is an impression given out by a certain section of people in church gatherings who sing "Holy, holy, holy" with a religious fervor that borders on a Pharisaic, "Holier than Thou" attitude (Isaiah 65:5). They look down on the so-called laity with disdain, thundering with emotion: "Thus says the LORD God: 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" Their message? You have to do something more to become holy.
But it does not take a great revelation to see that God is Holy. Anything that has to do with holiness must start from God Himself. In fact, not even the seraphim—the four living creatures who cry out day and night without ceasing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty"—are counted as holy, even though they are doubtless sinless!
The Six Pillars of True Holiness
Let me show you what is given to us—those who believe in Jesus Christ under the New Covenant. It is a gift more precious than gold, and a status the angels can only dream about. Hebrews Chapter 1 compares the Son with the angels of heaven, concluding that the Son is greater. Because of Him, our holiness is secured in six ways:
1. The Caller is Holy
"...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" — 1 Peter 1:15-16
If your conduct is not founded on the Caller and His calling, all your "good works" amount to nothing. But if it is founded in Him, then our conduct is holy, too.
2. The Calling is Holy
"...who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." — 2 Timothy 1:9
It is clearly not of our works, but of His purpose and grace.
3. The Called are Holy
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people..." — 1 Peter 2:9
4. The Cost is Holy (and so is the purchase)
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." — Hebrews 10:10
5. The Cause is Holy (and so is the effect)
"For if the first-fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches." — Romans 11:16
Jesus has become the first-fruit, and He is holy. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. Therefore, we, the branches, are holy.
6. The Community of Holy Brethren
"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus." — Hebrews 3:1
Fulfilling the Mandate
That still leaves us with a question: How do we fulfill the mandate of God's calling to "Be holy, for I am holy"? The answer is given by Peter himself, just a few verses earlier:
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." — 1 Peter 1:13
The more you depend on His grace—fully depending on it—the more you will have a revelation of who Jesus is and who we are in Him: holy, precious, and beloved.
This is the final straw that breaks our mind-blocks about holiness. If God started it, and God is in the process of completing it, who are we to judge the believers in the congregation? Haven't they all passed from condemnation into new life? Why does the church continue preaching "Repent, Repent, and Repent" to believers, when we should be preaching, "You have been made holy by the work of Jesus Christ!"?
What God Has Cleansed
It requires a real revelation to look at the brother or sister sitting next to us in the church pews and say to ourselves, "Ah! That is my dear, holy brother!"
Peter had this revelation right at the beginning of his ministry. As a Jew, he was unsure about preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, whom he considered unclean and "common." But God set him straight:
"And a voice spoke to him again the second time, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.'" — Acts 10:15
That is a warning to us when we are quick to judge others—especially other believers! What God has cleansed, we must not call common. Peter held on to this revelation and boldly declared that we are a chosen generation and a holy nation.
How wonderful! How marvelous! And my song shall ever be...
Salut! Holy brother.
Hello, Holy sister.
Praise Jesus.
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" — 1 John 3:1
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