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Holiness

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Holiness has been described as “a nature that delights in purity, and which repels evil.” Adam and Eve were “innocent,” not holy; for though they might have delighted in purity, they did not repel the evil of Satan. God is ever holy; in heaven there is no evil to separate from, and He was holy, consistent with His perfection in everything, before there was any evil. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit though He is down here where sin is, and the Lord Jesus when in this sinful world was holy, harmless, and undefiled. God is called “the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 30:15¹⁵For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. (Isaiah 30:15)), and the Lord Jesus “the Holy One” (Mark 1:24²⁴Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (Mark 1:24); Acts 3:14¹⁴But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; (Acts 3:14)).

The Israelites having been redeemed out of Egypt, and separated to God, it was said to them, “Thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6⁶For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)). They were viewed as the chosen of God, as set apart for Him. This should have led to practical holiness, as God said, “Be ye holy, for I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 20:7⁷Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 20:7)). The Christian also is sanctified and justified, and Christ is made of God sanctification to him (1 Cor. 1:30³⁰But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)), referring to the separative call of God, and the means and measure of his sanctification. As new created in Christ he partakes of the divine nature, so that holiness is followed. He is chastened also by the Father of spirits in order to his being partaker of God’s holiness.

One has said, “The Christian is called holy because he is set apart for God absolutely, according to the rights won by Christ in His death, and made good when he is born again, and thus set apart in a real way; and more perfectly, and with more intelligence, when he is sealed by the Holy Ghost, as cleansed by the blood of Christ.” Upon this are based the practical exhortations: “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (2 Cor. 7:1¹Having 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); 1 Thess. 4:7⁷For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:7); Heb. 12:14¹⁴Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14); 1 Pet. 1:15¹⁵But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (1 Peter 1:15); 2 Pet. 3:11¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11)).

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