Being Holy Believers
First of all, God is holy.
God is completely other than us, completely different. God is holy. Totally separate from humans. Completely. So holy that we cannot look on Him and live. When God called Moses up to the mountain God instructed him to tell the people not to come near the mountain and not to even touch it lest His holiness breaks out and consumes them. Remember, Jesus had not yet come and died for their sins. They were still unregenerate sinners without the covering of the blood of Jesus to protect them from the wrath of God against sin.
Exodus 15:11 Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Leviticus 11:44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall, therefore, consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.
In Isaiah, Isaiah becomes completely undone when seeing the glory of God. John in Revelation falls at the feet of Jesus Christ. And in Genesis, Abraham falls on his face before God when God comes to speak with him about the future of his descendants. Read what John heard in the book of Revelation.
Who is the holy God that causes such reactions from humans? Daniel describes him in Daniel 5:23, “ the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways.” Job 33:3, “the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Isaiah 42:5, “Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it.” Psalm 104:29, “You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.”
We are not born holy
We were born in sin, cut off from God. Unholy. Defiled. A chasm separates us from our creator.
But, when we place our faith in Jesus Christ totally, the chasm is bridged, and we are born again. We are now a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) All is new. The old is gone. It takes a second birth. We now have His holy nature residing in us. That is being a saint, holy. It is awesome!
He has redeemed us and taken us out of the world of darkness. We are now different from the average person. We are ‘other than’ the unbeliever. We think differently, act differently, have different priorities, and have a different worldview. We are now part of the family of God with His characteristics, His point of view, and His motives. We have been redeemed and belong to God.
We are separated from our old self-sufficient and self-serving existence and dedicated to serving God. And amazingly, it is not a chore. Rather, it feels like what you were always meant to do and be. We feel complete for the first time. He has purified us. Washed us clean. And continues to wash us as we study the Bible. Our spirit is now connected to His spirit.
Are we as holy as God? No, but we do have his essence spreading throughout our whole being, affecting every part of our lives. In Romans, 11:16 it says, “if the root is holy, so are the branches.” We are the branches of the vine. If the vine is holy we are holy.
Being holy every day
Now our everyday life takes on a sparkle. Everyday obligations become holy when we serve God. Washing dishes is not a boring chore as we wash them for Him. Changing a diaper is blessed as we serve Him. Whatever we do we are to do as unto Him. What a privilege! We no longer serve ourselves or other people. If we are a teacher, we teach for Him. If we work on an assembly line in a factory, we do our part for Him.
Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
That is what being holy is about. It is being separated from our old sinful self to serve the One who is worthy of all our love and adoration.
Why be holy?
1 Peter 1:15,16 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.”
What if you choose not to respond to Him? Well, I’ll let you deal with that when you see Him. See Hebrews 12:14.
What does the Bible say about being holy?
Words to light your path –
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord
Psalm 111:9b Holy and awesome is His name.
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
Isaiah 43:15 I am the Lord, your Holy One.
Luke 1:49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
Rev. 4:8 The four living creatures…do not rest day or night, saying: ”Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
All references from New King James Version
Holy Father, show us how serious You are about holiness that we may please You.
What I have read or listened to on this topic.
