Holiness – it’s a word we don’t hear a lot or generally feel comfortable using these days even in church.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:15 “But as He who called you is Holy, you also be Holy in all your conduct“.
Our Pastor says when you think of being Holy just think it’s being separated and different to the world because of Jesus.
It seems to me that when we try to be Holy ourselves (apart from Jesus) then it just becomes a religious list of dos and don’ts which lead to frustration and guilt when we fail.
We can end up doing lots of works with little fruit.
A wise person said “Holiness will take care of itself when we see ourselves as the Holy people of God with a Holy destiny“.
The way of holiness is living in and through Jesus.
In Revelation 2 Jesus says to the Church at Ephesus:
“I know your works, your labour, your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil, and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars, and you have persevered and have patience and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary, Nevertheless I have this against you; that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen and repent and do the first works“
Jesus said they were patient, hardworking, persistent, hated evil – but they no longer had a fervent love for Christ and God out of which their works were to flow.
They had lost their first love.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind” and then “to love your neighbour as yourself“:
I like to think this expression of love unto God and others is Holiness in action.
EagleSight 
12 responses to “The beauty of Holiness”
Great work on Holiness just for discussion sake and understanding..what is the difference between righteousness and Holiness?
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Thank you. That’s a good discussion point and I’m sure there are great thesis on the difference from learned biblical scholars. Righteousness is I understand being in right standing with God. We are separated from God because of sin and it is only through Christ Jesus’ death who took our sin on himself and paid the price that we are now in right standing with God. Reconciled to God. Righteous in Christ alone. Righteousness enables us then to be set apart (holy) for God.
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I love this post Nicola! Holiness is a subject dear to my heart from my Salvation Army days. A great writer on the subject is Samuel Logan Brengle. Sadly holiness has fallen out of favour in the 21st Century, and is sadly misunderstood. I think the best description of holiness in a believer is that is the family likeness to God our Father. As a the aforementioned Samuel Logan Brengle says “As the drop out of the ocean is like the ocean not in its bigness but in it’s essence so is the holy soul like God.”
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That’s wonderful Alan. Family likeness to God. Thank you.
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Thank you so much I think it’s clearer now.
Holiness is likeness
Righteousness is right standing with God.
My follow up question is, so is it possible to have righteousness and not being holy or vise versa?
Let’s talk about this too.
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I believe you can have a form of righteousness and not be holy; one can hold to Him and His Word and apply it in life but hold God himself at arms length. But then that righteousness can become tainted by the world. Such is the case in the Church of Scotland which has a form of righteousness but now will perform same sex marriages: they are not walking in holiness with God. For true Godly Righteousness we must walk in holiness with Him. (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
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Eish I can try to imagine how the leaders in churches like that defend the heresy and confusion they are sowing in the body of Christ.
Thank I think the issue with that example its so clear.
I enjoy it when we help each other this way
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It’s why discipleship is so necessary in the body of Christ so that once we accept Christ we learn to follow Him.
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Amen and amen.
The we need to be firm on discipleship
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I’m not detracting from anything you said, but I want to add a bit. I know it is awesome when a person is so filled with the holiness of Jesus that it just bubbles up. But I know I often have to be conscious that I cooperate with him. 😀 Therefore, I find myself tired and wanting to get home, but I need to stop and get something, a loaf of bread for example. I have to tell myself “clothe yourself in kindness” it is not the fault of the clerk that I am tired. Sometimes I do have to lecture myself to be good and kind, to display the holiness of God. Does that make me legalistic? I don’t think so, but I do know the only holiness we can attain is his righteousness. Sometimes I have to work at being nice. Especially if I want to go home and take a nap. But he is my Jehovah Mc’Keddash, God my holiness.
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I don’t think you’re alone in that Oneta. We all have our moments. It’s the work of the Spirit in us that helps us but our flesh works against us. Submission to and co-operation with the Spirit is key. It’s the discipleship journey. Bless you today x
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Aren’t we glad that He likes it when we leave our flesh at his feet!
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