Continuing Thoughts on Holiness

"By those who come near Me 

I must be regarded as holy;

And before all the people

I must be glorified."

(Leviticus 10:3 NKJV)

    From the beginning God demanded absolute reverence from His people. He gave clear commands and expected strict obedience so they also would be holy/set apart from the surrounding pagan nations (see Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy for details). Every one of God’s commands were for the purity of His people and so that His people would regard Him as holy (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

    And it is no different today.

"...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 

a holy nation, His own special people, 

that you proclaim the praises of Him

who called you out of darkness and

into His marvelous light..."

(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) 

    In the New Testament there are five Greek words for holy and holiness, but the most commonly used is ' hagios' (Strong’s #40) meaning: sacred (physically pure, morally blameless, or religious, ceremonially consecrated):- (most) holy (One, things), saint

    Think about that for a moment…

    That is what God requires of us when He commands, "Be holy for I am holy," to be    physically pure and morally blameless. God wouldn’t require it of us if it wasn’t possible!

Let’s do all we can to be holy just as He is holy!

    The Lord willing, next week, we will look at 1 Peter 1:14-15 and how to be holy “in all your conduct.”