WALKING IN HOLINESS AS THE SCHEME OF THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY

Definition

Holiness can be defined as "to be set apart". It is gotten from an Hebrew word "kadesh" which means something which is cut off, separate or set apart. It describes that which is in a category of its own and elevated out of the sphere of the ordinary.

Source

The New Testament describes this word as "hagious" which also means - to be set apart. Contextually, it means to be set apart for the purpose of God, be it worship or consecration.

The Sole purpose of the Christian journey is to effect its object by acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, having grace which is divine as its moving principle and support and the radiance of God's glory and salvation of humanity as its final end.

Hence, the attainment of holiness becomes the primary means of action a true Christian must desire.

Leviticus 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

God himself calls us to holiness. The church holds forth to this call- the course of holiness as a scheme of the Christian journey.

For this reason, Christ the son of God who with the father and the Holy Spirit (the triune God) in unity, is holy and gives himself up that we his children might be sanctified (Eph 5:25-26) and be made holy as he is.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 tell us that this is the perfect will of God, our sanctification. God's primary purpose for us is our redemption, little wonder Jesus said that he hasn't come to condemn but to save sinners.

Source

The life of holiness is that of submission to God's will. Considering the Old Testament, there are certain cases in which the word "holy" was used.

1. Holiness was ascribed to things

Source

This is shown when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. (Gen 33). Moses
asked God to show him His glory. The bush caught fire yet not consumed (how miraculous it is).

God told Moses to take off his footwear for he was standing on a holy ground.

They were holy objects too, things that were sanctified for the purpose of (worship of) God, for it's an indication of God's presence.

2. Holiness was ascribed to Kings, prophet and priests

Source

These three sets of people were the only ones ascribed to be holy back then under the Old Testament. It was only the Priests who could enter the holies of holies.

3. God is Holy

Source

One of the greatest attributes of God is holiness. Isaiah under vision saw the Lord sitting on a throne and saw the Angels and Seraphim singing unto one another - Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Host, the whole earth is full of your glory. (Isa 6:1-3)

Holiness entails:

1. To be set apart (to be different)
2. To be concentrated (working for the service)
   Just as the Father is, we too His sons must be.

The Attainment of Holiness

The holiness of the Church, the body of Christ, the Ecclesia is adequately shown in the fruits of grace which the Holy Spirit activates in us his children, the faithful. Therefore, under this influence, we must express this importation in every means and in the perfection of love, thus helping others to grow in holiness.

The truth is that if holiness is the nature of God, we must have God (Holy Spirit) in us before we can possess this attribute.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Faith invariably produces holiness and righteousness. It births out of desire to be possessed by God's Spirit which empowers us with elements of perfection.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

One who desires holiness is not one who cannot sin but one who will not sin. He doesn't derive pleasure from sin because it's not his nature. For holiness is the way of God.

1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

We as Christians must be holy in all manner of conversation. We must live with this consciousness - the consciousness of holiness. This is an invitation to live a life of God.