Understanding Holiness

“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.’” (1 Pt. 1:15-16 NKJV)

The apostle Peter instructs those in Christ Jesus (cf. 1 Pt. 5:14), to be holy in all of their conduct. Conduct describes our manner of life or behavior. The reason our conduct must be holy is because God is holy (cf. Lev. 11:44-45). His very name is holy (Ps. 111:9). What does it mean to be “holy” though?

The word “holy” means to be set apart exclusively for the service of God. Holiness is the opposite of profane or common (cf. Ex. 31:14; Lev. 21:6). God made a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel with several of the plagues (Ex. 8:23, 9:4, 26, 10:23). This is significant as it shows very well the concept of holiness. Israel was God’s holy nation (Ex. 19:6), the church is Israel today (Gal. 6:16), thus the church is God’s holy nation (1 Pt. 2:9). Christians are to be set apart from the world as we have been called out of the world (darkness) into God’s marvelous light (1 Pt. 2:9; 1 Jn. 5:19; cf. Jn. 15:19). Our goal is to imitate Christ and Christ is holy (1 Cor. 11:1; Heb. 7:26). Holiness keeps God in His proper place in our hearts, and places us in our proper place (cf. Mt. 6:33, 22:37-38; Jn. 10:1-5; 1 Cor. 11:3).

A failure to understand holiness is a big reason why the church is more like the world than she should be. When darkness begins to snuff the light instead of the light dispelling the darkness, the church’s influence wanes. This is why Jesus told His disciples not to hide their light (Mt. 5:14-16). Let us not talk like the world, dress like the world, and behave like the world. Instead, let us be more and more like God’s holy Son, Jesus!

Trent Thrasher