LESSON NINE
HOLINESS
A. THE DEFINITION OF HOLINESS.
Scriptural Reference:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
The word “HOLY” is translated from the Hebrew “quodesh” meaning “set apart for God.” This Hebrew word is translated “holy, consecrate, sanctify.” This is always the fundamental idea of a holy, consecrated, separated or sanctified person or thing – something set apart for God.
In this lesson we shall deal with practical holiness or the Christian’s walk. Some think of holiness in terms of being angelic, something that is spiritual and mystical and completely removed from this world. This is not the case. The walk of holiness is a practical, down-toearth, hour-by-hour experience of victory and an overcoming life. This practical life of holiness is necessary if we are to be ready for the coming of Jesus.
B. ONLY GOD IS HOLY IN HIMSELF.
Scriptural Reference:
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3).
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15-16).
The holiness of God means His absolute moral purity. He can neither sin nor tolerate sin. The root meaning of the word “holy” is “separated.” In what sense is God separated? He is perfect; man is imperfect. God is Divine; man is human. He is morally perfect; man is sinful. We see then that holiness is the attribute, which guards the distinction between God and the creature. It denotes not merely an attribute of God but the Divine nature itself. It is the attribute of God, which He would have us, remember above all others for it is this great separation between God and man which hinders fellowship.
When God reveals Himself in a way that impresses man with His Deity, He is said to sanctify Himself, that is He reveals Himself as the Holy One. Men are said to sanctify God when they honor and reverence Him as Divine. When they dishonor him by the violation of His commandments they are said to profane Him.
Holy people, buildings and objects are so described because GOD HAS MADE THEM HOLY, or sanctified them. The word “holy” applied to persons or objects is a term expressing a relationship to Jesus Christ – the fact of being set apart. Having been set apart articles must be clean; and persons must dedicate themselves to live according to the Law of Holiness. Sin disturbs the relationship between God and man and ultimately the impenitent sinner is cast eternally out of God’s presence. This is the “Second Death.”
On many occasions this relationship was reaffirmed, enlarged upon, and interpreted under an arrangement known as a covenant. To keep the covenant is to be in right relationship with God for He who is righteous can have fellowship only with those who do right. To be in fellowship with God means life. From beginning to end, the Scripture declares this truth, that obedience and life go together.
C. HOW DOES MAN BECOME HOLY?
In bringing about holiness in a man’s life there are two agencies: Divine or the presence of the Holy Spirit and human.
1. DIVINE AGENCY.
Scriptural Reference:
“Sanctify them through thy truth” (John 17:17).
“…Are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Corinthians 3:18).
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly” (I Thessalonians 5:23).
Just as it took the presence of God in the burning bush to make the sands of the wilderness “holy ground,” even so it takes the presence of God in a man’s life to make him holy. The work of sanctification begins in his life with the hearing of the gospel message for the Word of God has a cleansing influence in the heart of the hearer. This work of sanctification continues through the steps of faith, repentance and water baptism in the Name of Jesus. However, the work of sanctification is chiefly accomplished at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. When God’s Spirit comes into a life, His presence makes the life holy, and work continues until he is taken from this world.
The righteous man under the law became righteous by doing righteously; under grace he does righteously because he has been made righteous. In the Old Testament righteousness was imputed; in the New Testament church righteousness is both imputed and directly imparted by the power of the Holy Spirit. As far as his salvation is concerned man is perfect as soon as he is born of the Spirit because everything that Jesus does is perfect.
2. HUMAN AGENCY.
This may be divided into two thoughts:
a. BRINGING HIMSELF TO JESUS.
Through surrender, consecration, separation from the world, and the dedication of himself, man brings himself under the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit.
Illustration: Man who is cold brings himself to the fire and is warmed. So an unholy man who is cold brings himself to Jesus and is made holy. Then through surrender, consecration and faith he keeps himself under the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. THIS HAS TO DO WITH HIS SALVATION. In doing this man has only done a reasonable thing but nothing of merit which would earn praise, reward or distinction.
b. THE SAINT’S WALK, FAITHFULNESS, STEWARDSHIP.
This is an entirely different matter. In this thought he is a babe at his conversion and needs to grow in grace; he is imperfect in his faith and life and needs to perfect holiness in the fear of God. In his walk and faithfulness he earns merit, praise, commendation, promotion and reward. His place in the kingdom will depend upon this. This does not qualify him for a place he shall fill within the body.
References: Revelation 2:3; Matthew 10:42; Luke 19:11-27; Matthew 25:14-30; I Corinthians 3:5-15; I Corinthians 9:24-25; II Timothy 4:6-8; and Revelation 22:12.
D. THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.
Scriptural Reference:
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
There is no beauty that can compare with that of holiness. The world is very beauty conscious, but the farther the world gets from a proper concept of true holiness the more warped does their conception of beauty become. This can be seen clearly in so called “modern art.” The church is only beautiful, as she becomes a holy church, sanctified by the presence of Jesus Christ. Likewise a truly beautiful person is one who is holy, filled with God’s Spirit. The beauty of holiness comes from within and radiates out the presence of God.
E. THE REWARDS OF A LIFE OF HOLINESS.
The rewards of a holy life are many both in this life and the life to come. Examples of the rewards of holy living are seen in the lives of Joseph and Daniel. Both of these young men had strong convictions of right and wrong. They refused to sin. As a result we see God rewarding them with blessing, promotion, honor and revelation. The dividends for serving Christ faithfully are many. The man who is living a holy life has better health, a happier home, greater material prosperity, and a heart that is at constant rest and peace.
The rewards of holiness will be studied elsewhere. Sufficient to state here that they are very many and that the Lord is a liberal paymaster.
F. SOME PRACTICAL RULES FOR LIVING HOLY.
This is a tremendous subject. One should remember that the secret of living holy is living holy in secret. For the student’s consideration the writer is giving a few simple rules for victorious living.
1. Receive the Holy Ghost in your life and live a Spirit-filled life.
2. Pray much. A prayerful life will usually be a holy life.
3. Read the Bible much and attend Bible studies. The Word of God will have a sanctifying influence in a life.
4. God’s revealed will begins with His Word. Obey the Word of God without hesitation.
5. Dedicate yourself fully to His service and to His Will.
6. Remember that you CAN live holy; a life of holiness is very possible.
7. Remember that you need claim the victory only one day at a time.
8. Keep your eyes off the faults of others and look to Jesus.
9. Keep your eyes off your own weakness and look to Jesus.
10. Testify and witness often and at every opportunity.
11. Discuss your problems freely with your pastor.
12. When in doubt ask the following questions:
a. Does the Bible condemn this?
b. Can I pray and ask God to bless it?
c. Can I take Jesus with me while practicing it?
d. Will this be a blessing to others?
e. Will this be a stumbling stone to anyone?
f. Does this hinder in any manner my service to Jesus?
LESSON NINE
SELF HELP TEST
Fill in each of the blanks with the correct word:
1. Under _______________ , a man does righteously because he has been made righteous.
2. The walk of holiness is a practical experience of _______________ .
3. Men are said to sanctify God when they _______________ Him as divine.
4. It took the _______________ of God to make the sands of the wilderness “holy ground.”
5. The church is only _______________ as she become a holy church.
6. Sin disturbs the _______________ between God and man.
7. Hebrews 12:14; “Follow _______________ with all men.
8. The _______________ for serving Christ faithfully are many.
9. A _______________ life will usually be a holy life.
10. The secret of living holy is living holy in _______________ .
List of words to choose from:
secret
relationship
dividends
victory
reverence
presence
grace
beautiful
peace
prayerful
