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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Holiness...

"Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy because I am, for I the Lord your God am holy."--Leviticus 19:2.  This is one of the many commands and laws given in the book of Leviticus.  You are probably noticing I am jumping around this book a lot.  The reason for this is because we are not under most of the laws given in this book and the Mosaic law as a whole.  But this one found in Leviticus 19:2 can also be found in the New Testament in 1 Peter 1:16.  Even today, God still expects holiness from His people.

Holiness.  The word holiness of course comes from the word holy which according to one definition from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon means separate from human infirmity, impurity, and sin (872).  God calls us to be this kind of a people.

Holiness.  We all know that we live in a world that is anything but holy.  We live in a world that is infected by sin and plagued with evil.  I don't mean to sound depressing but I am simply stating the facts.  The epidemic of sin and evil is one we must take steps to overcome in our own lives and in the world as a whole. By taking these steps, we are that much closer to being a holy people.

Holiness.  So how do we do it?  How do we take steps toward achieving this holiness?  Holiness is not some state of being like many religions might teach because the simple fact is that anywhere there are humans, there is sin and there is no way around that.  So if holiness is not a state of being, what is it?

Holiness.  Holiness is a way of life as part of our Christianity.  Holiness does not mean we go into some monastery and isolate ourselves from the world.  Holiness means rising above and removing the worldly influences that are hindering us from being who God wants us to be.  Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside every encumbrance which in the Greek is defined as a bulk or a burden.  This verse also tells us to lay aside every sin so that we might run with endurance.

Holiness.  So we see holiness is not a state of being that is to be achieved or isolating ourselves from the world.  Holiness is removing anything and everything that would cause us to sin and prevent us from being the people God wants us to be.

Holiness.  One more point before I close.  Holiness begins at the cross through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ which we only come into contact with through obedience to the gospel.

Holiness.  So my encouragement to you is this.  If you have not obeyed the gospel, click the highlighted link to see what that means.  If you have done so, examine your own life and remove anything that might be preventing you from being the Christian God wants you to be.  Maybe this means spending less time on the internet or watching TV.  Maybe this means thinking twice about the movies you watch or the music you listen to.  It could be any number of things.  The bottom line is that God has said "Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy."

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! PRAY ABOUT IT! LOVE Y'ALL! GOD BLESS!

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