Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: March 12, 2006
“BE YE HOLY”
A Study of the Biblical Doctrine of Holiness
Ben Justice
[NOTE: This is a continuation of last week’s article.]
HOLINESS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The word “holy” is used as an adjective most of the time in the NT. It is from
the Greek word hagios and basically means “separated.” The Greek word is
translated either “holy” or “saints” most of the time in the NT. Literally, the
word “saints” means “holy ones.” Also, the word “sanctify” and “sanctification”
are derived from hagios. Although the word basically means “separated,” as Vine
said, it is used “in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated
from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred” (Pg. 307). It is because of
this, that believers are called “saints” in the NT. Again, Vine stated, “ . . . as
used of believers, it designates all such and is not applied merely to persons of
exceptional holiness, or those who, having died, were characterized by
exceptional acts of ‘saintliness’.” (Pg. 544). Of course, the best way to learn and
understand holiness, sanctification, and sainthood is to learn what the
scriptures say about them. There are two fundamental areas that we wish to
develop:
1.) THE HOLINESS OF CHRISTIANS:
Concerning the holiness of Christians, the NT speaks relative to a holy calling
and a holy conversation (or lifestyle).
Concerning the holy calling, the NT states in 2 Tim. 1:8-9,
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but
be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (9) Who
hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began.
In v. 8, Paul introduced the gospel. Beginning in v. 9, Paul elaborated upon the
gospel. He noted in v. 9 that God has saved us and “called us with a holy
calling.” The question is, “How does God call us with a holy calling?” 2 Thess. 2:
14 answers the question of how God calls us: “Whereunto he called you by our
gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God calls people by
the gospel, which is his power to save (Rom. 1:16). There are two things implied
by the expression “called us with a holy calling.” First, it implies that this holy
calling comes from God, who is a holy Being (cf. Is. 6:3). Second, it implies that
this holy calling that is from God is a call for us to be holy.
Earlier, we noted that the terms “sanctify” and “sanctification” are from the same
Greek root word translated “holy.” In John 17:17, 19, Jesus stated in his prayer
to his Father, “Sanctify (lit. set apart) them through thy truth: thy word is truth . . .
(19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the
truth.”
Note the words of Paul to the Corinthians in I Cor. 6:9-11,
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers
of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of
you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
These verses illustrate what all is involved in this holy calling. Before the
Corinthians’ were washed, sanctified, and justified, they were “unholy.” But,
note the phrase in v. 11, “And such were some of you.” This is past tense, which
indicates that they no longer practiced and engaged in the sins Paul enumerated
in v. 9-10. They were now living “holy” lives. They had been, as Paul put it,
“sanctified.”
I Cor. 1:2 should be considered in this regard — “Unto the church of God which is
at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that
in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”
“Sanctified” is past tense. The Corinthians’ had been sanctified (set apart or
made holy) “in Christ Jesus” (cf. Rom. 6:3; Eph. 1:3). How did they do this? The
reader is encouraged to read Acts 18:1-8, for it reveals that they obeyed the
gospel.
The Corinthians’ were “called to be saints.” Again, the term “saints” literally
means “holy ones.” This reflects back on 2 Tim. 1:9, wherein Paul stated that we
have been called with a “holy calling.” God calls us to be “saints.”
The NT not only speaks concerning our holy calling, but secondly, it speaks
about are holy conversation or lifestyle. Even though we become holy (set apart
or sanctified) when we obey the gospel, sanctification and holiness is something
that we should continue to strive for every day. The same thing that results in
sanctification in the first place is the very same thing that continues to make us
sanctified, and that is the gospel — the truth — the Word of God. We are
sanctified by the truth (John 17:17).
Note the words of Paul in Rom. 6:22 — “But now being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting
life.” The antithesis of this verse is this: Before they had been made free from
sin, they were not the servants of God and the fruit they produced was unto
unholiness. In I Thess. 4:7, Paul stated, “For God hath not called us to
uncleanness, but unto holiness.” Paul prayed for the Thessalonians in I Thess. 5:
23. He said, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; . . .”
Now we come to I Pet. 1:15-16, wherein the apostle Peter penned these words,
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
(16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” The term “conversation” simply
means lifestyle, referring to one’s manner of everyday living. We are to be holy.
Why? Because God, who has called us, is holy. Again, this reflects back on 2
Tim. 1:9, which states that God has called us with a “holy calling.” We have
been called by God to be holy people because God himself is holy. Our being
holy is based upon God being holy. Certainly, this does not mean that Peter
taught us to be holy in the same absolute sense and degree that God is. This
would be an impossibility. What did Peter mean? I believe the context is key (as
it is everywhere in the scriptures). If you will note, v. 15 begins with the
contrasting conjunction “but.” So, we know that Peter is making a contrast from
what he said previously. In order to appreciate what Peter said, note what he
declared in v. 13-14, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to
the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
(14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in
your ignorance:” Verse 13 obviously speaks about being prepared for the
revelation of Jesus Christ — in other words, the judgment day. How were they
(and us today) to be prepared? Peter stated a number of things. First, he said,
“gird up the loins of your mind.” Second, he said, “be sober.” Third, he said,
“hope to the end.” Fourth, he declared that we must be “obedient children.”
What does it mean to be obedient children? Peter stated the negative: “Not
fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.” Lord
willing, next week, we will look further at the words of Peter, as well as other
things concerning our holy conversation.