Holiness

This week I want to take a few posts and look briefly at the topic of Holiness. People have written entire books on the topic of Holiness. One of the best books written on the topic is, "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges. So I know that my post will not be exhaustive but I think it is good for those who claim to love Jesus that we are called to live lives of Holiness, so a little pep talk is needed once in awhile.

"since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'." 1 Peter 1:16

So for starters we need to realize that when we are called to holiness it is because our Savior and God is Holy. But what does that mean?

Well God is holy means first that he is perfectly pure and without sin or blemish. God is perfect in all that He does and in no way could God ever sin in any of His actions, deeds, or thoughts. If God were to sin, He would cease to be God anymore and all hope is lost and we are done and should just die now.  God as holy means that he is pure in all that He does and thinks. God in His holiness, as the Apostle Peter has reminded us, is something that we need to strive for but something that on this earth we will never obtain. God in His holiness is something that we grow in the likeness of as we are more sanctified and is a call to be more like Him.

God as holy also means that he is separated from the human race and this world. God's holiness makes Him above, removed, and far superior to us humans, as His creation. God knows all, sees all, and understands all. God knows what will happen next and has a divine plan for every moment in time. God in His holiness is above time and space, which makes Him the perfect being to trust in. God's holiness makes Him God and it also makes Jesus the only being who could take our place on the cross and die the sinless life in place of the sinful people. 

God's holiness though is 100% of Him just like His love, grace, mercy, compassion, justice, wrath, and gentleness. So yes God's holiness is important to remember but it is all of God just like every other attribute and character of God. But striving to be holy like God is becoming more and more like our Savior which is a command in the Bible. God's holiness is a call to be holy and shine that holiness into a dark world that needs to know Jesus, the holy Savior.