The Call to Holiness
Mike Stone
Leviticus 19:2
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. (Lev. 19:2)
The word ''holy'' or ''holiness'' has become a convoluted term.
Most people do not really understand what it means.
For some holiness is:
A beehive hairdo and an ankle length skirt
Not having a TV or not going to the movies
Defined by certain things you DON'T DO
Don't drink, cuss, or chew or go with girls who do
The word ''holy'' has fallen on hard times.
A zealous Christian is a ''Holy roller''
A judgmental Christian is said to be ''Holier than thou''
What used to be called ''holiness'' is now called ''legalistic, narrow-minded, bigoted, and even hateful.'' For most of my ministry I've been called everything from legalistic to bigoted to backwoods. And much of it is based on the practical application that because GOD IS HOLY we should seek to be holy as well.
I've even been told, ''Your teaching on personal holiness is OLD COVENANT teaching.'' So I want to remind you that Simon Peter quotes this passage in the NEW Testament and says
''Like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior because it is written, ''You shall be holy, for I am holy.'' (1 Peter 1:15-16)
So, at the risk of being labeled legalistic, I want to issue this call again...a call to holiness.
1. What this term conveys
The word ''holy'' or one of its derivatives appears more than 600x.
That doesn't include synonyms for holy, words like Sanctified, separated, spotless, blameless, righteous, perfect, or consecrated
God OBVIOUSLY believes this is an important term. But what does it mean and what does it convey?
Holiness means God is ''absolutely perfect in character, nature, and conduct.''
I submit that ''holiness'' is the most fundamental aspect of God's character. If you do not understand that He is holy, then you don't understand very much, if anything, about God.
That'd be like you saying you knew me. But yo ...
Mike Stone
Leviticus 19:2
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. (Lev. 19:2)
The word ''holy'' or ''holiness'' has become a convoluted term.
Most people do not really understand what it means.
For some holiness is:
A beehive hairdo and an ankle length skirt
Not having a TV or not going to the movies
Defined by certain things you DON'T DO
Don't drink, cuss, or chew or go with girls who do
The word ''holy'' has fallen on hard times.
A zealous Christian is a ''Holy roller''
A judgmental Christian is said to be ''Holier than thou''
What used to be called ''holiness'' is now called ''legalistic, narrow-minded, bigoted, and even hateful.'' For most of my ministry I've been called everything from legalistic to bigoted to backwoods. And much of it is based on the practical application that because GOD IS HOLY we should seek to be holy as well.
I've even been told, ''Your teaching on personal holiness is OLD COVENANT teaching.'' So I want to remind you that Simon Peter quotes this passage in the NEW Testament and says
''Like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior because it is written, ''You shall be holy, for I am holy.'' (1 Peter 1:15-16)
So, at the risk of being labeled legalistic, I want to issue this call again...a call to holiness.
1. What this term conveys
The word ''holy'' or one of its derivatives appears more than 600x.
That doesn't include synonyms for holy, words like Sanctified, separated, spotless, blameless, righteous, perfect, or consecrated
God OBVIOUSLY believes this is an important term. But what does it mean and what does it convey?
Holiness means God is ''absolutely perfect in character, nature, and conduct.''
I submit that ''holiness'' is the most fundamental aspect of God's character. If you do not understand that He is holy, then you don't understand very much, if anything, about God.
That'd be like you saying you knew me. But yo ...
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