It amazes me how many times one can read the Word of God and still learn something "new." The Bible is truly the Living Word, and sharper than a sword.Lately I've been reading through Paul's letters in the New Testament. In 1 Thessalonians, I read:
"...For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness..."
The word holiness seemed to jump right off the page. Holiness. What exactly does that mean? My Bible cross-referenced Hebrews 12:14, so I flipped a few pages.
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Without a clear conscience and holiness, I can't see God. (Similar to Matthew 5:8) That brought more questions to mind. Is it possible for us to be holy, or is it a goal we ever strive for, but don't reach, until heaven? Daddy, mom and I discussed it over breakfast. Then it was time for that great big book, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, to come off the shelf.
Holy or Holiness comes from a couple of Greek and Hebrew words, but they all basically mean the same thing. Pure. Sacred. Blameless. Consecrated. The word carries the idea of "saint."
Is it possible?
My daddy says that you have "two dogs on your shoulder. One is the new man, and the other is the old. The one you feed is the one that will grow and get stronger." He explained that the new man is made holy by Christ living within. It's the old man that gives us trouble and must constantly be put in submission (purified, made sacred, consecrated) to the new man. So,
"As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." (1 Peter 1:15)
One clarification of what holy living looks like can be found in 1 Peter 2:9-12, but there are examples all over. Enoch (way back in Genesis) walked with God 365 years, and "was not, for God took him." Imagine walking with God and living a holy life, and God just whisking you away to his presence. Numerous passages such as Leviticus 19:2 and Ephesians 1:4 explain the importance of living holy.
However, as my daddy reminded me, holiness is not achieved by our own measures. 2 Timothy 1:9 alludes to this fact when it says
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus..."
Not by my works, my effort, my attempts at righteousness, but by HIS purpose and Grace.
Holiness.
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