Holiness -- Is an Action

“Be holy as I am holy.”

But what does that mean?

Of course, to be holy, (we often hear it,) is God sumarized, to be perfect, set apart, etc.

But how does holiness live?
Is it sterile and clean?
Do we stand apart from all those “vile, unholy” ones in order to be "set apart"?

God Himself is what holy is.

So, how does He choose to describe and reveal Himself – His holiness?

I have noticed a particular theme that runs throughout the Scripture to describe the One who is holiness.

(This has just been JUMPING off the page at me as I read through the Bible…)

When Moses, the one who was with the Lord face to face heard the proclamation of YAHWEH’s name on Mount Sinai during the second inscription of the 10 Commandments, how was the name – the personhood of the Lord proclaimed before Moses? How did GOD choose to describe Himself and to make Himself known?

“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

Throughout the Scriptures these phrases are used to describe the Lord.
(That is what I have been especially noticing in the last few months.)

“Abounding in steadfast love” has really stood out to me because (not only is it repeated in this phrase alone,) but it summarizes the “merciful, gracious, slow to anger, faithfulness, and forgiving all iniquity, transgression, and sin” descriptors. (1st Corinthians 13)
Note, also the “other side” of God’s holiness: not clearing the guilty; punishing the unrepentant sinner.

Hmmmm…

“Be holy as I am holy.”

How do we live this out?
What are the “movable appendages” of His holiness? (ie What does holiness look like? Feel like? What does holiness DO?)

Is it “just” striving for sacred perfection? (That is an important aspect of it because He punishes iniquity to the third and fourth generations. And yet...)

1st Peter 1:13-2:3,

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Our holiness is love – it’s about where our passions lie.

I LOVE THE CONNECTIONS!!!!! Holiness and love -- inseparable. (Wow!!)

Out of the purification of holiness flows deep wells of love that cannot be measured or comprehended. (Those deep wells would be the Lord's.)

Whoa.
Crazy.

This holy love that surpasses all knowledge and understanding! That is unsearchable – yet knowable because He has made Himself known to us.

Wait…”selah”…--> made it know “to us.”

WHAT a stewardship we have as the Body of Christ!
(This is humbling; precious gift and a precious responsibility.)

What are the “moving appendages” of holiness??!! – Love.

Funny thing, what is the greatest commandment(s)?

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37-40)

The monks seem to have been mistaken (yes, yes,), the snobbish church people seem to have been in error (of course, of course,) we the living stones who are to make known the eternal wisdom of the everlasting King appear to fall short in our holiness.

(Not only in the pursuit of a life of perfect living, but in “doing” holiness.)

When our name is “proclaimed” are we known for mercy, steadfast love, grace, forgiveness, and compassion that is lived out in a life pushing on for perfection?

[“If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)]

Holiness is not a list of do’s and don’ts, but the expressed manifestation of our holy [perfected] love.

Holiness is love...and [true] love is being holy.

Awesome.............(Think of the connections between Jesus and the fall and revealing Himself and the church and us being perfected and heaven....wow....Also, on the reverse -- think of the just consequences seen in His wrath when this commandment to be holy is rejected...when love is not accepted and not given to the One whose well of love is immeasurable...May we fear Him!!)

Increase my love, oh Lord. The call is demanding -- requires my life, my all -- not that You gave less. (You are the One who has given far beyond what my imagination can fathom.)