“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NLT)
What comes first to mind when you think of holiness or being holy? Long skirts or dresses and women’s hair in a bun or with a big hat is the picture that comes to my mind. Stuffiness, exclusivity, pride, are often the outward expressions of a person who thinks they are holy.
While I was away a guest speaker with a Holiness background came to speak in my absence. When he found out our worship leader was from a different denomination, he refused to be on the same platform with him. That’s not holiness, that’s sin and it breaks the heart of God.
Holiness doesn’t separate; it unites the hearts of those who love Jesus with a bond that’s stronger than flesh and blood. I have brothers and sisters in Christ who are closer than blood family to me. The Lord Jesus creates in those who love Him an inseparable, unbreakable bond of love that is formed by our mutual love for our Savior.
Jerry Bridges nailed it when he wrote: “Faith and holiness are inextricably linked.” I love that: “inextricably linked.” It’s essentially a bond that cannot be broken under any circumstance. That, in my mind, is what holiness is designed by God to do – unite His people, giving us a common mission grounded in faith in our Savior whose love for and devotion to we also hold in common.
Holiness literally means to be set apart for sacred use. It speaks of the instruments that were used to prepare and offer the sacrifices on the altar for the forgiveness of sins in the Old Testament. It’s the picture painted by our perfect Savior as He hung on Calvary’s Cross, sinless, yet, bearing the sins of all the world.
Genuine faith in the living Christ doesn’t, or at least shouldn’t, divide us as believers, but should unite us in our mutual love and devotion to the One who gave everything for the sake of our redemption. Holiness, in my mind, as I understand it’s Biblical meaning, shouldn’t create lines of separation, but should break down walls that divide God’s people.
My being set apart by God for sacred use doesn’t make me better than anyone else, it simply makes me more pliable in my Master’s hands. When seen in its proper context, our relationship with God is servant to Master, slave, actually. We don’t make demands of God. He’s the One who gives us directives and we’re all equal as we kneel before His holy throne.
To believe our holiness makes us better than anyone else is to misunderstand the meaning of grace and to distort our value, not only to the Kingdom of God, but to God Himself. Holiness should enrich our love and increase our desire to serve in any capacity that would please God and help someone else. Holiness, ideally, sets us apart from sin, not from each other.
Because I love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength doesn’t make me better than anyone else, it just makes me a more useful tool in the capable hands of my Master. Holiness is a good word, and a blessed privilege of every faith-filled believer in Jesus. It should humble us, not make us proud. Unite us in service, not divide us.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 