Why is holiness important in both the Old and New Testament teachings? The Golden Plate: “Holy to the LORD” Exodus 28:36: “You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.” • This golden plate rested on the high priest’s forehead every time he entered the tabernacle. • Its message was unmistakable: everything brought before God must be marked by holiness. • The engraving was permanent—no shifting standards, no fading ink. Holiness in the Old Testament: God’s Distinctive Mark • Leviticus 19:2: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” • God’s nature defines holiness; Israel was called to mirror that nature. • Sacrifices, washings, and priestly garments (Exodus 28–29) taught that sinful people need cleansing and separation to approach a perfectly pure God. • Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8 echo the angelic cry, “Holy, holy, holy,” underscoring that holiness is God’s chief attribute, not a side note. Holiness in the New Testament: Fulfilled and Empowered • 1 Peter 1:15-16 quotes Leviticus and applies it directly to believers: holiness is still the standard. • Hebrews 10:10: “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” The Old Testament shadows find their substance in Christ. • Ephesians 1:4: God chose us “to be holy and blameless.” Election has a purpose: conformity to Christ’s character. • The Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19), making holiness possible from the inside out—something rituals alone never achieved. Why Holiness Matters: Key Reasons • Relationship: “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness is the passport to fellowship with God. • Witness: Israel’s distinct lifestyle drew attention to Yahweh; the church’s purity points the world to Jesus (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15). • Identity: The inscription on the priest’s forehead labeled him as belonging to God. In Christ, we carry the same label (2 Timothy 2:19). • Worship: Romans 12:1 calls our bodies “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Holiness turns ordinary life into continual worship. How Holiness Is Pursued Today 1. Confident in Christ’s Finished Work • Hebrews 10:14: “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” 2. Active Cleansing • 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit.” • Regular repentance keeps the conscience clear. 3. Spirit-Led Obedience • Ephesians 4:24: “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” • Daily choices empowered by the Spirit shape habits that reflect God’s character. 4. Separation with Purpose • 1 Thessalonians 4:7: “God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.” • We step away from sin not out of fear but to step toward a fuller experience of God. Living the Inscription The high priest’s golden plate announced “HOLY TO THE LORD” every time he served. In Christ, that same inscription is effectively written across our hearts. The call is not merely to admire holiness but to embody it—so that our lives, like that gleaming plate, continually reflect the beauty of the God who said, “Be holy because I am holy.” |
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