Topical Bible: Holiness: Commanded

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Holiness, as a divine attribute and a moral imperative, is a central theme throughout the Bible. It signifies being set apart, pure, and dedicated to God. The command for holiness is not merely a suggestion but a divine mandate for God's people, reflecting His own holy nature.

Old Testament Foundations

The call to holiness is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. In Leviticus 11:44-45 , God declares, "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God; therefore you shall be holy, because I am holy." This command is repeated in Leviticus 19:2 and 20:7, emphasizing the importance of holiness in the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

Holiness in the Old Testament is closely associated with the law, rituals, and the sacrificial system, which were designed to set Israel apart from other nations. The Israelites were to reflect God's holiness in their conduct, worship, and community life. The priests, in particular, were held to stringent standards of holiness, as seen in Leviticus 21, to maintain the sanctity of the tabernacle and later the temple.

New Testament Continuation

The New Testament continues the theme of holiness, expanding it beyond ritual purity to encompass the entire life of a believer. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, exemplifies and commands a deeper, heart-centered holiness. In the Sermon on the Mount, He calls His followers to a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).

The apostle Peter reiterates the Old Testament command in 1 Peter 1:15-16 : "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness is grounded in the believer's identity in Christ and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul, in his epistles, frequently exhorts believers to live holy lives. In Romans 12:1 , he urges, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Holiness is presented as a response to God's mercy and a reflection of the believer's new life in Christ.

Practical Implications

The command for holiness has practical implications for the believer's daily life. It involves a conscious effort to separate from sin and pursue righteousness. Hebrews 12:14 instructs, "Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." This pursuit of holiness is both an individual and communal endeavor, impacting personal conduct, relationships, and worship.

Holiness is also linked to the concept of sanctification, the process by which believers are made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. This ongoing transformation is a cooperative effort between the believer and God, as seen in Philippians 2:12-13 : "Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now even more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose."

Conclusion

The command for holiness is a call to reflect God's character and to live in a manner worthy of the gospel. It is a divine imperative that encompasses every aspect of a believer's life, urging them to be set apart for God's purposes and to pursue a life of purity and devotion.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 11:45
For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
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Leviticus 20:7
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy: for I am the LORD your God.
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Ephesians 5:8
For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
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Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
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Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
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Library

Letters of St. Bernard
... We have done what your holiness commanded, not perhaps as it was worthy to be done,
yet as well as was possible considering the time in which we live. ...
/.../st bernard of clairvauxs life of st malachy of armagh/letters of st bernard.htm

Christ's Reprehension of the Pharisees Seeking a Sign his Censure ...
... a Sign His Censure of Their Love of Outward Show Rather Than Inward Holiness. ... whom
they failed to exhibit their weightier duties when He commanded them: "Thou ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxvii christs reprehension of the.htm

That the Gods of the Pagans Never Inculcated Holiness of Life.
... Chapter 6."That the Gods of the Pagans Never Inculcated Holiness of Life. ... since they
banish modesty and right feeling), the people were commanded in the name ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 6 that the gods of.htm

Nineteenth Day. Holiness and Resurrection.
... of Jesus Christ from the dead.' You are 'risen with Christ.' You are commanded
'to reckon ... is, that as it was in virtue of the Spirit of holiness that Christ ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/nineteenth day holiness and resurrection.htm

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
... are not earnestly willing to have it shown to us, will most effectually prevent
our progress in the path of holiness. ... Here we are commanded to cleanse ourselves ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-fourth day holiness and cleansing.htm

Seventeenth Day. Holiness and Crucifixion.
... When Moses on Sinai was commanded to sanctify the Mount, it was said, 'If any touch
it, man or beast, it shall not live.' The Holiness of God is death to all ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/seventeenth day holiness and crucifixion.htm

Twenty-Third Day. Holiness and the Body.
... was to be in harmony with, and the embodiment of, the holiness that dwelt ... chapters
of Exodus, we have eighteen times 'as the Lord commanded.' Everything, even ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-third day holiness and the.htm

Entire Sanctification in Type.
... But a shadow always points to a substance; and so far as holiness is commanded,
and so far as it is shadowed forth in the ceremonial law, we shall find that ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iv entire sanctification in.htm

Of the Two Sons who were Commanded by their Father to Go into his ...
... Chapter LXX."Of the Two Sons Who Were Commanded by Their Father to Go into His ... man
by a certain hidden instinct, not in the merit of man's holiness, but by ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxx of the two sons.htm

Holiness Demanded
... of his garment;"in fact, anything and everything that is commanded ceremonially
he most ... of thy hopes tolled out by this verse: "Without holiness,""and that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/holiness demanded.htm