Bible Study Subject
Holy / Holiness: To be consecrated, To be dedicated, To be set apart. It is to be moved from the realm of the common and moved into the sphere of the sacred. It is somewhat like the word, "Love"; it is an action word.
In Hebrews 12:14 we read, "Follow peace with all men, and Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Living a Holy Life is not an option, it is a requirement ~
The Apostle Paul in 1st Thessalonians 4:7 wrote, "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto Holiness."
The Saints of God have been called in Christ Jesus to live a Righteous Life because He is Righteous.
In 1st Thessalonians 3:13 the Apostle Paul wrote, "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in Holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."
For the Saints to be found Unblameable they MUST Live a Holy Life and that by the Written Word of God, the Bible.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:17-24 wrote, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, *Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: *Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. *But ye have not so learned Christ; *If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: *That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; *And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; *And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true Holiness."
It will take the conscious effort of the Saints to put off those things that are not like Jesus and to put on Righteousness. The Word of God states that He is coming back for a Holy People that are looking for Him.
In 2nd Corinthians 7:1 the Apostle Paul wrote, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting Holiness in the fear of God."
The reward of living a Holy Life far exceeds the reward of the wicked that it would seem logical that every soul would earnestly desire to live and put forth the effort to live a Holy Life.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 6:14-19 wrote, "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. *What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. *Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? *But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. *Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. *I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto Holiness."
According to what the Apostle Paul wrote in the previous Scripture, if a person is not living a Righteous / Holy Life then, they are serving their father, the devil. Therefore, let us take heed to the Holy Calling of our Lord Jesus and strive to do that which is Right and pleasing in His sight.
The Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 35:8 wrote, "An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."
No one will accidently make it onto the High-Way of Holiness ~
They must be invited to walk or travel there by the Holy Spirit of God then, they must accept the Call through the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus and they must Live a Righteous Life in order to remain thereon until the coming of the Lord in the Clouds of Glory.
In conclusion in Psalms 97:12 we read, "Rejoice in the LORD, ye Righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His Holiness."
We are accounted Holy because He is Holy. Jesus demonstrated His Holiness by always doing those things that please the Father. The Saints in like manner MUST do the same. Praise His Holy and Righteous Name!
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org
