What is Holiness?

Holiness is a “double-edged sword” with two aspects. The first aspect of Holiness is to be “sanctified” and “set apart” for a purpose and calling of the Lord. The second aspect of Holiness is Wholeness, Completeness, and Unity within that purpose, lacking nothing. The Sabbath was “set apart” because in its rest, the purposes of the previous “week” have been completed.

For example, consider the natural body. Every cell is a separate entity that is “set apart” yet they all work together as one, for the purpose of giving life to an individual. The stomach must be separate from the liver in order for them both to do their jobs, yet they must be unified under the overall purpose of giving life.

Now consider the Body of Christ. Like the natural body, the spiritual Body of Christ has many diverse members and roles. Yet Jesus had prayed that the disciples may all be One, just as Jesus and the Father are One. _{(John 17:17-22)} “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” _{(1Co 12:12-13)} “Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and TRUE HOLINESS. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER.” _{(Eph 4:24-25)}

GOD’s people have been placed on Earth to benefit the nations, but yet must remain spiritually distinct and set-apart from the nations. “You are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” _{(1Pe 2:9)} “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” _{(2Co 6:14)} "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” _{(Mat 5:29-30)}

Unity of the Body does NOT mean that everyone needs to bare their soul to everyone else all the time, or become clones that are assimilated into a hive-society, or that there is no longer any place for privacy. How to we tell the difference between a proper boundary (e.g. Husband and wife, a support group, 12 apostles, etc) and a divisive faction that separates the body?

To put it simply, divisions and factions within the body arise from distrust, jealousy and sin. Healthy boundaries arise from the life-giving purposes of GOD. Holiness has nothing to do with conceit, loftiness, or arrogance! For it is written “He who separates himself seeks his own desire.” _{(Prov 18:1)} Furthermore, Isaiah wrote: “A people that provokes me to anger continually to my face; that sacrifices in gardens, and burns incense upon altars of brick…which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.” (Isa 65:3-5)

Holiness emanates out of LOVE! We are to be Holy, because the LORD HIMSELF is MOST HOLY and the LORD HIMSELF is ONE. Faithfulness (Loyalty) is one of the four key spiritual laws behind the Ten Commandments. The FULFILLMENT of Loyalty is HOLINESS. The bonds of faithfulness and loyalty create a Holy people, both “united” and “set-apart” unto the LORD. Holiness is a “double-edged sword.”

A young woman was engaged to be married. She loved her fiancée very much. Although he had sin and was imperfect, she loved him anyway and was kind to him. Sometimes he would say unkind things that hurt her, but she always forgave him and continued to see the best in him. Therefore her fiancée also loved and admired her very much and was eagerly anticipating their marriage.

One day, her fiancée’s father came to visit. The father said the young woman would not make a good wife for this young woman is not of good character because she does not come from a good family background. He said the reason she is trying to get married so quickly is because her parents were divorced. However, the father did not see that the young woman had just walked into the room behind him and heard everything he said. But the fiancée could see her as she quietly leave the room.

Afterwards, the fiancée went over to the young woman to apologize for his father’s words. “You must understand…my father is very traditional” he explained. Although she was hurt, she never used the angry tongue, the slandering tongue, the gossiping tongue. After they were married, she never spoke badly about her father-in-law, either openly or secretly, but showed only kindness to him. She would sometimes go out of her way to do thoughtful things for him.

Finally, the husband asked her “You know my father does not treat you well. He has said many bad things about you before and even today does not show kindness to you. Why do you treat him so well?”

And she answered him “I treat him like this because he is my father too.”