Leadership Thought: What Does It Mean to Be Holy?

Dear Friends,

When was the last time you heard someone describe you as being holy?

I wish I could say I personally remember, but I can't. And yet our brother Peter tells us that as believers we are to  exhibit that very attribute.

Holiness is what God desires for each one of his followers, but few of us would ever be comfortable acknowledging that we fit this description.

The words holy and holiness  occur more than 900 times in scripture, making them the most mentioned attributes of God recorded in the bible.

Peter writes, "Therefore, gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct (1 Peter 1:13-15).

Oswald Chambers writes "God's only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing- machine for people to use. And he did not come to save us out of pity-he came to save us because he created us to be holy."

Those who love God should strive to make holiness the primary purpose of their life.

The word holy comes from a Greek, word 'hagios,' which means to be set apart, to be different, to be separate.

"A holy life stands out; it is a voice; it speaks when the tongue is silent, and it is either a constant attraction or a perpetual reproof." (Archbishop Robert Leighton 1611-1684).

God never tells us to do something in His Word for which he does not give us a concrete  set of instructions.

So how then does one's life reflect holiness?

One of the most obvious ways is by our being obedient in every area of our life: our words, actions and our thoughts.

There is no holiness without obedience.  As Jerry Bridges notes, "The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 obeyed by faith... obedience is the pathway to holiness."

If you are a Christian, it isn't because you have done everything you can to live a holy life. No, you are a Christian by grace. Your salvation has nothing to do with your efforts to be holy and to be pleasing to God. You can't earn his love. You already have every ounce of that love. Holiness is nothing more than a bi product of your love for Jesus.

In Pilgrim's Progress, Hopeful has just told Christian his testimony; and Christian says, this to Hopeful:

"This was a revelation to your soul Indeed. Tell me particularly, what effect this had upon your spirit." 

And then Hopeful replies: "it made me love a holy life and long to do something for the honor and the glory of the Lord Jesus. Yes, I thought that, had I  now had a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus" (Quote from a sermon on 1 Peter by Steve Brown). 

Holiness is nothing more than our response to the outpouring of Christ's love.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. "A holy life will produce. the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; They only shine." Dwight. L Moody.

"You can't live a holy life, but you can decide to let Jesus make you holy." Oswald Chambers