BE YE HOLY series 1-TRUE NATURE OF HOLINESS

1 Pet. 1:14-16:  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
 
Holiness. As a believer the importance of this word should not be lost on us.We are called a peculiar people and a holy nation. Holiness should be our lifestyle and our call is to be holy as our God is holy. Having said the above, I would like to ask, what does it mean to be holy?

Many associate holiness to a mode of dressing, a carriage or a solemn disposition while holiness will affect  a believers dressing, carriage or disposition. These things should only be the outward working of that which is taking place on his inside.Holy living will affect your outward appearance. So many have set out strict rules in other to conform to God's standard of holiness. Morally sound principles are being put forward and legalism is fed large in our churches today. if these moral standards are adhered to without first an inner working in the life of the believer we become legalistic and carnal
 

Last Sunday, I sat in church to a teaching on Holiness and this teaching stirred my desire to learn more.


I have seen morally sound men and women who are not yielded to Christ. In fact their level of morality seems to exceed that of a believer. Jesus spoke of the righteousness that the Pharisee had and if you ever get to hear of the disciplines of a lot of Buddhist monks you would come to the conclusion that if a christian can attain such level of discipline then he will be perfect.

So my first question is this: what does Holiness truly mean?

I will attempt to define holiness as that thing which is of one sort or one source. it is homogenous in nature. Holiness means that a thing is reserved or kept aside for only one use. These definitions address two things: Source and reservation.

All true holiness must have its source from God; for as the bible says it is He that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Any holiness whose source is not from God is legalistic self righteousness and can only amount to filthy rags before God.

Have you been trying by rules and regulations to meet Gods standard? Do you seek by pious observation and strict discipline to attend what is freely given by grace? Do you trust your own ability rather than the mercy that God provides?

Let God be your source and He will live out His life through you.

Also a truly Holy person understands that he is reserved or meant to be operated by one Spirit and that is the Spirit of God. He avoids places or things that would bring another influence upon his life.

Based on this description, ask yourself are you holy? Are you of one sort or are you one person in church and quite another outside Church? Are you reserved for one use or do you deploy yourself to all and every kind of use? Are you committed to serving the purposes of God or the World?

To be continued......