I don't know about you, but I am enjoying this! Word studying and digging deeper into my bible. I feel like I'm learning stuff I should've already known, but its never too late to learn.
Question: What does it mean to be holy?
Eph. 1:4 KJV
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"
Webster's 1828 Dictionary says:
Holy: Properly, whole, entire or perfect in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections.
Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; perfectly just or good.
In vrs 4 the word is from the Greek word, "hagios" (hag'-ee-os): sacred, physically pure, morally bameless or religious, saint.
Also, from the Greek word, "Hagnos" (hag-nos'): Properly clean, innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure.
First off, what makes us holy?
Sanctification!
Which means: the act of making holy. The act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God.
The act of consecrating or of setting apart of a sacred purpose; consecration.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
1 Peter 1:2 KJV
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Through the grace of God, the act of sanctification made us holy!
Answer: Being holy is by the grace of God, through the acceptance of Christ as Saviour, a blessing. We are holy because He made us holy, and because He is holy. By God choosing us, and our acceptance of Him as Lord and Saviour, His salvation to us makes us holy.
God cannot live in an unholy place. When we get saved, He moves in and cleanses us, (Sanctification!) making us sanctified, free from sin, pure, clean, sacred, blameless. Making us a temple for Him to dwell and use, to glorify and worship Him.
Can we do unholy things, make unholy decisions?...yes. Should we?...no. But that's where repentance and forgiveness comes in.
The world says, "Do what makes you happy!"
No...
We should do what makes us holy!
We are made holy by God, but we still need to at like as such.
We must continue to dwell on holy and righteous things.
Philippians 4:4-9 KJV
4. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
So far we are blessed, chosen, and holy.
Why God would even give us that much is beyond me. But I am so thankful that He chose fit to give us those and all the rest that we haven't even gotten to yet. I'm so excited to dig into the rest of them!
This one has been the most exciting for me to study on, and I hope you are enjoying them with me.