What is the meaning of the word "holiness"?
The Devotional Answer
The word "holiness" can sound intimidating, but it is actually the most glorious word in the Bible! Devotionally, holiness is the attribute that makes God God. It is His absolute purity, majesty, and total distinction from everything else.
When we are called to be holy, we are called to reflect that purity. The good news is that Christian holiness is not achieved through perfect performance; it is achieved by being united with the Holy God through Jesus Christ.
Your journey toward holiness is simply the lifelong process of becoming more and more like the Savior who saved you.
The Simple Answer
The core biblical meaning of the word holiness is "to be set apart."
Holiness has two applications:
God's Holiness: God is set apart from all of creation, meaning He is perfectly pure, majestic, and completely separated from all sin and evil. This is His nature.
Our Holiness: As Christians, we are called to be set apart from the world's standards and behaviors for God's exclusive use. This is our process, called sanctification.
In short: God is holy by His nature; we become holy by His grace.
The Deeper Dive
Understanding holiness involves looking at both who God is and who we are becoming.
1. God's Absolute Holiness
When the prophet Isaiah saw God in a vision, the angels cried out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3, ESV). They didn't cry out "Loving, loving, loving" or "Powerful, powerful, powerful," though He is those things.
They emphasized His holiness because it is the foundation of all His other attributes. Because God is holy, He must act righteously, hate sin, and demand perfection.
2. The Command for Us
Because our God is holy, He issues a command for His people throughout the Old and New Testaments:
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" — 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
This is the great challenge of the Christian life. We are told to live a life "set apart" from the defilement of the world.
3. Holiness as Sanctification
In the Christian life, holiness is a process known as sanctification (from the same root word). It has three aspects:
Positional Holiness (Past): The moment you believed in Christ, you were declared holy and set apart positionally before God (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Progressive Holiness (Present): This is the lifelong process, powered by the Holy Spirit, of actually becoming purer and more Christ-like in your daily actions, thoughts, and attitudes.
Perfected Holiness (Future): This will be complete when you see Christ face-to-face and receive your glorified body, finally free from the presence of sin.
God’s Assurance
God assures you that He is the one who initiates, powers, and completes the work of holiness in your life.
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." — 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)
You are assured that this process is not based on your effort alone; it is a promise and a certainty because God, who is faithful, will complete what He started.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not let the idea of holiness discourage you. See it as an invitation to draw near to God. Start by seeking Him in prayer and Scripture every day. The more time you spend in the presence of the Holy One, the more you will be transformed into His likeness. Your life is now set apart for His purposes—live in that glorious truth!
