In Part 1 we looked at the definition of the word holy: Something that is holy is something that is set apart for God’s purposes. We also looked at how that our call to holiness is a call to good works. We discussed how we are saved by grace and those good works don’t save us. But we are called to be holy.
Now, let’s start by deepening our understanding and look at some of the things called holy in the Bible. Again, holy in the Greek is the word hagios, And it is found 665 times in the English standard version of the Bible.
One of the first things God set apart is the seventh day, the Sabbath. God set apart the seventh day in Genesis. He made it holy:
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Gen 2:3 ESV)
God made some gatherings (assemblies) holy:
On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. (Exo 12:16 ESV)
The Father set some garments and accessories of the priests holy:
These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. (Exo 28:4 ESV)
The Lord made foods holy in the Law. In the Law, a number of things were made holy. We are no longer under the Law, but studying them helps us understand this great concept of holiness:
They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration, but an outsider shall not eat of them, because they are holy. And if any of the flesh for the ordination or of the bread remain until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten, because it is holy. (Exo 29:33-34 ESV)
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. (Lev 7:6 ESV)
The Lord made the firstborn cow, sheep, and goat holy here:
But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (Num 18:17 ESV)
The Lord made the altar holy here:
Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy. (Exo 29:37 ESV)
God made his chosen people, the Israelites, holy:
And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken. (Isa 62:12 ESV)
He called the nation holy:
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Exo 19:6 ESV)
There is a greeting with a kiss that is called holy:
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (Rom 16:16 ESV)
Apostles and Prophets are called holy:
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. (Eph 3:5 ESV)
The above is just a partial list but it illustrates that what the Lord set apart as holy is a long list. The Word talks of Holy covenants, places, districts, prophets, commandments, foods, livestock, and more. So holiness isn’t limited to Sunday Services on church grounds. Holiness is a lifestyle.
Next, set apart from what, you may ask. The Bible tells us that believers are to be set apart from the world, dedicated to the purposes of God.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2 ESV)
I have talked with a number of Christians that act like they are still the same person after becoming a Christian, it’s just that now they go to church and have that in their lives. O, they are glad that they have Christ, but to a large degree, they still want to think the same way about things and live the same life. For a lot of things talked about in the Bible they say that its a different culture now than in the Bible. And so they say that we don’t have to do a lot of what the Bible says because there is a different culture now.
As Christians, we are not under the dietary and ceremonial tenets in the Law. But study shows us that the moral law is carried forth into the Church we are all part of. And, besides, the New Testament alone is full of commands telling us how to live holy lives:
The list of New Testament commands is not small, one site online lists 1050 commands. Here are just some highlights: i
Put on Christ (ROM 13:14) 2. Put on the armour of light (ROM 13:12) 3. Put on the new man (EPH 4:24; COL 3:10) 4. Put on the whole armour of God (EPH 6:11,13) 5. Put on the bowels of mercy (COL 3:12) 6. Put on kindness (COL 3:12) 7. Put on humility (COL 3:12) 8. Put on meekness (COL 3:12) 9. Put on longsuffering (COL 3:13) 10. Put on love (COL 3:14) 11. Put on the breastplate of faith and love (1.THESS 5:8) 12. Put on the hope of salvation (1.THESS 5:8)
Put away lying (EPH 4:25). Put away all bitterness (EPH 4:31). Put away wrath (EPH 4:31). Put away anger (EPH 4:31). Put away clamour (EPH 4:31). Put away evil speaking (EPH 4:31). Put away all malice (EPH 4:31).
1. Put off the old man (EPH 4:22; COL 3:9) 2. Put off anger (COL 3:8) 3. Put off wrath (COL 3:8) 4. Put off malice (COL 3:8) 5. Put off blasphemy (COL 3:8) 6. Put off filthy conversation (COL 3:8)
Let not the wife depart from her husband (1.COR 7:10) 8. Let not the husband put away his wife (1.COR 7:11) 9. Let not the Christian put away the unsaved companion who wishes to remain (1.COR 7:12,13) 10. Let not the sun go down on wrath (EPH 4:26) 11. Let not fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting be mentioned among you as becometh saints (EPH 5:3-4)
These things were not written by some theologian from a tradition other than your churches’ that you may disagree with. Every statement above, every command, was written by the apostle Paul in his letters to us as Christians. The above are just some of the things that are found in the New Testament. I say that because it is true that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, fulfilled the law. And so it is correct to say that just because it’s in the law that doesn’t mean it applies to us as Christians after the law is fulfilled. But the amount of commands, the amount of charges that we as believers are charged to do is huge.
So, what is the difference between living now, and living under the law, if there is still over 1000 commands that we need to follow? The difference is that Jesus paid the price for our sins, and mediates between us and the father. The burden of the law was heavy. Some sins required the death penalty. There is no death penalty now because of Christ’s sacrifice. His life paid the penalty for us all. But not so that we could just live conformed to the world in sin and not care. The abundant life that Jesus came to make available, the joy, the peace, the love, all the fruit of the spirit that is available to us as born-again believers is available to us as we walk in the spirit, striving against sin, dedicating ourselves to live the holy lives that God calls us to live.
iChristian Assemblies International, 1050 New Testament Commands, located at https://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201407/r1308729_17984331.pdf