APPLIED HOLINESS

By Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin

"For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you."

– 1 Thess. 4:7,8

One of the scariest words in the Bible for many is the word holiness. We are all aware of our failings and our weaknesses. Even as children of God there are times we don’t feel very holy. Yet believers need to be aware that they have been made holy in Christ. This is what is known as ‘positional’ holiness.

Positional holiness is a foundational building block of our Christian walk. It means that our life is bound up in Christ Jesus. His holiness is our holiness. Because He is holy, we are also holy. 

God planned for holiness to be at the center of His work of salvation. Adam lost his holiness before God. Christ Jesus went to the cross so what we could be joined to Him forever. From Adam we inherited sin. From Christ we inherit holiness and righteousness.

There is more to holiness. There is the power of holiness. This is where experiential holiness comes in. Experiential holiness is a working of the Holy Spirit in every true believer. Experiential holiness is where we experience the power and presence of Christ in our lives. It is the working principle of the cross. The Holy Spirit is continually processing our lives from the cross. Thus He empowers us to walk in a way that is pleasing to God. (The perfection of holiness takes place in heaven.)

It goes without saying that there are certain things all believers can help facilitate a walk of holiness on a daily basis. These include giving ourselves over to Jesus daily, being devoted to prayer and the study of God's Word, learning to live by faith, and learning to live a sensitive life to the prompting and guidance of the Spirit, and finally, learning to live with an attitude of repentance.

Many don’t realize how very important repentance is in the walk of holiness. In the Hebrew tradition, repentance speaks of a daily, or a moment-by-moment adjusting of our life to the will of God. It is this way that repentance can be considered a part of our worship. To repent means to change one’s mind, or to change one’s direction, and coming into line with the will of God. Many times repentance is simply an adjustment of the heart. The Holy Spirit is always present to help us make these adjustments.

Consider some issues of holiness - 

1. Holy is a very intense word in the Scriptures. HOLY IS WHAT GOD IS.

a. When applied to God, holy is equivalent to divine. When applied to persons or to things, to be holy means the person or thing has been set apart from common usage for divine use. For a thing to be holy implies that it is exclusively God's. (1 Peter 1:16)

b. The first time the word holy is used in the Scriptures is at the burning bush. The Lord said to Moses, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (Exodus 3:5)

c. In the tabernacle you had ‘the holy place’ and the ‘most holy place.’ What made the distinction between the two? (God's presence.)

2. Holy men and women.

a. Men and women of God in Scripture are often referred to as holy men or holy women. (See: Exodus. 22:28-31; Exodus. 19:5,6; 2 Kings 4:9; Mark 6:20; 1 Peter. 3:5)

b. The word saint means a holy one. All God's people are called saints in the writings of the apostles. We are holy because of our relationship to the Lord. (See Psa. 16:3; 34:9; Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:2)

c. Believers actually renew their strength in the presence of a holy God. Sinners have no place in God's presence. (See Psa. 1:5; 82:1; Isa. 6:1-5; 1 Co. 14:23-25)

 

Note terms: "...building yourselves up on your most holy faith..." "...holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling..." "...lift up holy hands, without wrath..." "...present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice..." "Greet one another with a holy kiss." "...has called us with a holy calling." "...let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."

The new birth is a holy birth; "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise." (Eph. 1:13) (See also John 3:7,8)

Ministry - In the Old Covenant anyone directly associated with the tabernacle, including those who carried the furnishings from placed to place, had to be especially consecrated. How true is it then for us today? The cross breathes holiness. Those whom God appoints to carry the gospel to the world should bring with them a sense of holiness. (2 Tim. 2:21)

All believers must purposefully separate themselves from fleshly defilement’s and strive to develop a walk of holiness. See 2 Cor. 2:14-16; 7:1; 2 Tim. 2:19-21.

The Holy Spirit is the Christian's source of inward moral purity. Paul said, "For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live." (Rom. 8:13)

 

For the Christian the battle of holiness takes place in the soul (mind.) Paul said, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity [fear], but of power and love and discipline [sound mind.]" (2 Tim. 1:7) (See also 1 Pet. 2:11; Eph. 4:20-24)

The truly victorious Christian is the one who learns to turn his mind into a fertile field of holy and positive thoughts. He has learned the value of giving continual praise to the Lord. (Psa. 103:1-5)

This transfers into a daily walk. Every place we walk, every decision we plan will have its direction in the Holy Spirit. (Prov. 3:5,6; Rom. 12:1,2)

Isa 26:3, says, "The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee."

Paul sets forth the process for developing a mind of holiness. In Phil. 4:8,9, Paul tells us to line our thoughts, our words, and our deeds with the following things: (Greek words underlined)

• Whatever is true. [Alethes; accurate. Will it give an accurate impression?]
• Whatever is honorable. [Semnos; venerable; grave. Should it be imitated?]
• Whatever is right. [Dikaios; equitable. Is it appropriate to say at this time?]
• Whatever is pure. [Hagnos; Uncontaminated. Motivated by selfishness?]
• Whatever is lovely. [Prosphiles; Friendly towards others. Will it brighten hearers?]
• Whatever is of good repute.[Euphemos; Well spoken of. Damage reputation?]
• If there is any excellence. [Arete; praise or strength. Motivation to godliness.]
• And if anything worthy of praise. [Epainos; laudation. Edify all that hear?]

Satan brings damage to the church when he gains control over the thoughts of people. Let your mind be filled with noble thoughts. See James 3:15-18.

Conclusion: All Christian workers are harassed at times by fiery darts hurled at the mind. The helmet of salvation should be strapped on tightly. Remember that you have been given the power of the Holy Spirit. Seek the Lord's strength. Let God fill your life with holy things and thoughts. May the Lord bless you.

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