by jimwalton » Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:25 pm
The basic idea in holiness is being distinct because someone or something is separated out from others. God is holy because He is separate from all other beings/things. He has no peer (no other gods). He is not part of creation (pantheism is not true). He is not just a perfect human-kind-of-being (which is what the mythological gods were). God is completely separate, distinct, and unique, and therefore "holy."
That means that holiness also has ideas of purity in it. God doesn't participate in anything that's wrong, evil, or bad. He doesn't sin. Because of that separation, the consequence is that He is also pure. His ethical character is totally pure, and that's part of His holiness.
As far as we are concerned, Leviticus 11.45; 19.2; 20.7; et al. and 1 Peter 1.15 et al. tell us we should be holy as God is holy. The meaning is the same for us: We should be separated out from the world, distinct from the way other people live and think. We should be pure in our morals. We should have a single-minded dedication: Jesus Christ.
The basic idea in holiness is being distinct because someone or something is separated out from others. God is holy because He is separate from all other beings/things. He has no peer (no other gods). He is not part of creation (pantheism is not true). He is not just a perfect human-kind-of-being (which is what the mythological gods were). God is completely separate, distinct, and unique, and therefore "holy."
That means that holiness also has ideas of purity in it. God doesn't participate in anything that's wrong, evil, or bad. He doesn't sin. Because of that separation, the consequence is that He is also pure. His ethical character is totally pure, and that's part of His holiness.
As far as we are concerned, Leviticus 11.45; 19.2; 20.7; et al. and 1 Peter 1.15 et al. tell us we should be holy as God is holy. The meaning is the same for us: We should be separated out from the world, distinct from the way other people live and think. We should be pure in our morals. We should have a single-minded dedication: Jesus Christ.