Lesson 31: What Does It Mean to Be Holy?
Holiness is often misunderstood.
Some people imagine harsh religion, joyless rules, unusual clothing, or outward behavior designed to appear more spiritual than others.
Others react against those distortions and begin treating holiness itself as unnecessary.
Both responses miss the biblical truth.
Holiness does not begin with human rules.
It begins with God.
Scripture says:
“For thus saith the high and lofty One
that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy…”
— Isaiah 57:15, KJV
God’s name is Holy.
Holiness is not merely one quality among many that God occasionally displays.
It belongs to who He is.
Therefore, the disciple cannot understand holiness by beginning with personal preference, church tradition, cultural standards, or comparison with other people.
He must begin by looking toward God.
God Is Holy
God is completely free from evil, corruption, impurity, injustice, falsehood, and moral darkness.
He is perfect in all His ways.
His love is holy.
His justice is holy.
His mercy is holy.
His wisdom is holy.
His anger against sin is holy.
His judgments are holy.
Nothing in God is stained, disordered, selfish, deceptive, or corrupt.
The creatures described in Isaiah’s vision cried:
“Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
— Isaiah 6:3, KJV
They did not compare God with sinful human beings and conclude that He was somewhat better.
They declared His complete holiness.
God is not merely the best member of creation.
He is the Creator.
He is above all creation and unlike every false god devised by human imagination.
Because God is holy, His view of purity and sin is the true view.
We do not correct His standards.
His holiness corrects us.
God’s Holiness Defines the Calling
Peter writes:
“But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
— 1 Peter 1:15–16, KJV
Why are believers commanded to be holy?
Because the One who called them is holy.
The standard does not begin with what other Christians permit.
It does not begin with what society currently accepts.
It does not begin with what seems natural, comfortable, or sincere.
It begins with God’s character.
This does not mean that a creature can become holy in precisely the same limitless way that God is holy. God alone possesses absolute and perfect holiness in Himself.
But His people are called to reflect His character.
They are to agree with Him about good and evil.
They are to belong to Him.
Their lives should increasingly reveal that they serve a holy God.
Holiness Means Being Set Apart Unto God
The biblical idea of holiness includes being set apart.
Something holy belongs especially to God and is dedicated to His purposes.
God told Israel:
“And ye shall be holy unto me:
for I the LORD am holy,
and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
— Leviticus 20:26, KJV
Notice the final words:
“That ye should be mine.”
Holiness is not separation merely for the sake of appearing different.
It is separation unto God.
The believer does not belong to himself as his own final master.
His life has been claimed by the Lord.
Holiness says:
“My life belongs to God.”
“My body belongs to God.”
“My abilities belong to God.”
“My private life belongs to God.”
“My future belongs to God.”
“I have no area that is rightfully beyond His authority.”
The central question is not merely:
“What am I forbidden to do?”
It is:
“Whose am I?”
When belonging to God becomes clear, many questions begin to change.
The disciple no longer asks only how close he can come to sin without crossing an obvious boundary.
He asks how his life can be used faithfully by the One to whom he belongs.
Believers Are Called Holy
The New Testament sometimes describes believers as already sanctified or holy because they have been set apart in Jesus Christ.
Paul addressed the church at Corinth as:
“…them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…”
— 1 Corinthians 1:2, KJV
The word saints refers to holy ones—people set apart for God.
This was not a title reserved for a small group of unusually accomplished Christians after death.
It described believers who belonged to Christ.
Their conduct was not yet perfect. The Corinthian church needed serious correction in several areas.
Yet they had been set apart in Christ and were called to live consistently with that identity.
This distinction matters.
Holiness begins with God claiming a people for Himself.
Then those people are commanded to live as those who belong to Him.
The believer does not pursue holiness in order to convince God to claim him.
He pursues holiness because he has been called to belong to God through Jesus Christ.
God Has Given a Holy Calling
Paul writes that God:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace…”
— 2 Timothy 1:9, KJV
The calling is holy.
It separates believers from their former purpose and calls them into God’s purpose.
This calling is not earned through human works.
It arises from God’s purpose and grace.
Yet grace does not make the calling unholy.
God does not save people so that they may continue treating sin, obedience, and His authority as unimportant.
He calls them to Himself.
Lesson 32 will examine more fully why grace must never be changed into permission to sin.
The necessary foundation here is this:
The grace that calls us is a grace that calls us unto a holy God.
Holiness Includes Separation From Sin
Because holiness means belonging to God, it necessarily includes separation from what opposes Him.
A person cannot sincerely dedicate himself to God while deliberately protecting rebellion against God.
Holiness is positive devotion to the Lord, but it also requires refusing sin.
God does not call His people to make peace with what He condemns.
This separation must not be reduced to a list of the most publicly embarrassing sins.
Sin remains sin when it is hidden.
Sin remains sin when culture approves it.
Sin remains sin when it is common among religious people.
Sin remains sin when the person committing it can explain why it feels understandable.
Holiness brings conduct beneath God’s judgment rather than asking human desire to judge God’s commands.
The later lessons in this series will address particular areas of sin and obedience.
Lesson 31 establishes the controlling truth:
Everything opposed to the holy character and revealed will of God must lose its claim upon the believer.
Holiness Is More Than Separation From Something
If holiness is described only through prohibitions, the Christian life may appear to consist entirely of things a person cannot do.
But holiness is not empty separation.
It is separation unto God.
The disciple is called away from sin so that he may live near God, worship Him, obey Him, serve Him, and enjoy what is truly good.
God’s purpose is not merely to remove corruption while leaving an empty life.
Paul writes that God chose His people in Christ:
“…that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
— Ephesians 1:4, KJV
Holiness is life before God.
It is belonging to Him in love.
It is learning to value what He values.
It is becoming increasingly willing to say:
“What pleases the Lord is good.”
“What draws me away from Him is not worth keeping.”
“What He commands is not an interruption of life. His will is the right direction for life.”
Biblical holiness is not simply rejection.
It is devotion.
Holiness Must Reach the Whole Person
A person may attempt to reserve holiness for visible religious activities.
He behaves one way at church and another way elsewhere.
He protects his reputation while allowing inward corruption to remain untouched.
But God’s work is not limited to outward appearance.
Paul prayed:
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:23, KJV
He prayed that God would sanctify them wholly.
Holiness reaches the entire person.
It concerns what is visible and what is concealed.
It concerns actions and motives.
It concerns what a person does when observed and what he chooses when only God sees.
This lesson will not attempt to examine every area separately. Later lessons will address speech, thoughts, relationships, honesty, bodily purity, worldliness, and other specific matters.
The principle is established here:
No part of life is unrelated to holiness because no part of life is hidden from God or outside His rightful ownership.
Holiness Is Not Humanly Invented Religion
People sometimes add rules that Scripture did not command and present those rules as the measure of spirituality.
Others emphasize outward appearance while tolerating pride, cruelty, deceit, or hypocrisy.
This has caused some people to associate holiness with legalism.
But legalism and holiness are not the same.
Legalism may:
attempt to earn acceptance with God through human performance;
bind people with commands God did not give;
measure spirituality through personal preferences;
or produce confidence in outward appearance.
Biblical holiness begins with God’s character and revealed Word.
It does not give people authority to create a new law and place it beside Scripture.
Rejecting human additions does not require rejecting God’s command.
The proper response to false holiness is not unholiness.
It is true holiness.
Ask:
“Has God actually spoken about this?”
“Am I obeying Scripture—or defending a tradition?”
“Am I concerned with being clean before God, or only appearing spiritual before people?”
Holiness must remain biblical, sincere, and humble.
Holiness Is Not Self-Righteousness
A holy person does not believe that his obedience makes him better by nature than everyone else.
He remembers that he needed mercy.
He remembers that every good work depends upon God’s grace.
He remembers that Christ alone can cleanse sinners.
Self-righteousness looks at other people and says:
“I am accepted because I am better than they are.”
Biblical holiness looks toward God and says:
“You are holy. I need Your mercy, cleansing, instruction, and power.”
The closer a person comes to a true understanding of God’s holiness, the less reason he has for pride.
Isaiah’s vision of God did not cause him to congratulate himself.
He said:
“Woe is me! for I am undone…”
— Isaiah 6:5, KJV
God’s holiness exposes pretence.
It produces reverence, humility, repentance, and gratitude.
A person who uses holiness mainly to exalt himself has not understood holiness properly.
Holiness Is Pursued, Not Merely Discussed
Scripture speaks of believers as set apart in Christ, but it also commands them to pursue holiness in life.
Hebrews says:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord:”
— Hebrews 12:14, KJV
To follow holiness is to pursue it.
Holiness should not remain a doctrine that is admired but never sought.
The disciple should ask:
“Where does my life fail to agree with the God to whom I belong?”
“What has Scripture made clear?”
“What am I continuing to excuse?”
“What area have I treated as though it were my personal possession?”
The pursuit of holiness does not mean claiming to have reached sinless perfection.
It means refusing to make peace with known sin.
It means continuing to bring the life beneath God’s light.
It means wanting reality before God rather than merely a religious reputation.
God Disciplines His Children for Holiness
Hebrews explains that God corrects His children:
“…that we might be partakers of his holiness.”
— Hebrews 12:10, KJV
God’s correction is purposeful.
He does not merely want believers to avoid unpleasant consequences.
He wants them to share increasingly in a life that reflects His holiness.
Correction may expose:
an attitude that has been defended;
a habit that has become comfortable;
a motive hidden beneath good activity;
or an area of resistance that the believer has minimized.
At the moment, correction may feel painful.
But the goal is holy fruit.
Do not interpret every exposure of sin as evidence that God has abandoned you.
His correction may be evidence that He refuses to leave His child comfortable in what does not agree with Him.
Lesson 54 will later teach how to receive correction from others with humility.
The present truth is that God Himself works to make His people holy.
Holiness Is God’s Work and the Believer’s Pursuit
Biblical holiness avoids two errors.
The first error says:
“Holiness depends entirely upon my strength and religious effort.”
The second says:
“If God wants me holy, I have no responsibility to respond.”
Scripture teaches both dependence and pursuit.
Paul prayed:
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly…”
God sanctifies.
Hebrews commands:
“Follow… holiness…”
The believer pursues.
We cannot manufacture holiness independently of God.
Neither should we sit passively while knowingly protecting sin.
We pray.
Receive Scripture.
Respond to conviction.
Confess sin.
Reject what God exposes.
Practice obedience.
And depend upon God to perform the inward work that human strength cannot produce.
The full ministry of the Holy Ghost in the believer will be addressed later in this course.
For now, remember:
Holiness is not self-produced, but it must be sincerely pursued.
Holiness Is Beautiful
The world often presents sin as freedom and holiness as deprivation.
Scripture gives a different vision.
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
— Psalm 29:2, KJV
Holiness has beauty because God is beautiful in holiness.
Sin may appear attractive for a moment, but it corrupts what it touches.
It deceives.
It enslaves.
It damages trust.
It hardens the heart.
It separates people from what is good.
Holiness is beautiful because it agrees with truth.
It produces sincerity rather than hypocrisy.
Faithfulness rather than betrayal.
Purity rather than corruption.
Devotion rather than divided loyalty.
A life wholly belonging to God is not a wasted life.
It is a life rescued from being spent upon what will not matter in eternity.
Holiness Makes the Believer Useful to God
Paul writes:
“If a man therefore purge himself from these,
he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified,
and meet for the master’s use,
and prepared unto every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 2:21, KJV
A sanctified vessel is prepared for the Master’s use.
Holiness is not self-centered spiritual improvement.
The believer belongs to a Master.
He should desire to be clean, available, and prepared for whatever good work God appoints.
The question should not be merely:
“How much compromise can I keep without losing my religious identity?”
Ask:
“Does this prepare me for God’s use?”
“Does this make my life more available to Him—or less?”
“What am I protecting that makes the vessel unclean?”
A life surrendered to holiness is not removed from usefulness.
It is prepared for usefulness.
Holiness Does Not Mean Contempt for Sinners
Separation from sin must never become hatred or prideful contempt toward people.
Jesus Christ was perfectly holy, yet He came to seek and save the lost.
He showed mercy without approving sin.
He spoke truth without participating in corruption.
A disciple should not join sin in order to appear loving.
Neither should he despise sinners in order to appear holy.
Holiness means belonging to God while walking among people with truth, compassion, humility, and integrity.
The later evangelism and love lessons will address these responsibilities fully.
For now, maintain the distinction:
Separate from sin. Do not separate your heart from compassion.
Begin With Belonging
Many practical questions about holiness can become overwhelming.
A believer may recognize several areas needing growth and attempt to correct everything at once.
Begin with the central truth:
“I belong to God.”
Then ask:
“What area am I presently treating as though it belongs only to me?”
Perhaps it is a private habit.
A personal ambition.
A relationship.
An attitude.
An area of time.
A source of entertainment.
A secret desire.
Do not attempt to complete the entire work of sanctification in one day.
Place one known area before God honestly.
Say:
“This belongs to You also.”
Then follow the light Scripture gives.
A Simple Holiness Examination
Use these questions prayerfully.
1. What Does My View of Holiness Begin With?
God’s character—or human rules and comparisons?
2. Do I Understand That I Belong to God?
Or do I treat parts of life as personal territory beyond His authority?
3. Am I Separating From Sin and Devoting Myself to God?
Holiness requires both.
4. Is My Concern Inward as Well as Outward?
Am I seeking reality before God or only a respectable appearance?
5. Have I Confused Holiness With Self-Righteousness?
Does the pursuit make me humble and dependent—or proud and condemning?
6. Am I Depending Upon God While Responding Obediently?
Have I become self-reliant or spiritually passive?
7. What One Area Must Be Brought Under God’s Holy Ownership?
Name it clearly.
Discipleship Questions
- Why must every biblical understanding of holiness begin with God Himself?
- What does it mean to be separated unto God rather than merely separated from certain activities?
- How can believers already be called saints while still being commanded to pursue holiness?
- What is the difference between biblical holiness, legalism, and self-righteousness?
- What area of your life are you most tempted to treat as your own rather than God’s possession?
Closing Exhortation
God is holy.
He has not called His people to treat holiness as an optional subject for unusually serious Christians.
He has called them to Himself.
Holiness means belonging to Him.
It means separation from what opposes Him and devotion to what pleases Him.
It reaches inward and outward.
It rejects human additions without rejecting God’s commands.
It produces humility rather than self-righteousness.
It depends upon God’s sanctifying work while pursuing faithful obedience.
It is not ugly deprivation.
It is the beauty of a life restored to its rightful purpose.
Do not begin by comparing yourself with other people.
Look toward the Holy One.
Hear His call:
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Then place your whole life beneath that calling.
A Prayer for Holiness
Holy Father,
You are pure, righteous, glorious, and completely separate from all evil.
Forgive me for treating holiness lightly or defining it by human comparison.
Thank You for calling me to belong to You through Jesus Christ.
Help me understand that my life is not my own private possession.
Every part belongs beneath Your authority.
Show me where I have protected sin, excused compromise, or cared more about outward appearance than inward truth.
Keep me from legalism, human traditions, and self-righteous pride.
Do not let my fear of false religion become an excuse for rejecting true holiness.
Sanctify me wholly.
Give me grace to pursue what You command.
Teach me to separate from sin while drawing nearer to You.
Let holiness make me humble, sincere, compassionate, and prepared for Your use.
Show me the first area I must place under Your ownership today.
Make my life increasingly agree with the holy name I confess.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Next Step
Complete these statements honestly:
Holiness means that I belong to:
The area I have been treating as my own is:
What Scripture makes clear about that area is:
The first act of surrender and obedience is:
The help I need from God is:
Do not begin by creating a long list of human rules.
Begin by acknowledging:
“Lord, I am Yours.”
Then bring the identified area beneath His holy authority.
Previous Lesson: Lesson 30 — How to Let God’s Word Renew Your Mind
Next Lesson: Lesson 32 — Why Grace Does Not Give Permission to Sin