The term holiness means different things to different people depending on what part of the Christ’s body you belong to. However, it is not holiness to not wear trousers as a woman, not put make up or perfume. It is not holiness to not wear hair extensions. It is more than not committing adultery, fornication and sexual perversion. It is a state of being. Holiness is to be set apart.
I know this because in Hebrew, it is kadosh, it means to be set apart for a specific purpose. It is the opposite of something that is common. So when we say God is Holy, it means He is set apart, He is uniquely unique. He is different from us. He is purity personified. He is HOLY.
Let’s apply it to everyday life, if you have a special plate for visitors that is different from the plate that is used daily, that special plate would be considered as “holy”.. Because it is set apart. It is different from the rest. Get it yet? Another example would be a special occasion dress that is barely worn. That dress is different from the rest of the dresses in your wardrobe so that dress would be “holy”.
Now let’s talk about the term “framework”. Goggle tells me that a framework is “an essential supporting structure of a building, vehicle, or object”. Therefore it is a believer’s essential supporting structure. I like to think of it as the place from which a believer should live on this earth. In other words, we are to live from a place of holiness. Hebrews 12:14b tells us that without Holiness it is impossible to see God. How can people see God in us if we refuse to be holy?
Also, 1 peter 1:16 tells us to be Holy because our Father is Holy. From the explanation above, it would be safe to say that it tells us to be set apart, different from the world because our Father is set apart and uniquely different from all that has and will ever exist. We are called to embark and be on the journey to look like our Father.
Furthermore, Galatians 5: 22-23 tells us that ” the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” and I believe that is the pathway to holiness. Holiness is a journey and the fruit of the spirit that Christians need to bear is just the beginning.
The world exercises no self control hence the phrase ” do what makes you happy”. The world has no kindness which is why alot of people can be pretenders. The world is full of people wounded in their souls hence the lack of peace within and without. Do you understand?
Basically, God tells us to be everything the world is not. The world is going in one direction and we should be going in a different direction. God calls us to be set apart. He calls us to not just live a holy life but BE holy and it is from being this person that we’d be able to shine so brightly and men will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16)
This is a call to be set apart not just on Sunday but everyday of the week at work, as a parent, as a son or daughter, as a sibling, as a friend and as a human. Am I there yet? An emphatic No! But by God’s help and mercy I will get there.
And no, this is not the time to doubt and shudder in unbelief about your ability to be holy on this earth. God will not tell us to do something that is impossible. We can be holy people if we depend on the Holy God. He is in us.
So in summary, Holiness is to be the framework of the believer.Holiness is to be set apart. It is a journey and a good way to start is Galatians 5:22-23. God will help us if we ask and depend on Him, that’s what the Holy Ghost is here for. Some practical ways to engage His help in the quest to being Holy is to pray in other tongues, meditate on scriptures relating to Holiness and confess them.
So folks that’s the end of today’s blog. Remember that God almighty loves you.
Favour Adebowale 