Holiness: Without It We Can’t See God

When we think of holiness, we think of our heavenly Father. God is so holy that the Bible says the word three times in a row. “Holy, Holy, Holy is god almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Rev.4:8). Holiness is the uniqueness of God.

By association with God, many things are called holy. In the New Testament we read of holy angels (Mt.25:31), holy prophets (Lk.1:70), holy scriptures (Rom.1:2), holy apostles (Eph.3:5), and holy brethren (Heb.3:1). Men are to pray with holy hands (1 Tim.2:8). Herod regarded John the Baptist as “a righteous and holy man” (Mk.6:20). We, too, are charged with the task of living holy lives. It’s a demanding duty in a world that seems determined to be unholy.

“Holiness” is the deepest of all words and defies adequate definition. God is truly the holy one. When people ask, “What is one of the greatest things I can do for the church?” One of the best answers is – “Be holy.”

There are few books about holiness. There are no best sellers. Yet, it can be learned. Peter pointed out, “But like the Holy one who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behaviour; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet.1:15-16). God sets the standard for holiness. He is a God of righteousness, mercy and justice and cares personally for each of his followers.

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Some people are rich, and some are poor. Some are learned, some are masters, and some are servants but, there is no rank or condition in which a man or woman ought not to be holy.

Holiness is the everyday business of every Christian. If we are not holy Christians, then we are not Bible Christians. It is solemn to hear the word of God saying, “Without holiness no man shall see God” (Heb.12:14).

– David and Tim Johnson