Last week I left off talking about being perfect. So, let’s start off this week on the same theme, but today let’s look at what it means to be called, “Holy.” I Peter 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Here we have the command to be Holy for God is Holy. In the Bible we can find many attributes of God and among them is God’s holiness. In fact, there is something special about God and holiness, for it is the only attribute that is used in triplicate to refer to God.
Isa. 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
When things are repeated in the Bible it is worth taking a look at it. The three times relation was a way used to make emphases of a point. So, if we are to be holy as God is holy, we must first look at what it means in the Bible when it says God is holy.
First, the Hebrew word for Holy (hagios) means to be holy, or set apart, to be separate or to consecrate. So, God is set apart, He is unique from all otherness. God is separated from creation and sin. God is what we are to become in regard to separation from sin.
Yet God is much more. He is other than we are as to the essence of His existence, His very nature. He is perfection, all-sufficient, unchangeable, most wise and most holy. Therefore, nothing in the creation, no one in the creation even man created in the image of God compares to God in essential nature. He is incomparable. He is infinite perfection. That is why His name is separate, distinct, and holy. This is a pretty high standard that we are to live up to. I Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” God’s holiness is a reflection of His moral perfection, all that He does is perfect and holy. God’s holiness is seen in His unique separation from all others. We are called to be holy as He is holy. We are to be unique and set apart.
Works cited: Image from Google/BlockTalkRadio
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