What is Holiness?

by E.L.

Holiness is a recognition that there is a God above us. It's the realization that we are, at best, filthy sinners incapable of pleasing God by our own effort. Holy people don't brag about their look, brand, or identity. They simply point to Jesus, and lean on His power to cleanse and regenerate.

I have often used the following analogy to explain what it means to be holy...

To be holy is to be set apart.

Imagine you are shopping. As you peruse the shelves you select items you wish to purchase and then place them in your cart.
Those items are set apart for purchase. They allow themselves to be handled, used and consumed by the purchaser.

In the same way, Jesus has selected the whole world. He wishes to set us apart. However, unlike the goods at a store, we have a choice in the process. Those who submit to His hand are "holy." His blood pays the price to make them so. They are His possession, and conformed to the image He chooses.

Submission to God, not man, transforms perishable goods into incorruptible.

Those who refuse are not under His influence and retain their own identity. They also retain their perishable qualities.

Holiness is losing one's self in God, to God, and for God.

This writing is the copyright of E.L. and is reprinted on this site by permission. View all of his available articles here.

Page added March 27, 2015

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