Holiness

What is it? A strong desire to be clean in the sight of God, to be free from sin.

Is Holiness an option? No. It is God's command for the believer-1 Pet.1:15-26.

Holiness usually frightens believers as something impossible. If God commands us to be Holy, we can believe it, we can BE.

Why is it so necessary? Heb. 12:14. Without it we cannot know God Sin shall hinder us. Job had this experience when freed from unrighteousness, Job 42:5.

God called His people Israel to Holiness, and the Church too-Deut.14:12. Holiness is an absolute must if we are to see God's presence and cover in our midst- Deut.23.12-14.

The Mercy seat was in the Holy of Holies where God dwelled.

To live a holy  life is not to have a saintly look on you like a guru. It is to have no earthly character, but to have God's character. He commands the same from us-John 17:16-18. Holiness separates us from the world and its sin.

What is the affect of God's holiness upon our lives? Is.6:1-5. Like Isaiah, God calls holy people to serve Him. Peter confirmed this in 2 Pet.1:21.

We must not confuse Holiness and perfection however, God demands both.