Holiness means to be separate or set apart, it does not mean "being good". If holiness means "being good" or "being better than somebody else", then we have a system something like the Mormons. They generally believe there is a standard of righteousness which men and God must meet. They believe the only real difference between man and Jesus is that He is further along in His development than we are. They are, of course, wrong. We must remember that God is the standard of holiness. Therefore, to be holy is to be set aside or separate.

The more holy and the more separated we believe our God is, the more we will be holy and separate ourselves from the filth of this world. If Satan has called us, we will try to be like him. If God has called us, we will try to be like him.

This definition clarifies many scriptures similar to II Cor. 6:17, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

We have a limitation of space and will not be able to quote additional scriptures, but if you would study scriptures that teach us to forsake sins, you will be more able to understand that holiness is not getting better and better. It is being separated for the cause of Christ.

Holiness not only means being separated for the cause of Christ, it also means piety toward God, and fidelity in observing obligations of piety. To be separated for the cause of Christ could be a negative thing, but having piety towards God is a positive thing. In Luke 1:75, Zacharias describes what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

In Acts 3:12, Peter asks whether the onlookers thought they had healed the impotent man by their own power or holiness. This word holiness means reverence or respect.

Ephesians 4:24 states, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

If we would ask ourselves, "Why is God holy?" or "What makes him holy?", we have missed the entire point. There is no standard God must reach in order to be holy. God is holy because he is totally and completely separated unto himself for the good of all those he has created and all those around him. The only time anybody (angels or men) get into trouble is when they go against the decrees of God, or the principles God has ordained. The only time people are bless is when they agree with and live by the decrees of God or the principles God has ordained.

In creation. After God created the heavens and the earth He looked at His creation and said that it was very good, Gen. 1:31. I believe God created this universe and system of things so separate from sin that it would last for all eternity. But, of course, sin came in and now all things will come to an end.

Isaiah 6:3, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." God has created the Seraphims to give Him continual glory. These Seraphims are so holy they actually burn in their own holiness. They do not praise themselves, but continually praise God.

Rev. 4:8, "...and they rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." God has created the four living creatures which are continually before His throne for the sole purpose of giving Him praise. These four living creatures represent the holiness of Jesus. One of the creatures is like a lion, the king of the jungle. Jesus, in the book of Matthew, is shown to be the King of this world. Another creature is like a calf or servant. Jesus is shown in the book of Mark to be a servant. The third creature is like a man, Jesus is shown in His manly form in the book of Luke. The fourth creature is like a flying eagle or high and unreachable. The book of John reveals that man is unable to reach Jesus without the grace of God.

In His people. Exodus 28:36-38 states that in the past kingdom of Israel, the High Priest wore a golden plate which read, "Holiness To The Lord". This golden plate was in full view of all who looked at him, as it was placed on the front of the mitre (a form of cap). The High Priest wore this always that Israel might be accepted before the Lord. In the future kingdom of Israel, the bells of the horse shall have the words "Holiness Unto The Lord". "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of Hosts..." Zechariah 14:20,21.

In Christ, I can have an unattainable holiness. When we consider the human race, we find we have been created in the image and likeness of God. Yet because of false pride, Adam disobeyed God's only command and cast the entire human race into sin and destruction. Since God is completely holy, He cannot stand to look upon our sinfulness. He would be completely righteous to turn His back on all of us and forget us as we suffer eternally in a burning hell. But because God has mercy on the guilty, He has turned toward us and offered a plan whereby we might be saved.

Leviticus 20:7 states, "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God." Note the context of Leviticus (verse 6) states those that are not holy are seeking after familiar spirits, wizards, so forth. Leviticus 20:7 is quoted in I Peter 1:15,16, as our standard of righteousness. Also see I Peter 3:10-12 and following for reasons to serve God.

I Peter 1:15,16. See the word "wherefore" in verse 13. Verse 13-16 is a concluding thought to verse 1-12.

Verse 1 – We are strangers – to this world, but not to the world to come.

Verse 2 – The entire trinity is working on us.

a. We are the elect of God – chosen in eternity, made known to us in time.

b. We will be sanctified through the spirit of God.

c. We are brought to obedience (salvation) through the blood of Christ.

Verse 3 – We are brought to salvation in time by the resurrection of Christ.

Verse 4 – We have an inheritance that will never fade away, reserved for us.

Verse 5 – We are kept by the power of God because we are unable to keep ourselves.

Verse 6 – We greatly rejoice in these blessings, even though the troubles, trials and tribulations of this present life are heavy upon us.

Verse 7 – We understand that the trials of this life is for the building up of our faith in Christ, that Christ alone will get the glory and honor for our victorious living. All of these things will come to full light at the rapture, when we are able to more clearly understand what God has done for us.

Verse 8 – We have never seen Jesus, but we believe in him without seeing him, and rejoice with great joy.

Verse 9 – The end of our faith, the full salvation of our spirit, soul and body will happen at the rapture when we receive new bodies.

Verse 10-12 – We have received in Christ what the prophets searched for, and we will receive at the rapture the fullness of all these things.

That is well reason to gird up the loins of our minds, to be obedient to God and all his commands, to be holy, and to stop willful sinning.