Holiness
Ralph Vincent Reynolds

Lesson One - Sanctification

1. SANCTIFICATION: 
1 Thessalonians 4:3 "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication."

Sanctification means separation from evil and dedication to God and His service. The Scriptures make clear that Sanctification has to do with the turning away from all that is sinful and defiling to both soul and body. However it means not only a separation from, but also a separation unto. In order to be sanctified a person must be separated from sin but also be separated unto holiness. Whatever is set apart from a profane to a sacred use, whatever is devoted exclusively to the service of God is sanctified.

References: 2 Chron. 29:5, 15-18 Exodus 19:20-22 Lev. 27:14-16	Numbers 8:17 Ezekiel 36:23 Hebrews 9: 3

2. PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: 
Sanctification may be viewed as past, present, and future, or we may speak of INSTANTANEOUS, PROGRESSIVE, AND COMPLETE SANCTIFICATION.

Corinthians 6:11 "And such were some of you: but ye are wash but ye are sanctified, put ye are justified the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Hebrews 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

In these scripture- we read of sanctification as being, already in the past. Notice that in the first of these Scriptures Paul names sanctification before justification. Therefore there is a definite work of sanctification that takes place early in the experience of salvation. Some folk canonize people after they are dead, but the New Testament canonizes them while they are living. Every true believer is a saint and set apart (sanctified) for the service God; otherwise he is not a Christian.

3. PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION: 
Justification differs from sanctification in this manner: The former is an instantaneous act with no progression; while the latter is a crisis (decisive point) with a view to a process, an act which is instantaneous and at the same time carries with it the idea of growth unto completion.

2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we...are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of our God."

The tense of the verb is interesting here. We are being changed from one degree of character, or glory, to another. Sanctification being progressive we are exhorted to:
(i) Increase and abound in love (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
(ii) Increase more and more (1 Thessalonians 4:10).
(iii) Perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).

4. HOW ARE WE SANCTIFIED? 
Both God and man contribute and cooperate towards the desired end. We must turn from sin and dedicate ourselves to God but it is actually God Himself that does the sanctifying. It is like a cold man bringing himself to the fire to be warmed.

Ephesians 5:25-26 ". . Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it... "

Hebrews 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Lesson Two- Holiness

1. GOD IS HOLY: 
The holiness of God means His absolute moral purity. He can neither sin nor tolerate sin. The root meaning of the word "holy" is "separate". In what sense is God separated? He is perfect; man is imperfect. God is Divine; man is human. He is morally perfect; man is sinful. We see then that holiness is the attribute which guards the distinction between God and the creature. It denotes not merely an attribute of God but the Divine nature itself. It is the attribute of God which He would have us remember above all others for it is this great separation between God and man which hinders fellowship.
    
When God reveals Himself in a way that impresses man with His Deity, He is said to sanctify Himself, that is He reveals Himself as the Holy One. Men are said to sanctify God when they honor and reverence Him as Divine then they dishonor Him by the violation of His commandments they are said to profane Him.

References: Joshua 24:19 Exodus 15:11 Lev. 11:44-45 Lev. 20:26 Psalm 145:17 1 Samuel 2:2 Psalm 5:4 Psalm 111:9 Luke 1:49 Isaiah 6:3	Isaiah 43:14 Jer. 23:9 Ezek. 26:23 James 1:13 1 Peter 1:15-16 Rev. 4:8 Numbers 20:12 Lev. 10:3 Isa. 8:13

2. ONLY GOD IS HOLY IN HIMSELF: 
Holy people, buildings, and objects are so described because God has made them holy, or sanctified them. The word "holy" applied to persons or objects is a term expressing a relationship to Jesus Christ the fact of being set apart. Having been set apart articles must be clean; and persons must dedicate themselves to live according to the Law of Holiness.
  
Sin disturbs the relationship between God and man and ultimately the impenitent sinner is cast eternally out of God's presence. This is the "Second Death".

On many occasions this relationship was reaffirmed, enlarged upon, and interpreted under an arrangement known as a covenant. To keep the covenant, is to be in right relationship with God for He who is righteous can have fellowship only with those who do right. And to be in fellowship with God means life. From beginning to end, the Scripture declared this truth, that obedience and life go together.

Amos 3: 3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

Rev. 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life."

What is the answer to these questions?

Exodus 3:5 - What made the ground holy?

Exodus 26:33-34 - Why was the sanctuary called the most holy place?

1 Corinthians 3:17 - What makes the temple holy? How may the church be holy?

3. MEANING OF THE WORD "HOLY": 
This word is translated from the Hebrew "quodesh" meaning "set apart for God". The word is translated "Holy, consecrate, sanctify." This is always the fundamental idea of a holy, consecrated, separated, or sanctified person or thing - something set apart for God.

4. THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS:
Psalm 29:2 "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

There is no beauty that can compare with that of holiness. The world is very beauty conscious but the farther the world gets from a proper concept of true holiness the more warped does their conception of beauty become. This can be seen clearly in so called "modern art".
    
The church is only beautiful as she becomes a holy church, sanctified by the presence of Jesus Christ. Likewise a truly beautiful person is one who is holy, filled with God's Spirit. The beauty of holiness comes from within and radiates out the presence of God.

5. HOW DOES MAN BECOME HOLY? 
In bringing about holiness in a man's life there are two agencies: Divine or the presence of the Holy Spirit, and human.

(a) DIVINE AGENCY:
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ". .are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the
Spirit of the Lord.

Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

1 Thess. 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly."

Just as it took the presence of God in the burning bush to make the sands of the wilderness "holy ground", even so it takes the presence of God in a man's life to make him holy. The work of sanctification begins in his life with the hearing of the gospel message for the Word of God has a cleansing influence in the heart of the hearer. This work of sanctification continues through the steps of faith, repentance and water baptism in the Name of Jesus. How‑ ever, the work of sanctification is chiefly accomplished at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. When God's Spirit comes into a life, His presence makes the life holy, and work continues until he is taken from this world. 

The righteous man under the law became righteous by doing righteously; under grace he does righteously because he has been made righteous. In the Old Testament righteousness was imputed; in the New Testament church righteousness is both imputed and directly imparted by the power of the holy Spirit. As far as his salvation is concerned man is perfect as soon as he is born of the Spirit because everything that Jesus does is perfect.

(b) HUMAN AGENCY: 
This may be divided into two thoughts:
(i) Bringing Himself To Jesus: Through surrender, consecration, separation from the world, and the dedication of himself, man brings himself under the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Illustration - Man who is cold brings himself to the fire and is warmed. So an unholy man who is cold brings himself to Jesus and is made holy. Then through surrender, consecration and faith he keeps himself under the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. THIS HAS TO DO WITH HIS SALVATION. In doing this man has only done a reasonable thing but nothing of merit which would earn praise, reward, or distinction.
(ii) The Saint's Walk, Faithfulness, Stewardship This is an entirely different matter. In this thought he is a babe at his conversion and needs to grow in grace; he is imperfect in his faith and life and needs to perfect holiness in the fear of God. In his walk and faithfulness he earns merit, praise, commendation, promotion, and reward. His place in the kingdom will depend upon this. This does not qualify him for a place within the body but rather determines the place he shall fill within the body.

References: Revelation 2:3 Matthew 25:14-30 Matthew 10:42 1 Cor. 9:24-25 Revelation 22:12 Luke 19:11-27 1 Cor. 3:5-15	2 Timothy 4:6-8

6. JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: - 2 Corinthians 5:10
This is a judgment of WORKS of the saint not SINS. All his sins have already been judged at Calvary and are under the blood. If there is KNOWN UNCONFESSED SIN in the heart and life of the child of God, he forfeits and loses his place for no sin can enter there. This judgment takes place when Jesus comes to reward his servants just before He sets up His Kingdom on earth. 
Because of wrong motives and lack of understanding it is possible for works to be destroyed but the individual to be saved. Again this does not refer to SIN (1 Cor. 3:11-15).

Lesson Three – Christian Perfection

1. TWO KINDS OF PERFECTION:
(i) ABSOLUTE: Absolute perfection cannot be improved upon. This kind of perfection belongs only to God. 
(ii) RELATIVE: Relative perfection fulfills the end for which it is designed. This is possible for man to attain to.

2. OLD TESTAMENT PERFECTION: 
Genesis 6:9 "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations." Job 1:1 "That man was perfect and upright."

The thought is the wholehearted desire and determination to do the will of God. Regardless of the sins that mar the record. David may be truly called a perfect man or a "man after God's own heart", because the supreme aim of his life was to do God's will.

3. NEW TESTAMENT PERFECTION: 
Various Greek words are used to convey the idea of perfection:
(i) One word means being complete in the sense of being apt or fit for a certain task or end, completely equipped. - 2 Tim. 3:17.
(ii) Another word denotes a certain end attained through growth.
Matt. 5:48; Matt. 19:21; Col, 1:28; Col. 4:12; Heb. 11:40.
(iii) In 2 Corinthians 13:9; Ephesians 4:12; Hebrews 13:21 the word means equipment.
(iv) The word in 2 Cor. 7:1 means "to complete, to terminate.
(v) The word in Revelation 3:2 signified "to fulfill, to cram to level, to meet the requirements of".

4. MEANING OF PERFECTION: 
The thought of perfection has various meanings.

It is possible to be perfect in one way and imperfect regarding another matter.

Some of the meanings of perfection are expressed as follows:

(i) Positional perfection in Christ - the result of Christ's work for us (Hebrews 10:14).
(ii) Spiritual maturity and understanding as opposed to spiritual childhood. (1 Cor. 2:6; 14:20; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 3:15; 2 Tim. 3:17).
(iii) Progxessive perfection (Galatians 3: 3).
(iv) Perfection in certain particulars: the will of God, the love of man, the service, etc. (Col. 4:12; Matt. 5:48; Hebrews 13:21).
(v) The ultimate perfection of the individual in heaven (Col. 1:28; Phil. 3:12; 1 Peter 5:10).
(vi) The ultimate perfection of the church or the corporate body of saints (Eph. 4:13; John 17:23).

5. TWO GENERAL ASPECTS OF PERFECTION:
(i) A gift of grace which is perfect position or standing. A person is either saved or not saved. If he is born again, he cannot be more born again. His standing in Christ is perfect.
(ii) Perfection as actually wrought in the saint's character. This involves growth and maturity. A christian may be perfectly walking in all the light and knowledge that he has and yet in many ways still imperfect. He may be blameless and yet at the same time not faultless.

NOTE: The New Testament holds up a high standard of practical holiness and affirms the possibility of deliverance from the power of sin. It is the Christian’s duty to strive after perfection.

Philippians 3:12... either were already perfect; but I follow after... Hebrews 6:1 "... let us go on unto perfection..."

Lesson Four – Practical Holiness

1. PRACTICAL HOLINESS: 
This lesson deals with the Christian's walk. Some think of holiness in terms of being angelic, something that is spiritual and mystical and completely removed from this world. This is not the case. The walk of holiness is a practical, down-to-earth, hour-by-hour experience of victory and an overcoming life. This practical life of holiness is necessary if we are to be ready for the coming of Jesus.

Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

2. SOME ERRONEOUS VIEWS: 
(i) ERADICATION -Those who believe this claim that the sinful nature is eradicated, pulled up root and branch, and now it is impossible for the saint to sin. This, of course, is very much in the wrong. After he is saved a man may still sin and by so doing lose his soul.
(ii) ASCETICISM - This is the belief that there is merit and reward in the punishment of one's body in some form. The Bible does allow a place for the right kind of asceticism such as fasting for example. However, there is no merit in perverted asceticism such as celibacy and the doing of penance.
(iii) LEGALISM - This is being brought under bondage to the law. The Child of God obeys the Word of God because he is a child of God. He lives on a plane above the law and is not in bondage. In our zeal for holiness it is easily possible to become legal in our attitude which is not Scriptural.

3. SOME PRACTICAL RULES FOR LIVING HOLY:
(i) Receive the Holy Spirit in your life and live a Spirit-filled life.
(ii) Pray much. A prayerful life will usually be a holy life.
(iii) Read the Bible much and attend Bible studies. The word of God will have a sanctifying influence in a life.
(iv) God's revealed will begins with His Word. Obey the Word of
(i) God without hesitation.
(v) Dedicate yourself fully to His service and to His will.
(vi) Remember that you CAN live holy; a life of holiness is very possible.
(vii) Remember that you need claim the victory only one day at a time.
(viii) Keep your eyes off the faults of others and look to Jesus.
(ix) Keep your eyes off your own weakness and look to Jesus.
(x) Testify and witness often and at every opportunity (Rev. 12:11).
(xi) Discuss your problems freely with your pastor.
(xii) When in doubt concerning a certain practice ask the following questions: 
1. Does the Bible condemn this?
2. Can I pray and ask Jesus to bless it?
3. Can I take Jesus with me while practicing?
4. Will this be a blessing to others?
5. Will this be a stumbling stone to anyone?
6. Does this hinder in any manner my service to Jesus?

THE REWARDS OF A LIFE OF HOLINESS:
The rewards of a holy life are many, both in this life and the life to come. Examples of the rewards of holy living are seen in the lives of Joseph and Daniel. Both of these young men had strong convictions of right and wrong. They refused to sin. As a result we see God rewarding them with blessing, promotion, and revelation. The dividends for serving Christ faithfully are many. The man who is living a holy life has better health, a happier home, greater material prosperity, and a heart that is at constant rest and peace.

The rewards of holiness in eternity will be studied in a following lesson. Sufficient to state here that they are very many and that the Lord is a liveral paymaster.

The above article, “Holiness,” was written by Ralph Vincent Reynolds. The article was excerpted from Reynolds’ book, Dividing the Word of Truth.

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.