Holiness

“Be holy, for I am holy.” This command runs from Leviticus through 1 Peter, and its logic is always the same: the character of God is the standard for the character of his people. Holiness is not primarily a list of prohibitions. It is the state of being set apart for God and being conformed to his character.

In the Old Testament, holiness is most visible in its ritual and ceremonial dimensions: the distinction between clean and unclean, the regulations for the tabernacle and temple, the consecration of priests, the separation of Israel from the nations. These structures are not arbitrary. They are the visible expression of a theological reality: Yahweh is holy, his people belong to him, and that belonging must be reflected in how they live. The great concern of the Levitical system is maintaining the holiness that allows Yahweh to dwell among a sinful people without consuming them.

In the New Testament, the ceremonial structures are fulfilled and transformed in Christ. The holiness they represented is now pursued through the work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer. Paul writes that believers are to “cleanse themselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The author of Hebrews writes that without holiness, “no one will see the Lord.” Holiness is not optional for the Christian; it is the direction of the life the Spirit is producing. The articles below trace this theme through several of its most significant passages.