Holiness

[Antman_05]

Holiness what are your deffinitions of it ?

More to the point what is the Reformed belive of it and is it possible for us to stop sining ?

 

[Willo]

Now I am not reformed in my Theology. But here is my take on it:

Holiness:

A good book to read on the topic is John Wesley's view point on Christian Perfection!

Now in 1 Peter 1:16: It says Be HOLY as the Father is HOLY, it is something we must strive for, but what does the word Holy mean:

Holy

HO'LY, a.

1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.

Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Pet 1.

2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.

3. Proceeding from pious principles,or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.

4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.

5. Sacred; as a holy witness.

The greek word used there is hagios which means to be blameless.

As for no more sinning, Jesus must have thought it possible not to sin after conversion, as in John 5:14: 8:11, He says that they are to go and sin no more.

Now the question is, can you go 1 second without sinning? If so, just keep aiming to go one second after another without sinning, it all adds up.

God Bless

 

[cygnusx1]

this thread will get warm very soon ...........

 

[rnmomof7]

The word Holy in scripture means to be set aside.

In the hebrew

1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness

a) apartness, sacredness, holiness

1) of God

2) of places

3) of things

b) set-apartness, separateness

In the greek
1) most holy thing, a saint

It is God that sets aside that which he declares holy

We see how God declared some thing Holy .. as an example
Luk 2:23
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord


As Calvinists we believe that all things are ordained of God . It is God that declares us as holy and set aside for his purposes . It is God that works in us to draw us and to cause us to desire Him . It is God that makes us dead to sin (hate sin).

It is God that works in us through the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us and to convict us of sin.

It is that same Holy Spirit that sanctifies us and it is God that will one day Glorify us.

Like our salvation holiness is not an act of will it is an act of Gods grace.

A man can not will himself himself to be holy, he can not make himself holy .
Only the maker of the vessel can set it aside for special use


Rom 9:21
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?