Holiness refers to being set apart for God and living in a way that honors his righteous and pure nature. The document discusses holiness in the Bible and defines it as separating oneself from the world in order to seek God through his grace, rather than legalism. It warns against two extremes: that holiness is only external actions, and that grace means our actions don't matter. True holiness involves both God's grace and human efforts to purify ourselves before him.

1. What is Holiness? It is not an archaic word It’s not an impossible preposition It’s a biblical word 1 peter 1:16 “be holy, because I am holy” Luke 1:74-75 “to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”

2. What is holiness? God is powerful. Right? God is light? Right? God is king. Isaiah 6:3, Rev 4:8 “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord almighty”. Heaven looks at God and cries Holy!!!!!! His very name is holy. Ish 57:15 “…One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy….”

3. What is holiness? Separating ourselves from the world in order to seek God Separating for separation sake is legalism True holiness is separation in order to seek God. Holiness is cooperation between deity and humanity. God supplies the grace, and we cleanse ourselves.

4. Two extremes? One extreme is the believe that holiness is based on what you wear and other externalities. Produces legalism. Cure to this is Grace. Another extreme is that we have grace, so it doesn't matter what we do, it’ll be covered under grace. Cure to this is holiness or the fear of God.

5. Why be holy? "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters”, says the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor 6:17-18, 7:1)

6. So why be holy? Hope it’s clear that we can’t embrace God without embracing His holiness. Without holiness we cannot have intimacy with God. The reason why he died on the cross is not just to save you from hell, but to bring you to Him. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

7. Understanding Holiness In order to understand holiness and how to walk closely with God, we have to understand grace. For next meeting: What is grace?