Most people misunderstand the meaning of the word and doctrine of "holiness."
Holiness is not a legalistic (rules and regulation) system of religious "do's and dont's."
Holiness is not about the four H's; Hair, Hem, Hosiery and Hellivision (in other words, externalism).
Holiness is not about "tongues" or "healing" or "visions" or "snake handling" or "judgmentalism."
Holiness is separation from sin and separation to God.
Holiness is the instantaneous work of God, whereby the heart is purified from all sin through faith in the finished work of atonement by Christ; and holiness is the daily, moment by moment, life of submission to the Lordship of Christ and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, flowing from a heart filled with perfect love.
Holiness is concerned with BEING and DOING.
Holiness of heart and life are essential to eternal life.
Psalm 24:3-4
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Holiness is living and walking in the light of salvation.
I realize most people are not receptive to holiness of heart and life, because they want to rule their own lives, rather than let God rule them. What most people do not realize is that God has a right to rule their lives and the fact is, they do not rule their own lives anyway. If Christ does not rule our lives, then Satan does. Whether a person believes in the existence of God or not, and whether he believes in the existence of Satan or not, it is either God or Satan that rules our lives. Nothing good has ever come from being ruled by Satan, and nothing bad has ever come from being ruled by Christ. Seems simple enough, You would have to be blind to resist salvation. The good news is, He gives sight to the blind.
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