The Holiness of God and the Holiness of Man

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marks

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Question . . . How holy do you need to be so the the Holy One of Israel will live in you?
 

Prayer Warrior

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Question . . . How holy do you need to be so the the Holy One of Israel will live in you?
I found this to be helpful:

The Command to be Holy
The Bible teaches us, from both the Old Testament and the New, to be holy, just as God is holy, but how can we do that since we’re fallen creatures and our nature is anything but holy (Rom 3:10-12, 23; 6:23)? Part of that growth toward holiness is not being conformed to this world (Rom 12:1-2) and is an ongoing lifetime process called sanctification or to be set apart for holy use. The Apostle Peter writes, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:14-16) as “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). Peter appears to be quoting the Old Testament which says “’You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (Lev 11:44; 19:2). Since we are called to be holy as God is holy, although not to the same extent of course, we should “put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Pet 2:1). The church is “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9) so we should live a life of holiness, at least as much as is possible with us.

The Holy Spirit
God the Holy Spirit is the One Who works in us to sanctify us and make us more like God over time. Have you ever noticed that the Spirit’s name is always associated with holiness? Why isn’t it God the Holy Father and the Holy Son of God? Perhaps it’s because the primary work that the Spirit of God does is to make men and women holy by convicting them of their sin, bringing them to repentance and confession of sin, and driving them to the cross for the mercy of God through Jesus Christ while making them live a life that is more pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit then is designated as “Holy” because that is His primary work in the believer’s life. He is making us holy, day by day, and it takes a daily walk with God to stay focused on a Holy God.

Source: What Is The Biblical Definition Of Holy?

 

Pearl

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I appreciate your answers. Please let me ask a different way.

Will the Holy One of Israel be united to the unholy?

Yet one more way . . .

Are we actually cleansed and made new? Or are we still sinners, unholy, but unified with an Holy God?

Much love!
Once we have accepted Jesus he then live in us and we are made holy - set apart - in God's eyes.
 

Prayer Warrior

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I appreciate your answers. Please let me ask a different way.

Will the Holy One of Israel be united to the unholy?

Yet one more way . . .

Are we actually cleansed and made new? Or are we still sinners, unholy, but unified with an Holy God?

Much love!

This has to do with imputed righteousness. I believe that we are imputed with the righteousness of Christ the moment we are saved. We are cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus, and we are made holy (set apart) for Him.

We are made holy, and yet, we are also becoming holy through sanctification. I know this seems contradictory, but it's a dichotomy.

I don't have time right now to quote scriptures. I'll have to add that, but I wanted to answer your question. :)
.
 
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Hidden In Him

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Will the Holy One of Israel be united to the unholy?

If He didn't we'd be in trouble : )
Are we actually cleansed and made new?

We are cleansed of sins and made new, yes. What then remains is to continue walking in that newness of life.
Or are we still sinners, unholy, but unified with an Holy God?

This one is another strange question. It is impossible to be "united" with a Holy God and be unholy, as the word united means "made one with."
 

marks

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John 17
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

1 Corinthians 6
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

One of my favorite passages of our unity with God is . . .

Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

It's by the Holy Spirit that we cry, Abba, Father!

The parallel passage . . .

Galatians 4:6 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

His Spirit, in our hearts, crying Abba! Father!

We are unified with God. One with Him.

Much love!
 

marks

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We are made holy, and yet, we are also becoming holy through sanctification. I know this seems contradictory, but it's a dichotomy.
Hi Prayer Warrior,

Would you write more about how it is that we are both "made holy", and are also "becoming holy"?

Much love!
 
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Helen

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I appreciate your answers. Please let me ask a different way.

Will the Holy One of Israel be united to the unholy?

Yet one more way . . .

Are we actually cleansed and made new? Or are we still sinners, unholy, but unified with an Holy God?

Much love!


You already know my answer.... :D

Jesus touched the Lepers and they were clean....

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.."

It is all about HIM, but so many are always measuring themselves to see if the are holy enough yet...dead to self enough yet.

Isaiah said -
"...I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple..."

It's not all about us, but about Him...when our vision is filled with HIM, we will stop measuring ourself to see if we are holy enough yet, or dead to self enough yet.

Every day that we are trying to be dead enough, or holy enough, or good enough ...our eyes on not FILLED with His GLORY....and it is all about me, me, me...

But I know that you know that LOL
 
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Prayer Warrior

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Hi Prayer Warrior,

Would you write more about how it is that we are both "made holy", and are also "becoming holy"?

Much love!
Yes, I will when I have time. Sorry, but I'm working right now and am on my lunch break. :)

I will say this. We HAVE BEEN saved from the penalty of sin, AND we ARE BEING saved from the power of sin, also called sanctification. I know this sounds like double-talk, but it's not. I'll expound on this when I have time.
 
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Hidden In Him

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Every day that we are trying to be dead enough, or holy enough, or good enough ...our eyes on not FILLED with His GLORY....and it is all about me, me, me...

I agree with this, Helen. But the way I fill my eyes with His glory is by dedicating myself to spending time in His word, time in prayer, time worshipping Him, time sharing with others. The part I don't understand is why some here seem to incessantly label these things as "focusing on me, me, me," and being self-righteous, as if those who do such things are egotistically not trusting in Christ. So someone like me gets accused of being sinful for the very activities that draw him closer to God.

I know the response will likely be something like, "No one is saying that prayer is sinful, yada, yada, yada," and simply that one should not trust on one's own works, but when every single time holiness is discussed you hear these things repeated over and over again, the net effect is to be repeatedly pounded on with a continual accusation; that one is guilty of sinfulness in heart and mind; that he or she is a spiritual reprobate who does not truly love God but only himself.

It's not as if I can't handle it, though LoL. I'm a big boy, and I'm kinda armed to the teeth, spiritually speaking. Comes with the territory, and it's something I understood the day I became a member here. Just telling you how it comes off to people like myself : )

Blessings in Christ,
Hope your having a good day : )
 

farouk

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Hi Prayer Warrior,

Would you write more about how it is that we are both "made holy", and are also "becoming holy"?

Much love!
There is indeed the positional and conditional (as to increasing, day to day condition) aspect to sanctification.