Ye Shall Be Holy

by G.J. Munday, Sydney, Australia | Category: General | Nov 1968

As God's people in these last days we should strive earnestly to maintain the standard of living which God demands of those called by divine grace into His house, because "Holiness becometh Thine house, 0 LORD, for evermore" (Psalm 93.5). As God is holy, and His word is holy, so the place where He has been pleased to put His Name should be holy. Hi5 people therefore should be "holy in all manner of living". "Ye shall be holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1.16).

We have been purchased at infinite cost to God, even the precious blood of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1.19), We have been placed in a position of privilege and responsibility which calls for obedient and holy lives. We "are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood ... a holy nation, a people for God's own possession" (1 Peter 2.5,9). As we think of the place into which we have been called we should walk in humility and fear before Him who called us.

The word "holiness" (Greek hagios) means separate or set apart. We are called to be separate from the pleasures of the world, with its temptations and false promises. We are to be a people set apart. Do we sometimes go back to the pleasures the world offers? Is there not in Christ all that we need? There are greater treasures to be had by serving Rim than we could ever hope to find in the world. God says, "Ye are not your own", also that "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" (I Corinthians 6.19). We are not to live as once we lived; for we are no longer "of the world". We now live by faith (Galatians 2.20). We cannot be well-pleasing to God if we go against His will. "Ye shall be holy". The command is clear.

Separation, purity, and obedience are what God requires from His people. The children of Israel, when they were delivered from bondage, did not become a holy nation until they agreed to do all that God commanded them. The condition was, "If ye will obey My voice indeed" (Exodus 19.5~8). These are matters for us to heed.

We enjoy a very great privilege when we keep the Remembrance on the first day of the week and break the bread and pour out the cup. Then we can worship Him "in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 96.9). Holiness in service, as in "all manner of living" is what is required of us. Let us so serve that God will receive from His people an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.

Let us remember that we "are a temple of the living God, even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people". We should therefore hear the call, "Wherefore, Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be to you a Father, and ye shall be to Me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 6.16-18). Let us humbly consider these things, and "give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in His sight" (2 Peter 3.14).

G.J. Munday, Sydney, Australia | Nov 1968
General