Holiness

To some people holiness is a set of rules: but holiness is not a set of rules, holiness is a way of life.  You can comply with all kinds of rules, and even have scripture for them and still be lost.  You can let your hair grow until it drags the floor behind you: you can wear your dresses until they completely cover your feet, as women once did; you can wear your sleeves down past your wrists; and men can wear their hair in a crew cut, and still be lost.  You can do all these things: but if you have pride in your heart, God resists the proud. 

We can do all these things and they are good, but this is not holiness.  If you do all these things and talk about your brother or sister, you are not living a life of holiness.  You can be in church every time the doors are open and still you can be there for the wrong reasons, to be seen and heard of men: you can take part in all the church functions, and have a selfish motive, and you will not please God.  You can even pay your tithes and still not be pleasing to God, if you sound a trumpet and think that you are better than the brother or sister who is not as fortunate as you are.  If you have this attitude, you already have your reward, and you will have no reward in heaven. 

Jesus spake a parable in Luke 18:9-14, unto people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortiorners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I posses, and the Publican, standing afar off, would not life up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalted himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

The Pharisee was keeping all the rules, but in doing so he was proud, as if to say, God, you got a real prize when you got me: but God resists the proud.  Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  The Publican realized his need of God, and humbled himself before God.  God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble, I Peter 5:5 - also see II Chron. 7:14; Isaiah 57:15; Matt. 18:4; Proverbs 16:18,19; Psalms 9:9-12.

The rich young ruler kept all the commandments, but his money owned him instead of him owning his riches.  He kept all the rules but his love of money kept him out of the kingdom of God. 

The Apostle Paul said in Hebrews 12:14, follow peace with all men, and holiness, without no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up troubling you, and thereby many be defiled; lest any fornicator, or profane person, as Essau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 

Holiness is the quality of being holy: being sanctified, and having a sacred character.  Jesus is our example of holiness.  We are to strive to be like him in every facit of out life.  Jesus was holy in every way; his character was flawless, he was gentle, kind, long suffering to usward.  He was always doing good things for others out of love, not selfishly, not to be seen and heard of men; always thinking of others.  A godly character  is holiness.  Holiness is simply the character of Jesus Christ.