Be ye holy

 The word holy is in the Bible 578 times. If things and people are holy, then they can be identified in and by the holy word of God. All humans are commanded to be holy as God is holy. I Peter 1:16. The question becomes, am I holy? Where do I find out the answer, we must ask, where do I find the answer? I Corinthians 7:34 says, there is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit.

Ephesians 1:4 says, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ … wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved in whom we have …the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his GRACE.  Therefore, God`s grace is in Christ where we are made holy. Galatians 3:27 says, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 Holiness comes by being in Christ. I Thessalonians 3:13 says, to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Holiness takes into account everything we do. I Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye have lack of nothing.

Colossians 1:9-11 says, for this cause (love for all men) we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease  to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.   Luke 1:74-75 That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

II Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Hebrews 3:1-3 Wherefore holy brethren, partakers, of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house? For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses inasmuch as he who hath built the house hath more honor than the house.

Colossian 1:21-23, 25 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister, Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God.

 I Timothy 1:7-10 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the affections, of the gospel according to the power of God. Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began? But is now made manifest by the appearing of our savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Leviticus 20:7-8 says, sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy, for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them. I am the Lord which sanctify you. 

Proverbs 9:9-10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Some of the things that are called holy in the Bible are:{ Holy} Scriptures, Bible, Angels, Ground, City, Things, Mountain,, Brethren, Saints , Man, Calling, Father, Prayer, Chambers, My holy name, covenant, Crown, Crown of life, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, Holy  

What do we mean when we God says we are holy? Look at your Bible and what does it say, Holy Bible. What makes it Holy? The land of Israel was the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem was in the old Testament the Holy City. Why do things become Holy and why are they Holy? They all belong to God. The Bible is God’s book, the book on how to become holy. In the old testament. Jerusalem was called the City of God. That means that it belongs to God. So today why are things called holy? They belong to God. To belong to God is to be his child with our sins removed by baptism. Act 22:16

Join us at Piney Church of Christ at 10:30 a.m., on Sunday.