Inter-Varsity Press

Contents

Introduction

Part 1. The foundation of holiness

1. God of the smoking mountain (Exodus 19:1–25)

2. God in glory (Isaiah 6:1–13)

3. God in Trinity (1 Peter 1:1–2, 13–21)

Part 2. Visions of holiness

4. Holiness as purity (Leviticus 11:1–47)

5. Holiness as wisdom (Proverbs 2:1–22)

6. Holiness as justice (Isaiah 58:1–14)

Part 3. The transformation of holiness

7. Holiness personified (Luke 1:35; 4:1, 34; 23:41)

8. Holiness redefined (Matthew 5:20, 48; Mark 5:1–43; 7:1–23; Luke 14:1–14)

9. Holiness orchestrated (John 17:9–19)

Part 4. The dimensions of holiness

10. Inner purity (Psalm 51)

11. Personal holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:1–12)

12. Corporate holiness (1 Peter 2:4–10, Ephesians 4:17 – 5:20)

13. Social holiness (Micah 6:1–8)

Part 5. Pathways to holiness

14. The Spirit of God (Galatians 5:13 – 6:10)

15. The Word of God (2 Timothy 3:14–17)

16. The discipline of God (Hebrews 12:1–17)

17. Union with Christ (Romans 6:1–23)

18. Conflict with the enemy (Ephesians 6:10–18)

19. Separation from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7: 1)

Part 6. The destination of holiness

20. To be like him (1 John 2:28 – 3:10)

21. He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

Study Guide

(From the) Introduction

We are all fl awed masterpieces. In one way or another, and to one degree or another, the image of God in which we were formed has become marred and corrupted. Holiness is about the restoration of that image. In his innermost nature God is holy and to be fully and truly human is to conform to and reflect his holiness in our lives.

In Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis used the parable of reconstructing a building to describe God’s work in us, and especially to emphasize its costly nature.

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.

But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards.

You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building up a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself.

The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less.

It is a typically insightful parable which highlights a number of important truths. Nonetheless, I prefer to view holiness as restoring God’s image not only because of its biblical basis but because it is more personal. We are living human beings who in our willfulness significantly complicate the task God has in remaking us. Although amateur builders, or cack-handed DIY practitioners like myself, may sometimes doubt it, the materials they have to work with are inanimate and do not have a mind of their own. On the other hand we do, and it is precisely that willfulness that has caused us to need restoring in the first place and which makes the task so prolonged and difficult.

Restoring God’s image in us leads us to see his work of making us holy (sometimes called sanctification) as a living, dynamic and organic work of the holy Trinity. The result is that we become fully alive human beings in whom Christ has been formed (Galatians 4:19).

1. A disclaimer

I have never been less qualified to write a book than this one. In writing it I make no pretence of having achieved a measure of holiness. I am only too aware of my failings and continuing battle with sin. But two things have given me the courage to tackle such an important subject. First, God’s Word is true, no matter what our individual appreciation of or obedience to it might be. The aim of this series is to let that Word speak as key biblical passages are unfolded and applied to today, not to draw attention to the qualifications of its writers. So, I take refuge in sheltering behind the Word God has spoken. Secondly, I had courage to set about the task because it expresses my aspiration, if not my achievement. This study of holiness was designed to teach the author as much as the reader.

I identify with Charles Spurgeon when he said,

I know nothing about [the] wonderful experience of freedom from conflict and complete deliverance from every evil tendency. I have never won an inch of the way to heaven without fighting for it. I have never lived a day but I have had sorrow over my imperfections. I sometimes get near to God but at that time I weep most for my faults and failings.

That does not say it all, but it says that which is most important.

2. What is holiness?

Definitions can be dangerous for they tend to restrict understanding and encourage a check-list approach to whether or not something conforms to them. Yet they are important in bringing focus and clarity to a subject. Our starting point must be the instruction, repeated four times in Scripture: ‘I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.’ According to this fundamental command the essence of holiness is to be found in imitating the character of God. All else flows from this. It means living in his image and overcoming the ways in which his image in us is corrupted by sin. It means combating all that would prevent us from living in his image. It means cultivating all that would reproduce his image in us. It means becoming increasingly God-centred, Christ-like and Spirit-empowered.

In seeking to describe holiness, it is not surprising that some have resorted to full explanations or lists of characteristics. Suffice it to say here, that because the essence of holiness lies in restoring

God’s image in us, it is as much about what we are as what we do, and it touches every aspect of life. Consequently, holiness can be viewed from many different angles and is multi-faceted in its appearance. It encompasses questions of our relationship with God and with others, our approach to ourselves and creation. It impinges on the inward, personal, social and political dimensions of life. The holiness of God provokes awe and humility, evoking obedience and righteousness; it inspires purity and compassion in equal measure. God’s holiness creates a sense of unworthiness and an intense longing for the Spirit to transform us. It calls forth effort on our part, while casting us wholly on the work of God within us. …