A grateful shout out to all of our listeners worldwide. Welcome aboard. I do encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. There aren't too many yet, and it'll be easy for you to do. This will give you a better understanding of where we currently are in our presentation. Again, I say thank you for listening. How often have you heard a statement like this? Yeah, they go to that holiness church down the street. Or, those holy rollers, they go to the holiness church on the other side of town. Fact check. Aren't all of the churches that worship the God of the Hebrews supposed to be holiness churches? All of the local worship assemblies are houses of holiness, right? Hmm. Holiness is not supposed to be a denomination or just designated to a certain group of people. Let's explore the concept of holiness a little bit more. God bless you. Welcome to our weekly podcast of Contending for the Faith. I'm your host, Bishop Ronald D. Roston, and I invite you to get your Bible and notebook and journey with us as we explore topics that challenge us to mature. Let's pray. Our Father and our God, we bless you in Yeshua's name. Please open our spiritual ears and our spiritual understanding so that we can hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the church. We ask this in Yeshua's name. Amen. Okay, let's dive into our discussion. Holiness, it's the prescribed way. Our base scripture is as follows. It's out of 2 Corinthians 7, verse 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. And out of the New Living Translation, because we have these promises, dear friends. Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit, and let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. All right, a quick review from our last segment. God's will is for his people to live a holy, sanctified life. He desires a people that reflect the essence of who he is. Sanctification results in holiness and purification. The key is obedience to the spoken, written, and living Word of God. Obedience means to execute and follow the commands, guidance, leading, direction, regulation, and steering of God, and obedience is the supreme test of faith in God. Obedience brings us back into harmony with God and is the basis for our fellowship with him. God intended for the Hebrews to be a holy people. His intentions, the same for the recipients of the new covenant. His desire for his people hasn't changed. Holiness. Holiness is dedication to God characterized by moral purity and a close relationship. It involves moral perfection, reflecting God's glory, and a determined effort to align one's life with God's will. Let's say that again. It involves moral perfection, reflecting God's glory, and a determined effort to align one's life with God's will. Holiness is being set apart from the profane, avoiding sin and defilement by prayer, Bible study, and obedience to God's Word. And holiness is making conscious choices, conscious choices to live in accordance to God's will and to display his character in our daily lives. Holiness also involves recognizing and overcoming obstacles to spiritual growth. It is a deliberate effort not to be conformed to the ways of the world and a deliberate effort to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, by washing our mind daily with the Word of God. Holiness involves obedience to live in accordance to the commands and rules laid down for us in the Bible, and it is making, again, conscious choices to live in accordance to God's will. It is a deliberate act of putting off the old man and putting on the new man and deciding to live by God's dictate. There are characteristics that should be evident in a holy life. These include peace, faithfulness, humility, lovingly welcome to others, and being acceptive of all of those in covenant relationship with our Heavenly Father. The last characteristic is very important. In a holy life, this characteristic should stand out, a disciplined lifestyle, a disciplined lifestyle. Holiness is displaying God's character in our daily lives. I found it interesting that, and you've heard it said, I'm sure, holiness is required to see God. To literally see the Lord, and in order to perceive him as Lord, holiness is required. Holiness intends for us to go beyond how we dress. It's a lifestyle. It's a lifestyle. God God intends for us, once we're born again, to be holy. In fact, God demands us to be holy. And holiness is not how you live in public view, but how you live when no one is watching. Holiness is living in integrity. No one has to watch you for you to live holy. Holiness is living in integrity. And holiness will cause us to be more in tune with God's guidance and wisdom. Alan Brown suggests that there are these five elements of holiness, being connected to God, who is the source of holiness, being separated to God as his possession, being separated from the common or the ordinary, and being separated from all that God says is unclean or that morally defiled, and last but not least, being obedient to God's Word. Holiness will generate peace of mind, freedom from guilt and shame, and increase our spiritual strength and vitality. We should strive to live in accordance with God's will. We should seek to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. We should pursue righteousness through faith and obedience to God's Word. And as we submit to God's authority and aggressively resist temptation, we will ultimately develop a more disciplined lifestyle in all areas. And this disciplined lifestyle will be evident for all to see, especially our Heavenly Father. You see, holiness will result in a more intimate relationship with God. Once we're born again, we can't get a closer relationship with God than the one we have. And this is true because the God of creation is now living inside of us. You can't get much closer than that, to have God living inside of you. And the fact of the matter is he doesn't just come to visit with us. He comes to abide. He comes to dwell in us. Holiness. Hmm. Another gentleman, Sean Paul, offers us these practices in order to live a holy life. Spend regular time with God. Read God's Word. Obey God's Word. Follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. Run from temptation. Continually surrender to God with regular self-examination and repentance and disconnect from the world. As we speak of disconnecting from the world, we are actually talking about worldly or ungodly practices. The Bible says we've been called out of the world. So we want to disconnect from worldly or ungodly practices. If you enjoy our time together and would like to hear more of our thoughts on mature Christian thinking, pick up our most current book, Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church. Both are available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and major book outlets everywhere. So in accordance with God's holiness, we are commanded not to love the world nor the things of the world, which will all be consumed by the wrath of a holy God. Hear the word of the Lord as recorded by the apostle John in 1 John 2, verses 15 to 17. Do not love the world, nor the things it offers you. For when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2, 15-17, New Living Translation. Holiness means the pure nature of God, separate from evil, aggressively seeking to universalize itself. Holiness is interwoven with righteousness and purity. To see holiness apart from other qualities of a Christ-like life is to wander away from the way of holiness itself. Holiness refers to our relationship with God. Our adoption as God's children allows us to become godly people. Holiness comes to imply the fullness and completeness of God and godliness in all of its facets and meanings. Holy defines the goodness of God. It also defines places where God is present. The Holy Spirit is the agent of holiness. He's the agent of holiness for the church and its leaders. Being sanctified or made holy is the work of the Holy Spirit on the basis of Yeshua's atonement that calls for obedient submission from those who have been saved. Christians are continually being made holy by the work of the Spirit, enabling them to live in submission and obedience to God's commandments and laws. The saints have been summoned by God to live in righteousness and purity. Personal holiness is a matter or work of gradual development. It is a work that is carried out under many hindrances, hence the admonition to watch for and pray and have perseverance. Holiness is the flower of our union with Messiah, and it unfolds through communion with him. Holiness involves and centers around our intimacy with the Yeshua HaMashiach. There are two types of holiness. You didn't know that, did you? Two types of holiness, true and false. False holiness is when one tries to achieve holiness without Yeshua. False holiness really boils down to trying to be in right relationship with God by your works and not by your faith in Messiah and what he's done. We are made holy because of the atoning death of Yeshua HaMashiach. You see, holiness is seen as a reflection of God's own character. It is a result of his transformative work in our individual life. Holiness is the highest form of spiritual commitment and devotion. To put it bluntly, holiness involves complete dedication to God. Let me say that again. Holiness involves complete dedication to God. The Apostle Paul knew the importance of holiness. That's why he wrote instructions to the newly formed churches, Gentiles and Jews alike. He stressed the importance of holiness as a lifestyle. With the current onslaught of evil all around us today and the widespread proliferation of occult practices, holiness is more important than ever. It is a necessity. Not a luxury. It is a necessity, not a luxury because of the current onslaught of evil all around us. The proliferation of occult practices is, I mean, they're teaching Harry Potter in school. That's curriculum. Come on. Holiness is a necessity. It's not a luxury. I am aware that there is a certain segment of Christendom that will say it doesn't take all that. But we must be reminded of the scripture's admonition not to contaminate and defile ourselves by embracing unclean things. Hear the word of the Lord as recorded in 2 Corinthians 2, verses 16 to 18. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore, come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Holiness basically means whole. A person needs to be holy. All a person needs to be holy is to be entirely himself or unspoiled, according to the meaning of the Greek work. A holy person is uncontaminated by the world. A holy person is uncontaminated by the world. For he or she lives in union with God, but not without concern for the needs of others. Holiness is lived out in obedience. It's choosing honesty over deception, purity over lust, generosity over greed, and love over selfishness. Holiness in our relationships is we are called to love and serve and forgive as Messiah has done for us. Read Ephesians 4.32. Be holy is to be morally pure, spiritually whole, separated from evil, dedicated to God, and set apart for his purposes. We should have an overwhelming desire to be close to him. We want to be like his son, Yeshua of Nazareth. Ultimately, we are strongly determined to do what is right according to the Word of God. For St. Thomas Aquinas, holiness signifies two things, surety and firmness. The man of holiness is unstained by the world and remains steadfast and his unity to God, according to St. Thomas Aquinas. Holiness signifies two things, purity and firmness. There are practical ways to live holy lives. Praise God and pray without ceasing. Read his word daily. It is a guidebook for living. Confess your sins should you fail, and God will forgive you. Love your neighbor, even the difficult ones, and live to honor God in all you say and do. The Bible, holiness is primarily understood as separation and dedication to God, encompassing both God's inherent purity and the state of being set apart for his purposes. Again, it involves being morally pure, spiritually whole, and dedicated to God's will, reflecting his character. Here's a more detailed breakdown. God's holiness. Separation and distinction. God's holiness is fundamentally about his absolute otherness, his unique and transcendent nature as the creator. He is distinct from all creation and morally perfect. God's holiness is moral surety. He He is perfectly good, righteous, and free from any sin or defilement. That's God's holiness. He's free from any sin or defilement. He is fundamentally unique and transcendent as the creator. His nature is perfect. As far as human holiness is concerned, human holiness is separation from sin. God calls his people to be holy, which means separating themselves from sin, evil, and anything that contradicts his character. Dedication to God. Holiness also involves being dedicated to God's service, aligning one's life with His will and purposes. And it's a moral transformation. Through faith in Yeshua HaMashiach, believers are made holy and are called to pursue a life of increasing moral purity and conformity to God's enemy. And Leviticus 19.2 is a biblical example. God is talking to Moses and he says to him, speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, ye shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. In Exodus 19.6, he says, and ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. In 1 Peter 1, 15 to 16. 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. Romans 12, 1 and 2. present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is and what is good and acceptable and perfect. Last 1 Thessalonians 4 and 3. For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that ye abstain from sexual immorality. Holiness is a process. While believers are declared holy through faith in Yahushua, holiness is also a lifelong process of growth and transformation, known as sanctification. This process involves ongoing separation from sin, dedication to God, and striving to reflect His character. In all aspects of life. Living a holy life provides one inner peace and God's maximum protection, a deeper connection with God, an improved relationship with other Christians, a sense of purpose, and it fosters spiritual growth. My Pentecostal background afforded me access to the saying, Holiness is tight, but it's right. It is. It's the right thing. It's the prescribed way. It is tight. It's, you know, no doubt about it. It's choosing his agenda over our agenda. It's choosing to please him over choosing to please ourselves. Holiness as a lifestyle benefits the spiritual man and the natural physical man as well. Holiness can directly impact our physical health in the following ways. Holiness will cause us to have reduced stress and anxiety, improved mental health, stronger immune systems, healthier habits. Holiness will promote physical activities. It will provide us with a social support network. holiness. It fosters cleanliness and hygiene and the potential for healing. According to Kathy Howard, these five benefits can be acquired by living a holy life. Holiness fosters intimacy with God and builds spiritual strength and stability. Holy living makes us useful and effective for God's purposes. Our holy life causes people around us to glorify God and holiness build peace with God. A holy life pleases God and produces fruit. Some additional benefits of living holy include inner contentment, spiritual growth and maturity. Answered prayer, improved decision-making, positive influence on others, a lifestyle glorifying God, and making disciples. As we live a holy life, the Holy Spirit works within us, empowering us for a victorious and a fruitful life. Holiness the prescribed way. Well, you know what time it is. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with your friends and invite them to our community to join us in our community of listeners. You know it, our time is up. Until the next time, I'm your host, Bishop Roston. We will continue our conversation in our next segment, but until then, let us continue contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. And in the words of the ancient Hebrews, I bid you peace. Shalom.