Holiness & Salvation

"worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" 

(Psa. 29: 2)

In thinking upon this important subject let us begin with these words:

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." (Heb. 12: 14)

Holiness or sanctification is a necessity if we are to be finally and eternally saved. That is exactly what the words emboldened above affirm. Further, holiness essentially involves godliness. In beginning this short study, let us begin with a sermon on this verse by the great C.H. Spurgeon who said (emphasis mine):

"There has been a desperate attempt made by certain Antinomians to get rid of the injunction which the Holy Spirit here means to enforce. They have said that this is the imputed holiness of Christ. Do they not know, when they so speak, that, by an open perversion, they utter that which is false?" 

The Hardshell Baptists are "Antinomians" on holiness, at least those today who deny means and the necessity of faith, progressive sanctification, and perseverance for salvation.  These Antinomian Hardshells will be found to have alternative and novel interpretations on the meaning of our text. Some will indeed argue that the holiness is like righteousness, a thing imputed without works, but this is not the teaching of this or other texts on this subject, as Spurgeon said. 

Other Hardshells might argue that the reference to "seeing the Lord" does not denote salvation in the end but a seeing the Lord in fellowship here in this life. But such interpretations are rather misinterpretations.

Spurgeon continued:

"I do not suppose that any man in his senses can apply that interpretation to the context, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness." Now, the holiness meant is evidently one that can be followed like peace; and it must be transparent to any ingenuous man that it is something which is the act and duty of the person who follows it. We are to follow peace; this is practical peace, not the peace made for us, but "the fruit of righteousness which is sown in peace of them that make peace." We are to follow holiness,-this must be practical holiness; the opposite of impurity, as it is written, "God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." The holiness of Christ is not a thing to follow; I mean, if we look at it imputatively. That we have at once; it is given to us the moment we believe. The righteousness of Christ is not to be followed; it is bestowed upon the soul in the instant when it lays hold of Christ Jesus."

I fully agree. The holiness or sanctification that the text advocates is a practical holiness and involves conformity to the will and law of God in one's daily practice and behavior. For an article on this subject see my posting "Fate of those who "live ungodly"? (here) 

Spurgeon said:

"This is another kind of holiness. It is, in fact, as every one can see who chooses to read the connection, practical, vital holiness which is the purport of this admonition. It is conformity to the will of God, and obedience to the Lord's command. It is, in fine, the Spirit's work in the soul, by which a man is made like God, and becomes a partaker of the divine nature, being delivered from the corruption which is in the world through lust. No straining, no hacking at the text can alter it. There it stands, whether men like it or not. There are some who, for special reasons best known to themselves, do not like it, just as no thieves ever like policemen or gaols; yet there it stands, and it means no other than what it says: "Without holiness,"-practical, personal, active, vital holiness,-"no man shall see the Lord." 

I agree with Spurgeon that the holiness commanded and required in order to "see the Lord" (in final and complete salvation) involves godliness, obedience, and conformity to the word and will of God, or involves the life of a person, his practice or habit in life. 

Spurgeon said:

"Dealing with this solemn assertion, fearfully exclusive as it is, shutting out as it does so many professors from all communion with God on earth, and all enjoyment of Christ in heaven, I shall endeavour, first, to give some marks and signs whereby a man may know whether he hath this holiness or not; secondly, to give sundry reasons by way of improvement of the solemn fact, "Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord;" and then, thirdly, to plead hard, in Christ's stead, with those who are lovers of gain, that they may bethink themselves ere time be over, and opportunity past." (here)

The various destructive judgments upon the antediluvian world, and upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, are intended as "examples" of God's wrath and condemnation upon "ungodly" people. (See II Peter 2: 4-7; Jude 1: 4-7) Remember that holy people are not ungodly living people.

Old Testament Hebrew word for "holiness" is "qōḏeš" (Pronunciation - ko'-desh) and means "apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness." (Strong) It is used of the holiness of God, and of the holiness of places and things. 

The New Testament Greek word for "holiness" is "hagiasmos" and translated as both holiness and sanctification. Its meaning is not any different from the Hebrew although Strong mentions purification as connected therewith and also the "effect of consecration" which entails "sanctification of heart and life." 

"Holy" (adjective) is from "hagios." Wrote W.E. Vines:

Holiness, Holy, Holily: akin to A, Nos. 1 and 2, which are from the same root as hagnos (found in hazo, "to venerate"), fundamentally signifies "separated" (among the Greeks, dedicated to the gods), and hence, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred.

Summing up, we may say that holiness or sanctification first involves separation and many biblical texts speak of this aspect of holiness. For instance:

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (II Cor 6: 17-18)

God's separation of a sinner from other sinners, from the world, involves the sinner himself, through God's power and grace, separating himself. We are commanded in scripture; "be ye holy" and "be ye separate." It is also not so much a physical separating, but a separating that occurs in the heart and mind, and is reflected in our daily habits.

It involves consecration or dedication to God. It is religious in nature. This "making holy" involves these things:

1. Makes a thing uncommon, unique, and special by separating it from the common group. It thus involves distinguishing something, to "make it to differ from another" in a positive way. (I Cor. 4: 7)

2. Changes the purpose and destiny of the thing thus separated. An holy spoon in the Temple was a spoon that was separated from other spoons, not because it was different but because the act of separating it for service to God, or sanctifying it, was what separated it and made it different, made it holy.

3. Changing the thing separated and sanctified both constitutionally and practically. Constitutionally by the act of separating the thing, and practically by changing its function and purpose, and its nature. 

Holy Living

"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (I Thess. 4: 7)

Notice how again holiness is connected with cleanliness as it has been connected with godliness or godly living. Not only is holiness a necessity for eternal life but it is the end of our election and calling. We are "called to holiness." A man who is unholy in his conduct has not been called, or perhaps I should say, has not answered the call. 

God "chose us" to salvation before the world began "that we might be holy." (Eph. 1: 3-4) This holiness involves living a holy life, as these texts affirm:

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (I Peter 1: 15-16)

Notice how being "holy" is something external in the practice and behavior as well as a state or condition of the heart and mind. Peter later in his second epistle speaks of "all holy conversation and godliness" (II Peter 3: 11) where "conversation" involves "manner of living," what a man says with his deeds in addition to what he says with his words.

The prayer of the elect and called is given by a holy man in these words:

"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." (Luke 1: 74-75)

The kind of holiness required in order to see the Lord in glory, and to live with him forever, involves service in holiness and righteousness.

Paul exhorted the early converts to "yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness" so that they might "have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Rom. 6: 19, 22)

God help us to do so!