"But just as he who called you is Holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be Holy because I am Holy."" 1 Peter 1:15-16.
What is holiness? Is it possible to live a life that is holy? How do I view holiness in my life? These are the questions that I hope to answer from Drury's point of view and mine.
In the book, Holiness for Ordinary People. Drury views holiness as loving God with all ones heart, mind, soul and strength, and loving ones neighbor as oneself. Simply stated as, holiness is being like Christ. The definition of holiness is Christ himself, for He loved his Father and His neighbor perfectly; also He was able to obey perfectly. The terms obedience and love goes hand in hand. Therefore, the definition of holiness can be summed up into perfect love (13).
The idea of holiness begins with Christ. His holiness is so vital to his nature that in Amos 4:2a, it states, "The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness." Above all things, God is holy. To be holy is to be like God because He is the Holy One (27).
Written throughout the Bible, there are promises of forgiveness for sins and freedom from the power of sin. God's word stresses the importance of cleansing from all impurity, renewing of the hearts in righteousness, and conforming human beings to God's image.
In Matthew 3:11-12, we read of an announcement from John the Baptist that states, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire"(28).
According to these verses, God has called and expects every believer to be holy, just as He is holy. God's desire was for every Israelite to fear, obey and serve Him with all their heart and soul.
