Holiness .. Basics
Holiness
Here is a quick description of holiness from a Wesleyan perspective.
Holiness means "set apart". In this case we are set apart by God to serve Him and be part of His family. Another word we use for this is the word ‘sanctify’. If you are sanctified you are set apart or made holy. When a person puts their faith in Christ they are initially set apart by God and become part of his family.
To put your faith in Christ means more than just believing that He existed. It means trusting that He is who he says He is. This includes trusting Him and following Him and making Him the boss of your life. When we do this He makes us holy or set apart for Him. As we continue in the Christian faith we grow in our knowledge of Him and in what it means to have him be our boss or leader. There are many moments in our journey when we need to make a decision all over again whether we will submit to his leadership in our lives. For many there is a point in their life when they make a once for all decision. We who are Nazarene call this moment 'entire sanctification'. The name is confusing to some because they think it means that they are done growing in Christ but this is not the case. They must continue to grow in Christ, submitting to Him daily. Therefore anyone who is a Christian is both holy and is being made holy by God. This applies to all Christians everywhere from wherever they come to Christ in their life journey.
For a word study of the word; 'holy' click here.
For a deeper look at the theology of holiness and the Christian journey click here.
Here is a quick description of holiness from a Wesleyan perspective.
Holiness means "set apart". In this case we are set apart by God to serve Him and be part of His family. Another word we use for this is the word ‘sanctify’. If you are sanctified you are set apart or made holy. When a person puts their faith in Christ they are initially set apart by God and become part of his family.
To put your faith in Christ means more than just believing that He existed. It means trusting that He is who he says He is. This includes trusting Him and following Him and making Him the boss of your life. When we do this He makes us holy or set apart for Him. As we continue in the Christian faith we grow in our knowledge of Him and in what it means to have him be our boss or leader. There are many moments in our journey when we need to make a decision all over again whether we will submit to his leadership in our lives. For many there is a point in their life when they make a once for all decision. We who are Nazarene call this moment 'entire sanctification'. The name is confusing to some because they think it means that they are done growing in Christ but this is not the case. They must continue to grow in Christ, submitting to Him daily. Therefore anyone who is a Christian is both holy and is being made holy by God. This applies to all Christians everywhere from wherever they come to Christ in their life journey.
For a word study of the word; 'holy' click here.
For a deeper look at the theology of holiness and the Christian journey click here.
