Holiness Word Study

"Holiness" describes the character of God -- "God is Holy!"  
 

English Term        Greek Word        Meaning 

Holiness (noun)        hagiasmos        State or condition of being holy 

Sanctification           hagiasmoso       process of making a person holy 

Sanctify (verb)          hagiozo              to make holy; to dedicate or purify 

Holy (adjective)        hagios                belonging to God, sacred, pure 

Saints (noun)            Hagioi                believers who have responded to God’s 
                                                        invitation to be disciples of Jesus.  They are
                                                         the "called out ones" who make up the church. 
                                                         (I Cor 1:2)  

God calls us to be holy... see Leviticus 11:44-45, and 19:1-2 

God is the one who makes us holy... see Levitcus 20:7-8 

Even in the New Testament we are still called to be holy...see Hebrews 12:14, I Peter 1:15-16. 

We are to be a holy priesthood...  see I Peter 2:4-6 

We pursue holiness by offering ourselves completely to God... see Romans 6:15-19, and Romans 12:1-2 

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For a a basic understanding of holiness click here.  

For a deeper look at the Wesleyan understanding of sin along with the theology of holiness and the Christian journey click here.