Good Or God? With John BevereSample

Set Apart for God

Holiness. Mention the word and watch people recoil. Many reject the idea of holiness because it might put a damper on life. To others, it seems to be an aspect of legalism. If you bring up the subject, you’ll often hear the rebuttal, “I’m living in God’s grace.”

The New Testament concept of holiness is nothing like these assumptions. It’s a magnificent, desirable way of life. But in our time, it’s vastly misunderstood.

Hebrews 12 challenges our assumptions about holiness with the stunning revelation that holiness is what positions us to see God. Didn’t we determine intimacy with God is our greatest goal? Then why would we want to avoid the thing that makes it possible? This is why we are encouraged to “pursue” it, which means to chase after with the intent to apprehend.

I think it's time we define true holiness. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says holiness is to be “set apart for God, to be...exclusively his.”

Before we entered into covenant relationship with Jesus, we were of this world. We pursued status, reputation, and anything else that served our selfishness. But everything is different now. We’re God’s people, and we’re to be set apart for Him. We’re called to be exclusively His.

Not only that, but because we belong to God, we’re also called to live in a new way. Another definition of the Greek word for holiness describes “pure, sinless, upright” behavior.

This aspect of holiness scares some people, but it shouldn’t. As we’ll discuss later, God hasn't abandoned us to achieve a righteous lifestyle on our own. He’s given us everything we need.

I believe a healthy understanding of holiness can transform everything about our lives. It is the difference between fulfilled life and unsatisfying existence. This issue is so important I want to spend another two days unpacking it.

Today, meditate on Hebrews 12:14. Where do you stand with holiness? Are you chasing after it? Or have you avoided it, thinking it’s unnecessary or religious? Have you embraced a false holiness that only leads to legalism? Perhaps you’ve never heard holiness taught in a positive light. Maybe you’ve never heard it discussed at all.

I encourage you to open your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth. As your perspective expands, you may discover a level of intimacy with God unlike any you’ve ever known.