We must carefully consider the ramifications of 1 Peter 1:15-16: “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.” The holiness of God demands that his people be separate from the world. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:16-17). Saints have been called out of darkness (1 Pet.2:9) and have been called by the gospel (2 Thes. 2:14) to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord. “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Heb.12:10).
Since God is Holy, He desires a holy nation, a holy priesthood, a holy dwelling, etc. “And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins” (Joshua 24:19). “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none besides thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Sam. 2:2). “But thou art holy, 0 thou that inhabitest the praises of lsrael” (Ps.22:3). “For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Lev.11:44-45).
God is called holy in connection with every revelation which impresses man with God’s exalted majesty. “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezek. 39:7). As mentioned before holiness is an expression of the quality of divinity (Amos 4:2). It is the relation of men to God, as dedicated to his service, that makes men “saints” in either the Old or New Testament. “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Lev. 20:26).
Whatever is holy lives a peculiar life and bears a peculiar character; it has been separated from the common sphere and from the common law. It may not be touched. “And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them” (Ex. 19:23-24).
Israel was separated by choice, by covenant, and by His law. They were holy because God made them his own possession. “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Ex.19:5-6). The same can be said for the church. Thus, we see the composition of it is a set apart, holy people. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (l Pet. 2:9).
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