How does one strive after holiness?

[FallingWaters]

The following three scriptures use the Greek word, translated holiness:
G38
ἁγιασμός
hagiasmos
hag-ee-as-mos'
From G37; properly purification, that is, (the state) purity;
concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: - holiness, sanctification.

1Thess 4:4 ESV
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1Thess 4:7 ESV
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Heb 12:14 ESV
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

What exactly is holy behavior?
Are there certain things I will and will not do if I want to be holy?
Does it make me legalistic if I have a list of things I will and will not do in order to be holy?

[JesusFreak4L]

The following three scriptures use the Greek word, translated holiness:
G38
ἁγιασμός
hagiasmos
hag-ee-as-mos'
From G37; properly purification, that is, (the state) purity;
concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: - holiness, sanctification.

1Thess 4:4 ESV
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1Thess 4:7 ESV
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Heb 12:14 ESV
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

What exactly is holy behavior?
Are there certain things I will and will not do if I want to be holy?
Does it make me legalistic if I have a list of things I will and will not do in order to be holy?

GOOD QUESTIONS!!

Well i would say that holy behavior is when we act in the same likeness of God, and we turn away from the sins of this world!

Holiness will come to you if you act in the likeness of God and profess your faith and treat others equally no matter what their past is.

No it doesn't make you legalistic if you have a list of things you will and will not do to become holy. This method is actually the method i use, i have things that i have written down, that i will not do while living, because they will only turn me away from God.

hope that helped some

~Cameron

[MrJim]

As long as you know you are elect and have eternal security the pursuit of holiness isn't really much of a priority...least that's what I'm reading around here ;)

Nature of Holiness varies with different denom groups, and though I go to a baptist church there doesn't seem to be a lot of standards. And you'll find all sorts of drinkers and smokers and gluttons around that put holiness on the backburner in pursuit of...better theology...yeah, I'm guilty of this.

Some of my anabaptist friends find the path to holiness in very plain clothes and black cars, to avoid "worldliness" (a sort of monasticism). My Catholic/Orthodox friends engage in, among other things, fasting in pursuit of holiness. You'll find historically that these and other things are used in this striving that Paul speaks of.

Phillipians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

It's a regular theme Paul speaks of, (and sanctification is maybe a word used more that pursuit of holiness...though I think some believe sanctification is more of an osmosis thing than something to strive for) and something we are to be striving toward ourselves.

Heb 12: 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

There is work involved in striving against sin...I think most of us wish God would just make us "perfect" or something so we wouldn't have these battles with temptations and sin yet here we are, and sadly we spend more time defending and fine tuning doctrines than picking up our brothers and "the least of these".

One of the things to look at concerning the nature of holiness is what Christ wants us to do and what He did when He was on the earth...consider Christ's judgements here:

Consider very closely Matthew 25:31-46 and the nature of the judgement when He seperates the sheep and the goats...the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the prisoner--look at what we are called to do, and that may put you on that trail you seek. Think more toward the serving of others than the self-imposed standards. Standards have a purpose, but without the other half of serving others it's just religious pietism.

Consider too, a signature I've seen around CF:

Humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less.

[FallingWaters]

GOOD QUESTIONS!!

Well i would say that holy behavior is when we act in the same likeness of God, and we turn away from the sins of this world!

Holiness will come to you if you act in the likeness of God and profess your faith and treat others equally no matter what their past is.

No it doesn't make you legalistic if you have a list of things you will and will not do to become holy. This method is actually the method i use, i have things that i have written down, that i will not do while living, because they will only turn me away from God.

hope that helped some

~Cameron
Thanks for your encouragement.
Grace and peace to you!

[FallingWaters]

As long as you know you are elect and have eternal security the pursuit of holiness isn't really much of a priority...least that's what I'm reading around here ;)

Nature of Holiness varies with different denom groups, and though I go to a baptist church there doesn't seem to be a lot of standards. And you'll find all sorts of drinkers and smokers and gluttons around that put holiness on the backburner in pursuit of...better theology...yeah, I'm guilty of this.
Thanks for the benefit of your experience.

Some of my anabaptist friends find the path to holiness in very plain clothes and black cars, to avoid "worldliness" (a sort of monasticism). Yes. I think those kinds of standards tend to change over the years, too. It's more culturally driven (pardon the pun).

My Catholic/Orthodox friends engage in, among other things, fasting in pursuit of holiness. Certainly fasting coupled with prayer assists us toward holy living.

You'll find historically that these and other things are used in this striving that Paul speaks of.Ah.

Phillipians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

It's a regular theme Paul speaks of, (and sanctification is maybe a word used more that pursuit of holiness...though I think some believe sanctification is more of an osmosis thing than something to strive for) and something we are to be striving toward ourselves.So you think perhaps striving for holiness and working out our sanctification are the same, or almost the same thing?
The scripture in Heb 12 says to strive for peace... and for holiness...

Heb 12: 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

There is work involved in striving against sin...I think most of us wish God would just make us "perfect" or something so we wouldn't have these battles with temptations and sin yet here we are, and sadly we spend more time defending and fine tuning doctrines than picking up our brothers and "the least of these".It is sad.

One of the things to look at concerning the nature of holiness is what Christ wants us to do and what He did when He was on the earth...consider Christ's judgements here:

Consider very closely Matthew 25:31-46 and the nature of the judgement when He separates the sheep and the goats...the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the prisoner--look at what we are called to do, and that may put you on that trail you seek. My mother was always a very good example to me of this.

Think more toward the serving of others than the self-imposed standards. Standards have a purpose, but without the other half of serving others it's just religious pietism.I agree with you.
Certainly I am not trying to earn my salvation, or even love, from God.
I want to be a vessel of honor for Him.
I want Him to use me for His work.
I want to do my duty- to bring glory and honor to His name.

Consider too, a signature I've seen around CF:
Humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less.Yes. I've seen it, too. Very good.

[MrJim]

Striving for holiness=working out our sanctification? Yeah, I would tend to go this way, for it works hand in hand.

But again consider that if we sit down and say, "Well today I am going to work on my holiness/sanctification" then we may be going about it the wrong way...maybe a better way is saying "Who needs to be helped today" or "What can I do today to serve others", for in serving others--anyone, we are serving Christ Himself.

[JimfromOhio]

I know there are more to it than what I am about to say. I have books on the topic. I love this book called: The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges. Christianbook.com (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=39328&netp_id=419145&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW)

I like Menno's posts and I agree with him.:thumbsup:

I have struggled with the topic of "holiness" until I learned more about "sanctification". We are sanctified by faith and God is always sanctifying us every minute. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified.

I know that I will never be perfect and at the same time, I desire NOT to sin. Romans 12:9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Ephesians 4:24 "and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." As long as I am making efforts to live in holiness, then God is very pleased. In 2 Peter 1:5-9: "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

[holyrokker]

Galatians 3:2-3
Holiness grows out of a heart yielded to the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:9-11
It comes from resting in Christ.

[MrJim]

Galatians 3:2-3
Holiness grows out of a heart yielded to the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:9-11
It comes from resting in Christ.

Yup, this is good stuff, and dovetails with what was said earlier. Note especially verse 11

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.


Labour to enter into that rest...there is work, effort, involved, and apparently some consequences for failure...

Great points holyrokker

[FallingWaters]

I still don't see how one can set standards for themselves without being perceived as being legalistic.

Or is it only when you try to encourage others to follow your example that people call you legalistic.

[MrJim]

Some of my conservative mennonite friends set standards in their congregations, from what kinds of clothes will be worn, to whether a car can have a radio in it. It is fine for a congregation to set standards for themselves, but when they then define the gospel by their standards then they have entered into legalism.

Same would apply to individuals. I don't drink or smoke. I have in the past-even as a Christian-but do not anymore. If I do have a beer or a cigar it is not going to shipwreck my faith (though it very well may be a stumbling block for another Christian). Now if I say you have to be like me or you're not a real Christian, then you've entered into legalism.

Remember what Paul said-all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should...

Then you have to decide how you will interact with other Christians that may not agree with your positions. And here love must be what guides you. Don't let your standards be stumbling blocks for others, but do gently and lovingly explain why you do what you do. I've not had any troubles in my conversations with brothers and sisters in church over these types of things, and often it leads to some interesting discussion.

[JPPT1974]

Paul was apprehended and in chains
But he did so for the will of Christ
So that he can show where he stood
For in our Savior & Lord.