A Disturbing Verse

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14)

The word "holy" is used to describe the character of angels, the nature of heaven and the character of God. It is written that angels are holy and those angels who gaze down upon the scenes of mankind are called the watchers and holy ones.

It is said that heaven is a holy place where no unclean thing can enter in.

God Himself is described by the adjective "holy" - Holy Spirit, Holy Lord and Holy Lord God Almighty. These words are used of God throughout the Bible, showing that the highest adjective that can be ascribed to God, the highest attribute that can be ascribed to God is that of holiness, and, in a relative sense, even the angels in heaven partake of the holiness of God.

We note in the Bible, too, that the absence of holiness is given as a reason for not seeing God. This text does have a meaning and it ought to disturb us until we have discovered what it means and how we may meet its conditions.

The divine antidote for the satanic poison of sin is holiness. Holiness is an attribute of God and a requirement of the people of God.

~A. W. Tozer~

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True Holiness is Positive

"It shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it" (Isaiah 35:8)

What does the word "holiness" really mean? Is it a negative kind of piety from which so many people have shied away? No, of course not!

Holiness in the Bible means moral wholeness - a positive quality which actually includes kindness, mercy, purity, moral blamelessness and godliness. It is always to be thought of in a positive, white intensity of degree. Whenever it is written that God is holy it means that God is kind, merciful, pure, and blameless in a white, holy intensity of degree.

When used of men, it does not mean absolute holiness as it does of God, but it is still the positive intensity of the degree of holiness - and not negative.

This is why true Bible holiness is positive - a holy man can be trusted. A holy man can be tested.

The Holy Spirit is an infinite force that makes our life powerful, and enables us to accomplish all for which we are called as the disciples of Christ. It is power over sin, power over self, power over the world ... power to be, to do.

~A. W. Tozer~