Aaron, the high priest, along with his sons stood before Moses. As Moses raised his hand with the anointing oil, a moment of grace had arrived. They were to be set apart as holy. How well do we understand holiness?
Within scripture “saint,” that is those who are holy, describes people who have experienced God’s transformative grace. Thus, Paul addressed a letter “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (Philippians 1:1).
Yet, within contemporary thinking a saint often depicts someone whose great sacrifices and faithful service to God have earned them a holy status. Just how well do we understand holiness?
Leviticus lays a foundation for understanding holiness. Its ideas are repeated within the New Testament.
What might first jump out at us from Leviticus is God’s insistence that he is responsible for making people holy, whether priest or commoner. Whether our translations use the language of God sanctifying people or making them holy, the message is the same.
“I am the LORD who makes you holy.” Leviticus 20:8
“I the LORD am holy—I who make you holy.” Leviticus 21:8
“I am the LORD, who makes him holy.” Leviticus 21:15
“I am the LORD, who makes them holy.” Leviticus 21:23
“I am the LORD, who makes them holy.” Leviticus 22:9
“I am the LORD, who makes them holy.” Leviticus 22:16
“I am the LORD, who made you holy” Leviticus 22:32
People who are holy are the result of God’s transformative work. Their lifestyle did not bestow this quality upon them.
If this is true, then what does “sanctify yourselves” mean? For example Leviticus 20:7 states, “You must sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.” Can people make themselves holy? No!
Those whom God has made holy are to avoid defiling who God has made them to be. By dedicating themselves to God and his ways, God’s holy people are to maintain what God has done in their lives. As Leviticus 11:44 points out, “I am the LORD your God and you are to sanctify yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by … .”
The New Testament picks up this same message regarding holiness. Holiness comes from the Lord. “For by one offering he (Christ) has perfected for all time those who are made holy” (Hebrews 10:14).
Similarly, having been made holy, God’s people are not to defile themselves but rather dedicate themselves to God and his holy ways. Thus, “Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16).
And so, if someone is a saint, this is a declaration of God’s transformative grace. It is not a statement of self-achievement. It is God who enables people to be holy. Holiness is a gift.
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