Theme · theological

Holiness

'Be holy, for I am holy' — the refrain of Leviticus establishes holiness as both God's nature and his demand. Holiness means separation: Israel is set apart from the nations, the Sabbath from ordinary days, the priests from the laity. Isaiah's vision of the seraphim crying 'Holy, holy, holy' reveals holiness as the defining attribute of God's character. In the New Testament, holiness shifts from ritual purity to moral transformation: believers are temples of the Holy Spirit, called to present their bodies as living sacrifices.

Passages expressing this theme

1Cor 6:19 — What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Pet 1:15 — But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pet 1:16 — Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1Sam 2:2 — There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
1Thess 4:3 — For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
2Cor 7:1 — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Eph 1:4 — According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Exod 3:5 — And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Exod 15:11 — Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Ezek 36:23 — And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be
Heb 12:14 — Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Isa 6:3 — And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 57:15 — For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of t
Josh 24:19 — And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
Lev 11:44 — 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 ear
Lev 19:2 — Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Lev 20:7 — Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
Lev 20:26 — 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.
Matt 5:48 — Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Ps 29:2 — Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Ps 93:5 — Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
Ps 99:9 — Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
Rev 4:8 — And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to
Rom 6:19 — I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servan
Rom 12:1 — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.