Behaviour that reflects the holy character of God himself is to be expressed in both social and personal dimensions of life.
Holiness in practice is a reflection of God's own character
1 Peter 1:15–16 See also Leviticus 11:44–45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7; Ephesians 4:24; 1 John 3:3
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Holiness demands a different way of life
Shunning practices that defile
Leviticus 18:1–3; Ephesians 5:11–12; 1 Timothy 5:22 See also Leviticus 18:21–24, Leviticus 18:29–30, Leviticus 20:1–3, Leviticus 20:6–7, Leviticus 20:23–26, Leviticus 21:7; 2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1; Galatians 5:19–21, Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 5:3–7; Colossians 3:5–10
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God. You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Obedience to God's law
Leviticus 20:7–8 See also Leviticus 18:4–5, Leviticus 19:37; Deuteronomy 6:25, Deuteronomy 28:9; Psalm 119:9; Romans 7:12; 1 Peter 1:22
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Holiness is expressed in social behaviour
Care for the disadvantaged
Leviticus 19:9–10 See also Leviticus 19:14, Leviticus 19:33–34; 1 Timothy 5:3–4, 1 Timothy 5:8; James 1:27
When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
A concern for truth and justice
Leviticus 19:15–16 See also Leviticus 19:11–13, Leviticus 19:35–37
You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly. You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
Loving one's neighbour
Leviticus 19:18 See also Leviticus 19:16–17 Most of the OT law can be seen as an expression of holiness.
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Holiness is expressed in family and sexual relations
1 Thessalonians 4:3–7 See also Leviticus 18:5–20, Leviticus 18:22–23, Leviticus 19:3, Leviticus 20:9; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Corinthians 6:13–15, 1 Corinthians 6:18–19
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
Holiness is seen in personal character
Colossians 3:12 See also Ephesians 4:23–24, Ephesians 4:32–5:2; 2 Timothy 2:22
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.