For example, the tabernacle itself (the tent made by Moses according to God’s directions) was a physical object that provided striking teaching about holiness, because the tabernacle contained two rooms that were “holy places” (Hebrews 9:24). These rooms were completely separated from anything evil or ordinary, and that meant that the common people of Israel could never enter them. Only the priests could enter the first room, the Holy Place, and only the high priest could enter the second room, the Most Holy Place, and he only once a year (Leviticus 16:34). This was the place most separated from evil and most fully devoted to God’s service.
The element of dedication to God’s honor and service is also seen in the holiness of the Sabbath day: “The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:11). The Sabbath day was made holy because it was set apart from the ordinary activities of the world and dedicated to God’s service and worship. In the same way, Aaron and his sons, who were chosen to be priests, were to be made holy (Exodus 29:44). That is, they were separated from ordinary tasks and from the evil and sin of the world, and they were dedicated to God’s service (see also Exodus 30:25-33).
Imitation of God's moral character
God is pleased when His children imitate various aspects of His moral character, and that is certainly true with respect to holiness. He commanded the Jewish people, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2; see also 11:44-45; 20:26).
In the New Testament, Christians are told to “strive … for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Paul says that God’s discipline is given to us “that we may share his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). He also tells Christians to be separate from the dominating influence that comes from close association with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) and then encourages them, “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1; see also Romans 12:1).
Peter says holiness should apply to every part of our lives. He writes, “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
And the church itself is intended by God to grow “into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21). For this reason, Christ’s present-day work for the church is “that he might sanctify her … that he might present the church to himself in splendor … that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27). Not only individuals but also the church itself must grow in holiness!
Our challenge
These verses present a healthy challenge for us: Will all our conduct today be holy (that is, separated from evil and devoted to honoring God)? Will all our words be holy? What about all our thoughts?
Sometimes we will fail, for “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2), and it is then that we are most thankful for Christ’s promise of forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Even our stumbling and asking forgiveness can be used in the larger project of striving for holiness (see Hebrews 12:14).
Moreover, we can fix our eyes on an amazing future hope, a hope that one day every item on Earth—including every animal in every household and every dish in every kitchen!—will be “holy to the Lord”:
“And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ And the pots in the house of the Lord shall be as the bowls before the altar. And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 14:20-21).
Just imagine what it will it be like to live on Earth when every person who has come into God’s Kingdom, and every item on Earth, will be wholly separated from evil, purified from sin, and devoted to the service and worship of God—forever. ©2025 Wayne Grudem
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
Wayne Grudem is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary. Parts of this article have been adapted from his book Systematic Theology and are used with permission from the publisher.
