HOLINESS: DIVINE and HUMAN

Introduction

When we think of holiness we usually think in terms of what is right, moral, righteous, just, pure, good, etc. It is right that we do and, in this sense, we all have an interest in holiness. We hate not being holy; we hate being wrong (or being ‘found out’ to be wrong!!!).

‘The great preoccupation of humanity is self—justification’

No doubt behind our drive to be seen to be right is the knowledge of coming judgment and of having to face a holy God. Behind all our rationalising and self—justification etc we know that holiness is essential (Heb 12:14).

Man was made to be holy. If God, in whose image Man is made, is holy, then Man cannot be himself, cannot know fulfilment, apart from that holiness (ie. God’s holiness) and without knowingly participating in it. Not that our efforts to be holy can bring contentment or happiness but when, by God’s sanctifying action, we are made to be holy we will be content.

1. Introduction: The importance of holiness (Heb 12:14)

2. The Creation-Made for Holiness

3. The Loss of Holiness

4. God Expresses His Holiness and Demand for Human Holiness in History

5. Jesus and the Cross: True Human Holiness and the Defeat of All that is Unholy

6. Simultaneously Saints and Sinners, Holy and Profane

7. The Restoration of Holiness in all the Earth