Bible Holiness by M. C. GUILD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 2, 1915

Bible Holiness

By M. C. GUILD

M. C. GUILD

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15, 16.

HOLINESS is an attribute of God denoting wholeness and perfection; and in heaven above it is considered of so much importance that angels emphasize it as they stand in his presence, crying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts.” Isa. 6:3.

Our Heavenly Father desires that we shall be “partakers of his holiness.” Heb. 12:10. The exhortation of the apostle Peter is definite and clear that Christians should live holy lives. And nothing short of true holiness will enable men and women to stand before that pure and holy Being who dwells in the high and holy place in heaven above.

The servant of God, in seeking to impress this great truth upon God’s remnant people, said, “Let all remember that God is holy, and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in his presence.” —“Early Writings.”

The teaching of the Bible concerning holiness has been obscured and neglected because of the ignominy and reproach cast upon it by certain persons who make a great profession of holiness, yet who refuse obedience to God’s law, and reject with scorn some of the plainest truths of the Bible.

It is certainly important that every child of God should understand what it is that makes us holy, and how this desirable and necessary condition can be attained. So emphatic was Paul concerning this matter that he was led to declare that without holiness “no man can see the Lord.”

The Presence of Divinity Makes Holy

As Moses stood before the burning bush in the wilderness, he heard a voice which called to him and said, “Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Ex. 3:5. The presence manifested at the burning bush was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 7:37, 38. It was, therefore, the presence of Christ that made that ground holy.

When Joshua stood before the Captain of the host of the Lord, as the children of Israel were about to possess the land of Canaan, “the Captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” Joshua 5:15. The captain of the Lord’s host is Christ, for he is the leader of the armies of heaven. Rev. 19:11-14. It was his presence that made the ground on which Joshua trod “holy ground.” The presence of Christ between the cherubim in the sanctuary made the second apartment the “most holy place.” At whatever place, or in whatever object, Christ deigns to dwell, that place or object thereby becomes holy.

The Holy Scriptures

That which exalts the Bible high above all other books in the world is the fact that Christ is found in the sacred page. This stamps it as a holy book and marks it as divine. He is hidden in the Old Testament, where he can be found by those who seek; and he is revealed in the New Testament in all his matchless splendor.

“Sweet book! in thee my eyes discern The image of my absent Lord; From thy instructive page I learn The joys his presence will afford.”

This holy book should be handled with reverence, and studied with diligence and great care. As we feed upon the Word, we shall become more and more like Christ, and his holy life will be seen in us.

God’s Law Is Holy

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom. 7:12. Of Christ it was written, “Thy law is within my heart.” Ps. 40:8. “Out of it [the heart] are the issues of life.” Prov. 4:23. This holy law, then, is the character of Christ in written form. His life on earth was a living example of what the law requires.

He could truthfully say, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.” John 15:10.

“In his life the law appears, Drawn out in living characters.”

The man who lives a holy life will be in harmony with this holy and righteous law, and will gladly conform to its requirements. No one can justly claim true Bible holiness while knowingly violating one of the precepts of God’s law.

The Sabbath Is Holy

God calls the Sabbath, “My holy day.” Isa. 58:13. We are commanded to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The sweet repose and sacred, holy calm found in the Sabbath by those who observe it, can only be accounted for by the fact that the presence of Christ is in the seventh day above all the other days of the week.

In ancient times the showbread was brought into the sanctuary fresh and new every Sabbath day. Lev. 24:7, 8. It was a symbol of Christ, that “living bread which came down from heaven.” John 6:51. And now, as in the days of old, the special presence of Christ is renewed to his humble children upon the Sabbath. They find in the Sabbath that which can be found in no other day, for his presence makes it holy.

Of the servants of God it was said, “They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane.” Eze. 44:23.

God is greatly dishonored when men teach that there is no difference between the Sabbath and the other days of the week. He says, “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Eze. 22:26.

The Tithe Is Holy

“All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” Lev. 27:30. We belong to our Saviour both by creation and by redemption. He preserves our lives day by day. We honor our Redeemer when we bring our tithe as an acknowledgment of his sovereignty over us. The tithe belongs to God, and is used for the support of those who are engaged in the ministry of bringing souls to Christ. It is, therefore, holy. Nothing brings greater leanness of soul than robbing God of this holy money and using it for selfish purposes. “It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.” Prov. 20:25.

We Are to Be Holy

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. He in whom Christ abides will keep his body pure, a fit temple for the indwelling Saviour.

Of all that God created upon the earth, man is the masterpiece. Says the psalmist, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Ps. 139:14.

As Christians we are exhorted to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1. It is now generally conceded that strong drink shortens life. It rouses the animal propensities in man, inflames the passions, debases the moral nature, produces criminals, and increases the number of paupers, idiots, and insane. It is contrary to all that is holy and pure. The use of tobacco does not comport with a holy life. Its effect on the body is that of a poison. Nearly all who use it acknowledge that it is a filthy habit. The children of God who seek holiness should put away not only liquor and tobacco, but also tea, coffee, and every harmful stimulant and narcotic. Those forms of amusement that tend to impurity of thought and action will be avoided. The body and mind should be kept in the best possible condition for the abiding presence of Christ.

Christ Enthroned Within

It is a wonderful thing that Christ, the Holy One of God, should deign to dwell in the human heart. But so it is; for he says, “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” Isa. 57:15. As the Father and the Son occupy the throne above (Rev. 3:21), so they will jointly dwell with him who is obedient to God’s commandments. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23. To all who yield and allow him admittance, he will come in and dwell.

My brother, my sister, his life lived in you will be the same holy life as when he lived a man among men; for he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You can then say with Paul, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20. Those who truly enjoy the presence of Christ in their daily lives are never heard boasting of their own holy or perfect or sinless condition. Their praise will continually be of him. Seeing his perfection, they will find nothing in themselves of which to boast.

The Church to Be Holy

God designs that his entire church shall answer his description of it: “A glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27. The dross of sin is to be destroyed by the fires of the judgment day. Only that which is holy and pure will endure. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”

The characters of those who perfect holiness in the fear of God will finally be sealed for all eternity. No more will Satan be allowed to cause defilement and sin, for the last decree will be, “He that is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev. 22:11.

Saginaw, Mich.