Living A Holy Life

Being holy is living a clean, godly, and pure life that is pleasing to God.  It is also having a pure heart, as well as reading the bible and trying to obey it.  Of course, no one is perfect and we all sin and have to ask God to forgive us.  I John 1:8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  I John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Another name for holiness is righteousness.  Proverbs 21:21: He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

The bible actually commands us to be holy.  I Peter 1:15: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16: Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Living a holy life is the exact opposite of what most people in the world are doing since most people in the world are unsaved and don't know God, our heavenly Father, or Jesus, our saviour.  So by living a holy life, you will be extremely different than the world.  That is why God calls his children a peculiar people.  Peculiar means strange and unusual, different than the norm.

The following are verses that tell us that Christians are a peculiar people.
I Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Titus 2:14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Christians are born of God and have the Holy Spirit living inside them, unlike the unsaved people of the world who do not have the Holy Spirit inside of them, which is why it says in I John 5:19: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Furthermore, God is a god of extremes and there is a huge difference between good and bad.  For instance, heaven is extremely good and hell is extremely bad.  There's a big difference between light and darkness, foolishness and wisdom.  So there is also a big difference between holy and profane.  Profane means extremely filthy and unclean.
Leviticus 10:10: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
Ezekiel 44:23: And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
Discern means to know and understand and have wisdom to know the difference between what is good and what is bad.

The following are verses that talk about holiness.

Isaiah 35:8: And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
I Thessalonians 4:7: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
Hebrews 12:14: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Luke 1:74-75; That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75: In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
Romans 1:4: And declared to be the Son of God with power; according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
II Corinthians 1:7: 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.
Ephesians 4:24: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The following are verses that tell us we should be separate from unclean and profane people.  In other words, don't be good friends with unsaved people.  We should definitely witness to them and try to get them saved, and tell them the gospel, but we should not be like them in their sinful life that they live.

II Corinthians 6:14-18: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath he that believeth with an infidel?
15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

It is a wonderful thing to be a child of God and one of his peculiar people, to be different than the world.  Children of God are by far in the minority. There are many more wicked and profane people in the world than holy people.  That is why God calls us a "peculiar treasure" in Exodus 19:5: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: