Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts (Isa. 6:3) Jesus is the Holy One of God (Lk. 4:34 The Spirit of God is known as the Holy Spirit.  The Bible consistently describes God as holy and perfect in every way. We are obviously very different. Job asked, What is man, that he could be pure? Man is abominable, filthy and drinks iniquity like water! (Job 15:14-16). There is no one who does not sin (Ecc. 7:20) and the hearts of the sons of men are filled with evil and madness is in their hearts (Ecc. 9:3). 

At Mt. Sinai, God told Israel, “You shall be holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44–45).  Repeated commands include “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2),  “Be holy, for I am the Lord your God” (Lev 20:7), “You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy” (Lev. 20:26).   God is making a point. If we are going to be His people, we must be a holy people.

Many churches are not doing well today. Why is that?  There is no one simple answer, but has the world become more wicked than it used to be? Are people more careless and indifferent? Has the gospel lost its appeal? Or could it be that as the Lord walks among the candlesticks, sometimes He sees so much sin He can’t open doors for us? (Deut. 23:14, Rev. 3:8) Like old Israel going up to fight against a small town like Ai, we fall when there is sin in the camp (Jos. 7:11-12).

Peter quoted Leviticus to remind Christians our God is holy and we must be holy (1Pe. 1:15–16). That truth will never change. The purpose of God choosing us before the foundation of the world was that we should be holy (Eph. 1:4).The reason we have been reconciled to God is so we can be presented holy before God (Col. 1:21–22). We must be pursuing holiness or we will not be allowed to see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). To be faithful, we must  be increasing our love towards one another so our hearts can be established blameless in holiness (1Th. 3:12-13). 

The transformation into God's holiness begins by being cleansed of our sin. We are freed from sin when we are baptized into the death of Jesus (Rom. 6:3-7). Once we are cleansed of our sin, then the Holy Spirit can dwell in us and we become living temples of the Spirit (Act.2:38, Rom. 8:9, 1Co. 6:19). As living temples of the Holy Spirit, we begin a life-long journey of learning to be holy as God is holy. 

This was all foreshadowed by the dwelling of God with His people in the Tabernacle and Temple in the Old Testament. After the Tabernacle was constructed at Sinai, a cloud covered the tent and "the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle" (Exo. 40:34–35). This was a one-time miraculous event to let Israel know God's presence was with them in the Tabernacle.  

After Israel was settled in their land, Solomon built a Temple to replace the Tabernacle. During the dedication ceremony, God provided another miracle to show He would dwell with Israel in the Temple.  Once again, God's presence visibly moved into the Temple and it was filled with the glory of the Lord (2Ch. 7:1–2).

The finishing of the Tabernacle and Temple foreshadowed Jesus saying "It is finished!" and the Holy Spirit moving into His new Temple on the day of Pentecost (Act. 2:2-4). Just as there was miraculous evidence of God's presence in the Tabernacle and Temple, the miracles at Pentecost are evidence that God is now dwelling in His new Temple, the church. Instead of dwelling in a tent or a building, God now dwells in His people. Our purpose as a church is to be a holy temple that is a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:20–22).

Do you not know that you are the temple of God 
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 

1Cor. 3:16

Do you not know that your body is the 
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, 
whom you have from God?

1Cor. 6:19

The Purpose of the Indwelling of the Spirit

Salvation begins with the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). In baptism we are washed clean of our sin (Act.22:16, Eph. 5:25-26). We are regenerated (born again) when we are baptized and given the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us (Joh. 3:3, 5, Act. 2:38).  

We begin as spiritual infants. We look to Jesus (Heb. 12:2) to learn how become like Him. As we behold His glory (Joh. 1:14), we should become filled with grace and truth like Jesus. The ESV says we are "beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18). 

The process of being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another is equivalent to the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Ti. 3:5).  The Spirit works in our lives to complete the work God began in us to transform us into His holy children in His image (Php. 1:6).  

We need to be praying like Paul to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man (Eph. 3:16). Not only does the strengthening of the Spirit help us overcome sin (Rom. 8:13), His strength helps us know the love of Christ which passes knowledge so we can be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19). We need strength to understand love that passes knowledge and it takes strength to be found in the fullness of God. It's one thing to think about Jesus being the fullness of God (Col. 2:9). We know when we see Jesus it is like seeing the Father (Joh. 14:9). What about us being the fullness of God? Can people see God when they look at us? 

When we consider the fact that the world is under judgment and is destined for destruction, Peter asked what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? (2Pe. 3:11-12) Jesus, the Holy One, showed us the standard by which we must live to be faithful children of God. 

Biblical standard of soundness

1. We are to be perfect as God is perfect – Matt. 5:48 (Context: complete, perfect love of God)

2. We are to forgive as God in Christ forgave us – Eph. 4:32, Col. 3:13

3. We must learn to love as Christ loved us – Eph. 5:2

4. We are to be holy as He is holy – 1Pe. 1:15-16

5. We are to walk as Jesus walked – 1Jo. 2:6

6. We are to as be pure as Jesus – 1Jo. 3:3

7. We must become like Jesus – 1Jo. 4:17

Many debates have raged over a multitude of doctrinal issues as people argue over what it means to be faithful to God. Doctrine can make the difference in heaven and hell (1Ti. 4:16). The doctrine we must be teaching is the doctrine that results in godliness (1Ti. 6:3).

The life of faithful children of God begins when we puts on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27). From that beginning, we continue to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14). We continue to grow closer into the image of God (2Co. 3:18) as we put on the new man in God's image (Col. 3:10), until we become like Him when we see Him as He is (1Jo. 3:2). 

Until then, the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19).

Do you know of any better news than this? 

Love has been perfected among us in this: 
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; 
because as He is, so are we in this world. 

1 John 4:17

Questions? Comments?