INNOCENCE TO HOLINESS: Exodus 15:11,12 "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (12) Thou stretched out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

In Eden Adam and Eve were neither holy or unholy; they were innocent, unproven and untried. Had they been holy they could not have sinned, but there was no concept of good and evil, right or wrong until they partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Once they did they learned the folly of disobedience. They went their own way and didn't regain their innocence. They were unholy and became an expression of that which is not God. God is in the process of making a perfect man which will express Him in all wonder and glory.

Ephesians 4:13 "That it might develop until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the (full and accurate) knowledge of the Son of God, that (we might arrive) at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.Ephesians 3:19 That you may "really" come to know (practically, through experience for yourselves) the love of Christ, which far surpasses our knowledge (without experience) ; that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God (may have the richest measure of the divine Presence) and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!" So He is leading us, changing us from unholy to holy. We are not innocent partakers.

Hebrews 12:10 "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

The word "gods" in the Hebrew is El=strong or mighty ones. Among all the mighty ones there is none holy as the Lord. There is none beside Him. He is glorious in holiness. The Hebrew word for "holiness" is - qodesh (Strong's #6942), from the primary root which means to be clean; also derives from another root hadhash, newness; He is ever clean and new. another root kadistu which means to be free from defect. God is free from defect. Holiness means to be separated from all unrighteousness and separated unto purity. Christianity is plagued with man-made doctrines on holiness. The emphasis seems to be on dress, activities and speech; whatever it is they want you to abstain from to measure up to their ideals. God makes covenants and oaths and basis it upon His own holiness.

Psalms 89:34,35 "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of • my lips. " (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. "

He who is perfect and totally pure won't lie to David or anyone else. Once that's all it takes. Nothing can change this oath confirmed by His holiness. Holiness is not so much an attribute, but it literally denotes the totality of His character. It's a positive quality - not negative. Explain how most think the terms of holiness, judgment, etc. mean. Anger is a positive force. Two-fold effect:

Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire." It becomes a resistance to all that is unholy.

II Samuel 6:20 "And the men of Beth-she-mesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us? " But true holiness is two-fold; separate from and unto. "Unto" goes beyond creeds and dogma to newness -a state of being where there is no defect.

Romans 6:11,13"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Colossians 2:20-23 "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (26) Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh."

Man can dictate a certain standard which bars one from certain indulgences, but don't replace that with "unto" so that you end up involved in programs or works. You came out of one realm and fenced into another . No self wrought effort will provide holiness. Holiness in doing must result from holiness in being. It is God's uniqueness. He is Holy; it is a person -personified in Jesus Christ. It is so great.

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