Holiness is relational (Leviticus 19-20, Hebrews 7)

What does it mean to be holy? Grow a big beard? Live in a monastery? Become a nun?! Leviticus 19 tells us that holiness is very down to earth and practical, it’s all about how we relate to God and others. It has to do with caring for the poor and obeying parents, keeping the Sabbath, not cheating people, keeping God’s good gift of sex within marriage of husband and wife.

Someone will say, times have changed! But Leviticus tells us that even if somethings in the world have changed, God’s people are still to be different from the world (20:23). Holiness involves being different to the world. Just as Israel was to shine as a light among the nations, to show God’s ways and not to do what the surrounding nations were doing, so the church is to be distinct from the world, to be salt and light.

The church is not to change her ways to become more like the nations surrounding her, instead she is to show a better way. A way that includes caring for the poor and marginalised, and that protects families through holding to the sanctity of marriage. Increasingly that will make us look different from the world as the world moves more and more away from God’s ways and gets itself into deeper and deeper mess.

We will not get this right all of the time, but wonderfully our reading from Hebrews 7 tells us about someone who is “holy, blameless, pure” (v26) and He sacrificed himself for our sins once for all (v27). He is so much better than the High Priests in the Old Testament, not only did they have to offer sacrifices for their own sins, but they also had to stop their ministry when they died. Jesus did not need to offer sacrifice for His own sin, since He never sinned, but He offered Himself in our place. He is not prevented from His office continuing forever for He died and rose again and so “He always lives to make intercession” for His people (v25). Whenever you fail, look to Jesus pleading your defence, “Father forgive Nick, I have paid for His sin.” What a great High Priest.

If you belong to Jesus, you are totally forgiven for all the wrong you have done. As His forgiven people we will want to live holy lives, we will not lower God’s standards for He is still the same holy God who says “Be holy for I am holy.”

Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are holy. We praise you that you are perfectly pure. Thank you that Jesus has paid for all our sin and continues to make intercession for is. Thank you this means we can draw near to you. Please help us to live holy lives for your praise and glory. Amen