There is a sweet melody in the word “holiness.” We associate it with everything that is heavenly. It is frequently used synonymously with sanctification, yet not always with all the forms of the word sanctification. On the whole there is a slight difference [pg 079] in the meaning of the two terms. Holiness is the consummation of the work of sanctification. By transposing a few words in Heb. 12:14 we would have it read, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” Holiness is here a noun objective to the preposition without. In some translations this sentence would read, “Without sanctification no man shall see the Lord.” Sanctification is here a noun, the object of the preposition without. As nouns these words are used interchangeably.

In Jude, first verse, we have this sentence, “To them that are sanctified by God the Father.” The word “sanctified” is here used as a predicate adjective, and describes the people addressed. It would not alter the meaning of the text were we to translate it thus: “To them that are made holy by God the Father.” The word holy is here used as a predicate adjective, and describes the people addressed. In the sentence, “Sanctify them through thy truth” (John 17:17), the word “sanctify” is a verb, denoting action, of which we have no form of the word holiness. The word holiness can not be used as a verb. The word sanctification frequently expresses action; the word holiness never. They are synonymous when they express the pure state of man. Sanctification is the act that brings man into a holy state, which is also the sanctified state. Sanctification may be applied to the holy state, and also to the action that brings us into that state. Since the word sanctification contains [pg 080] action it is positive proof there is a cleansing in it.

Now we desire by a few Scriptural texts and a few suggestions to deepen the reader's conception of the state of holiness. Everything in the realm of Christianity, or the kingdom of God, from heaven to earth is holy. Let us here give you a brief Bible lesson, kindly asking you to carefully read each text.

1. God is holy. “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isa. 6:1-3.

If the reader here obtains a just conception of the holy character of God it will give him an understanding of the true nature of Christianity and the manner of life of a Christian. A gentleman once asked me if it was wrong or unbecoming to a Christian to attend the present day street carnivals. We replied in about these words: “If you gain a true conception of the holiness of the Almighty you will not need to ask me such a question.”

2. Heaven is holy. “Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.” Psa. 20:6.

3. Christ is holy. “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” Heb. 7:26.

4. The angels are holy. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Mat. 25:31.

5. God's commandments are holy. “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom. 7:12.

6. God's arm is holy. “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isa. 52:10.