Sanctified and Holy: What Does it Mean

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SANCTIFIED AND HOLY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Sanctified and Holy—you hear this phrase from almost every Christian on the street. If you sample ten different people, ask them what Sanctification and Holiness mean, and who is sanctified and holy? You are likely to get ten different answers—why ten different answers? People have created their definitions and standards for Sanctification and Holiness. One of the significant problems we have today is that people have twisted the writings of Apostle Paul to mean that he wrote against the laws and commandments of the Most High God; people use his writings to truncate the words of Jesus, the law and the prophets. Because people have misinterpreted the writings of Apostle Paul, people do what is contrary to the laws and commandments of the Most High God and still claim to be sanctified and holy. The writings of Paul and other Apostles are in perfect harmony with the words of Jesus, the law and the prophets.

This in-depth article will explain what true sanctification and holiness entail. Almost everyone can claim to be sanctified and holy, but not every claim is genuine. We will build precepts from different parts of the Bible, and in the end, it will be difficult for you not to understand this vital subject.

I, the writer of this article, have gotten into severe trouble for asking local district pastor questions that show the laws and the prophets are not done away with. My questions were deemed foolish because they strongly suggested the laws are not done away with. The irony out there is extreme: the very people teaching us to be holy and sanctified are the same people leading us to go against the dietary and cleanliness law, disregard the feast days outlined by the Most High God and embrace feasts not mentioned in the Bible like Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Easter, Christmas, Lent, Ash Wednesday etc. Of course, people can do everything out there, but what the Word of God states.

We will walk through the Bible, precept upon precept, and line upon line, here a little and there a little. The Bible instructs us to be holy in all manner of conversation (way of life).

WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION?

Before we define sanctification, let us look at some places in the Bible where this word is mentioned and the root Hebrew/Greek word.

• Genesis 2:3: Sanctified —Strong’s H6942
• Exodus 13:2: Sanctify—Strong’s H6942
• Exodus 19:14: Sanctified—Strong’s H6942
• Exodus 20:8: Holy—Strong’s H6942
• Exodus 28:38: Hallow —Strong’s H6942
• Exodus 29:21: Hallowed—Strong’s H6942
• Exodus 30:30: Consecrate —Strong’s H6942
• Leviticus 8:11: Sanctify —Strong’s H6942
• John 17.17:Sanctify —Strong’s G37
• Hebrews 13.12: Sanctify —Strong’s G37

The word “sanctify” is from the Hebrew word Qadas (or hagiázō in some places in the New Testament)—meaning: consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, holy, sanctified, and separate. Sanctification (verb—sanctify) means “to set apart for special use or purpose”, that is, to make holy or sacred. Therefore, sanctification refers to the state or process of being set apart and holy.

The questions that we should ask are:

• What sanctifies (sets apart, makes holy) us?
• When we are in the state of being sanctified, what should be our way of life?

The word of God sets us apart and makes us holy. So, how does the word of God make us holy? Let us see:

The word of the Most High God instructs us to come out from what is unclean and not to touch unclean things. Here is another big question: what things are unclean? What things are clean? The divide between the clean/unclean is where the confusion is, and we will clear that up. For example, some pastors claim that Apostle Paul gave them authority to eat swine and all sorts of unclean meats like shrimp, catfish, lobster and things God designates as unclean. People have twisted the writings of Apostle Paul to classify what is not holy as holy, and vice versa—we will clarify that in this article. Jesus made that clear—it is the word of God that sanctifies. So, let us see the words of Jesus:

The above passage is Jesus praying for His disciples. Notice something very striking; what is it? It is the “word of God”. Jesus gave the word to his disciples and followers, and they kept it. Notice verse 14: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Can you see it is the word of God that sets apart (sanctify)? Jesus gave them the word of God, and the world hated them; why? Because the word of God sets them apart.

The words of the Most High God say:

• You shall not commit adultery.
• You shall not tell a lie.
• You shall not kill.
• Do not eat unclean things.
• Keep my Sabbath (both weekly and high days).
• Keep my cleanliness laws.
• Do not have malice.
• Love your brother.
• And the list goes on.

What does one find in the world—the message of the Devil—the deceiver? We see the opposite of the above.

• You can commit adultery.
• You can tell a lie.
• You can kill.
• You can eat unclean things; pray over it.
• You don’t have to keep the Sabbath (both weekly and high days).
• You don’t have to follow the cleanliness law.
• You can have malice.
• You can hate your brother.
• And the list goes on.

Comparing the two lists, can you see how the word of the Most High God sets one apart from the world? THE WORD OF GOD SETS APART. Why did Jesus say the world hated them? Because the two are opposed to each other. Notice something very striking in verses 18 -19:

• “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”—Verse 17
• “that they also might be sanctified through the truth”—Verse 19

Can you see that the truth of the word of God sets one apart (sanctifies)? Verse 17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” One is sanctified (set apart) by the truth of the Most High God, and His word is the truth. The Psalmist understood this very well.

Psalm 119:142: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”

The law of the Most High God is also the truth; Jesus is the truth because He speaks the word of the Most High God.

Malachi 2:6: “The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.”

Some have defined sanctification to mean ‘removal of the Adamic nature’. But what is the Adamic nature? In verse 19, Jesus says, “I sanctify myself”. Is He saying he removed some Adamic nature in himself? Jesus never had any Adamic nature in him in the first place.

Don’t complicate the definition: Sanctification means to set apart for what is holy. Jesus sanctifies (sets apart) himself by obeying God’s word. Apostle John says the same thing stated by Jesus in John 17:14.

So, can you see what sanctification is? It simply means to SET APART for HOLY USE, and It is the word of God (the truth) that sets one apart (sanctifies)—Keep it simple—follow the definition given by the Bible.

WHAT SANCTIFIES—THE DIVIDING LINE

Many people claim to be sanctified and holy but will tell you we don’t have to keep the laws of God given by Moses because we are under grace. When God says, “You must live a sanctified and holy life”, He has specified what you must do to be holy without ambiguity. The idea that the Apostles somehow came and nullified the commandments of God given by Moses and the prophets is unwise and dangerous. The question we should be asking at this point is, how are we to live a holy life? What rules, laws, commandments, instructions, guidelines, and statutes are there for us to follow to be holy? This question is a great one. Let us see from the Bible:

Notice verse 15 in the above passage: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. This verse says we should be holy in all manner of life. The word ‘conversation’ means ways of life.

God has stipulated how we are to conduct ourselves:

• How we are to relate to one another.
• How we are to relate to Him as our creator.
• How we should treat people experiencing poverty.
• How we should conduct agriculture.
• Give ourselves rest.
• The dietary law—eat what is clean and suitable for our health.
• The cleanliness law—cleanliness in our homes and the sanctuary of worship.
• The feasts we are to observe.
• How we should deal with disputes.
• How we should deal with civil issues.
• How we should deal with infectious diseases.
• And the list goes on.

Notice the word ‘ALL‘ in Apostle Peter’s statement: all manner of conversation (way of life).All ways of life: what we eat, cleanliness, health, feast days, and lots more. Let us ask a further question: did Apostle Peter specify everything required to live a holy life in detail? Did he? No! He stated that we are to live holy in all manner of life and refers people to the writings that contain these rules. Watch verse 16: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” What is written? Where is it written?

If you are a good student of the Bible, you will go to the places where Apostle Peter is referring you. Let us see the places Apostle Peter is talking about.

Anyone who is Biblically honest would know and admit that Apostle Peter is referring the reader to the Scriptures. Was the New Testament written when Apostle Peter wrote his letter to the strangers scattered abroad? No! There was nothing like the New Testament. What text is Apostle Peter referring to the strangers scattered abroad? The Scriptures—the law and the prophets. Apostle Peter is saying if you want to live a sanctified and holy life, you follow what is written in the law and the prophets. Did Apostle Peter tell them that the laws of God written by Moses are done away with? No! Where did the so-called “Pentecostals” get the idea that the Scriptures written by the great servant of the Most High, Moses, are done away with? From the Devil—the father of lies and deception. Let us look at what Apostle Peter wrote again.

Holy in all ways of life (conversation). What are these ways of life? IT IS WRITTEN—where is it written? Let us see:

AS IT IS WRITTEN, BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION: BE HOLY IN YOUR DIET

The Most High God has specified what should and should not be eaten. Not every creature is good for our health—and the Most High God knows everything. Deuteronomy 14, Leviticus 11, Isaiah 66:15-18, Daniel 1:8, and Isaiah 65:4-5 outline what we can eat. Not everything is clean—all creatures of God are good (good for the original purpose), but not everything is good for good. Can you see holiness entails patterning your diet according to the Scriptures? We have written extensively on The Physical And Spiritual Dangers Of Eating Unclean Meats; please refer to that article. 

So, when the Most High God says, ‘Be ye holy for I am Holy’, He typically stipulates the guidelines and boundaries determining what is holy and what is not. God never leaves people in the dark—He always outlines things clearly without ambiguity.

The idea that the Apostles came and wrote against the law of God written by Moses is false. If one studies the Bible, this idea is wrong and unwise. So let us examine this closely to see the truth; look critically at the verse below.

The above verse is part of the dietary law; God specified the creeping things that defile in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. The prophets used the law as the foundation for their prophecies—how? Let us see:

Can you see that prophet Isaiah builds his prophecy on the truth already established in the laws of God? The prophecies and works of the prophets are in harmony with the law; they came to enforce the law that was delivered by the Most High through His great servant Moses. In the above passage, Isaiah prophesies the truth about what Moses wrote. Isaiah kept the dietary laws. What about Daniel?

Have you ever wondered why Daniel did not eat the King’s food? Why did he not just pray over and eat it? Notice what Daniel said: he would not defile himself. Pause and think, why would a food defile? Where did Daniel get the idea that food would defile a man? Daniel obeyed the truth in God’s word (Leviticus 11:44) delivered by Moses. What of the New Testament? Let us see the life of Apostle Peter:

Acts 10:14 “But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.”

Apostle Peter kept the dietary law after Jesus’ resurrection—the New Covenant was in full force. If the New Covenant had cancelled the dietary law, why was Apostle Peter still keeping the law at this stage? Apostle Peter was with Jesus and saw everything He said and did; if the new covenant had cancelled the law, he would have been the first to know and practice it. So, don’t be misled to think that the Apostles wrote against the law. So, let us look at more Scriptures to get clarity.

Future prophecy concerning the Day of the Lord is found in Isaiah 66:15–18—it has not come to pass. The Bible explains itself; how do we reconcile the two passages (Isaiah 66:15-18 and 1 Timothy 4:1-6)? Can we say that Apostle Paul encourages people to eat pork (and all unclean meats) while Prophet Isaiah warns that Jesus will come to destroy those who consume pork and other unclean meats? Apostle Paul is simply saying if the Most High God has designated an animal as clean, we are to receive it with thanksgiving and eat it. See what Isaiah further wrote:

Can you see part of the places Apostle Peter is referring people to? If you want to live a “set apart” life (sanctified life), your diet needs to be holy; you need to stop eating broth of abominable things in your vessel.

Stop eating pork, crayfish, catfish, shrimp, lobster, fishes without fins and scales, and all animals that have not been set apart as clean by the word of God. I have had a hard time telling some of my friends from Nigeria, where I am from,  to abstain from catfish and crayfish. Catfish and crayfish—all fall into the category of abominable things that people in Nigeria put in their vessels. People do these because they don’t know the truth. The Most High God is merciful and brings the truth along your way. The floor is yours—you can choose to obey the Most High God or continue to eat broth of abominable things in your vessels like catfish, pork, and crayfish—no one will force you to do that; take the initiative yourself.

All Apostle Paul is saying is that if God has declared an animal clean, we are to accept that with thanksgiving and eat it. Can you see how the Bible interprets itself?

AS IT IS WRITTEN, BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION: OBEY THE CLEANLINESS LAWS

Every word of God is essential, and we are to take them seriously. The Most High God is a God of cleanliness. Let us see:

The above passage says the camp where the children of Israel were meeting should be kept holy. What kind of unclean things is the above quote talking about? Let us see some examples.

Can you see what is classed as unclean in the above passage? These are material things. For example, someone who sleeps with his wife and whose clothing is dirty with all sorts of things cannot come into the camp; he needs to wash his clothes and be clean. The Most High God is a person; we are created in his likeness. But, just as we don’t like unclean things, so does He.

When the Most High God came down and spoke to the children of Israel, He ordered the whole camp to be clean. Let us see:

Can you see what the Most High God outlines in the above passage? He instructs them to be clean. The Most High God is a God of cleanliness and order. So, let us ask a question to get us in the right direction: Why would the Most High God care about physical cleanliness if all that matters is going to heaven? Why does He give such importance to cleanliness? To answer these questions, let us simplify things so everyone can understand them.

If you receive an invitation to come and meet the president of the United States in the White House, how are you supposed to go? In tattered and dirty-smelling clothes? Unclean? Of course, no! Any sane person would go there very clean and in their best clothes. So, the Most High God is no different. We need to do much more because we are coming into the presence of someone more significant than the president of the United States. Let us see another simple example—this would help people with feeble understanding to understand things clearly.

In most cultures, a woman who has just given birth is asked to stay away from the kitchen and not prepare food—why? Most people would wait until her body is purified and healed. Why? It all has to do with cleanliness. If we don’t like unclean things, why do we think the Most High God would want dirty things? The Most High God is no different from us: as we have feelings, so does He. Examine the passage below:

Let us see another example in the Scriptures:

The above passage talks about leprosy; why would the priest examine and pronounce certain situations unclean? It all has to do with cleanliness. Certain leprosy can be contagious and infect other people. Can you see cleanliness is essential? Very important!

During the Covid-19 lockdown, in some countries, people were required to go into quarantine—why? The quarantine was to stop the spread of Covid-19. It is the same principle the Bible has outlined, and people have neglected; Covid 19 came and forced people to do that.

Any pastor/leader teaching his people that the cleanliness instructions are done away with is teaching error (in ignorance or rebellion). The Most High God is teaching us great principles of cleanliness—we are to eat what is clean and live in a clean environment (both in our homes and the sanctuary of worship).

Let us see what Apostle Paul wrote:

Apostle Paul writes following the Scriptures, not against them. No uncleanness (Physical or otherwise) will inherit the kingdom of God. The uncleanness Apostle Paul is referring to is both physical and, in the heart—all uncleanness. If people were honest, they would realise that the Apostles never wrote against the law and the prophets. To be sanctified and holy means to live in cleanliness—cleanness in the heart and outside (clean environment)—all essential. Eat what is pure/clean and live in a clean environment—in your homes and the sanctuary.

AS IT IS WRITTEN, BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION: OBSERVE THE FEAST DAYS COMMANDED BY GOD

As it is written: What did God write about the feast days we are to keep? See, if you cannot read any feast in the Bible, don’t observe it. Holiness and sanctification mean keeping the feast days outlined by the Most High God in Leviticus 23; anything outside is not sanctification and holiness.

Please read the whole of Leviticus 23; it outlines all the feasts we are to observe. These are the feasts of the Lord and not the Jews. People can do any and everything but what is stated in the Bible. Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc.—where did you see all these in the Bible? You can’t find a single command in the Bible telling you to keep Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Lent, or Ash Wednesday—you can’t find it anywhere. Why? They are not from the Most High God. Being holy and sanctified is doing the feasts outlined by the Most High God. Jesus kept the feast days; the disciples saw everything Jesus taught and did, and they followed His examples. Let us see what Apostle Paul wrote. People often run to the writings of Paul to find justification for breaking the commandments. Examine the passage below:

Apostle Paul is telling people to keep the feast of Passover (Not Easter) and how to keep it. What kind of holiness is that when you observe Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Lent, and Ash Wednesday instead of what God outlines? It is no holiness. Being sanctified and holy is all about doing what the Most High God stipulates. We have written extensively about the truth behind the pagan-derived holidays and what the Most High God says; please read our articles on:

• Easter Is Pagan And Not Holy
• Christmas! —Thou Shall Not Do So Unto The Lord Thy God.

AS IT IS WRITTEN, BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION:

We have been looking at the places that Apostle Peter refers to; let us see more where he asks us to go and read.

Look at the opening remark of this chapter above:

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.

Can you see what Apostle Peter is saying? AS IT IS WRITTEN. Leviticus 19 is one of the places Apostle Peter is referring us to; it outlines instructions to follow to be sanctified and holy. This chapter is apparent, and we don’t need to discuss every verse in this chapter. However, let us state some of the critical things in bullet points:

• One should honour their parents (Vs 3)
• One should keep all the sabbaths (weekly and high days). (Vs 3)
• Do not worship idols or set up images to worship them. (Vs 4)
• Sacrifice: how it shall be done. (Vs 5)
• Do not harvest everything on your field; leave some for the poor to glean (Vs 9-10), see also James 1:27.
• Do not steal. (Vs 11)
• Do not lie. (Vs 11)
• Do not profane the name of the Lord. (Vs 12)
• Do not defraud thy neighbour. (Vs 13)
• Do not keep peoples’ wages more than necessary. Pay your workers in a timely fashion. (Vs 13)
• Treat deaf people (and all disabled) with kindness. (Vs 14)
• Do not be a talebearer. (Vs 16)
• Do not hate thy brother. (Vs 17)

• Do not bear a grudge against thy people. (Vs 18)
• Keep all the statutes and commandments of the Most High God. (Vs 19)
• Coming into the promised land and dealing with agriculture. (Vs 23-25).
• Do not eat anything with blood (this is part of the dietary law). Vs 26
• Do not round the corners of your head or mar the corners of your beard. (Vs 27)
• Do not make cutting into your body nor print any marks on your body. (Vs 28).
• Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore (harlot). (Vs 29).
• You shall keep the sabbaths of the Lord (weekly sabbaths and all high days)—(Vs 30)
• Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards (Vs 31).
• Honour older people (Vs 32).
• Be kind to a stranger (Vs 33-34).
• Judge righteously; use just measures; use just weight and balances. (Vs 35-36).
• Therefore, shall ye observe all my statutes and judgments, and do them: I am the Lord. (Vs 37).

Can you see all the bullet points above? Can you see what Apostle Peter is asking people to go and read? Anyone honest would understand that Apostle Peter is telling everyone to return to the law and prophets and see what is written there. Can you see the things written? AS IT IS WRITTEN. Leviticus 19 is just one of the places where “it is written”. We can spend the whole day going through the law and prophets, exploring all the places where IT IS WRITTEN.

Notice verses 3 and 30:

• Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. (Vs 3)
• Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. (Vs 30).

Keep my sabbaths: the weekly Sabbath and the high days. The weekly sabbath points to the fact that the Most High God created the heavens and the earth; He set apart (sanctified) this day and hallowed it—he rested on this day. The high sabbaths have significance when it comes to God’s plan for salvation. The Most High God never changed the sabbaths—He never did! The people who gave you Christmas and Easter are the same people who invented Sunday (the first day) as a day of rest and holy convocation instead of the seventh-day Sabbath. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, the Most High God told them to remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. Why remember? Because it has always been there. The disciples met on the first day of the week, and some use this as an argument that the day of rest has been transferred from the seventh-day Sabbath to the first day (Sunday). The first-day argument is invalid. Why? Nowhere is it stated in the Bible that because the disciples and the apostles met on the first day, the day of rest and holy convocation has been changed from the seventh-day Sabbath to the first day—nowhere.

Do not be dishonest biblically, trying to inject something that is not there into the Scriptures. The very people who invented Christmas and Easter (rabbits and bunnies and sunrises services) are the same people who invented Sunday. They have used all sorts of arguments to make it stick. Christmas, Easter, Sunday as a day of rest, Lent, and Ash Wednesday—all gravitate towards sun worship.

If you are a good student of the Bible and very honest, you will not inject what is not there into the Bible. Instead, let us see some verses, and you will see the Sunday arguments fall apart like a house of cards. Look at the passage below:

The above passage is a future prophecy, and Jesus tells them to pray that their flight is not in the Winter or on a Sabbath. If the Sabbaths were abolished, why would Jesus ask His disciples to pray for their flight not to be in the Winter or on the Sabbath? Do you think the sabbath command was cancelled and would be re-enacted again in the future? The truth is, the sabbath command was never revoked. Don’t fall to the deception of the Devil. Further, let us see another future prophecy, and you will see the Sunday arguments in tatters.

The above passage in Isaiah is a future prophecy concerning the Millennial reign of Christ. All flesh will come and worship before the Lord in Jerusalem. Why not Sunday or Christmas or Easter or Lent? Because they are from the Lord. Isaiah 66:23 is a future prophecy and is yet to be fulfilled. Do you think the Most High God cancelled the sabbaths and would set them up again in the future? No! Don’t be deceived. Let us see another passage.

Can you see the correlation between Isaiah 66:23 and Zechariah 14:16? Both passages are talking about the Millennial reign of Christ. All shall come before the Most High God and worship him. All will keep the feast of Tabernacles and all other sabbaths. Can you see the argument for Sunday in tatters? If you are a diligent student of the Bible, it does not take long for the lies to fall apart.

Can you see what it means to be sanctified and holy? It is all about keeping the commandments and laws of God AS IT IS WRITTEN. So, do what is written in the Scriptures. If the Bible did not instruct you to do certain things, don’t do it. So, where is the commandment telling you to keep Easter and Christmas? Where? You will not find any command in the Bible telling you to keep these events with Idolatrous background.

We cannot exhaust all the scriptures that Apostle Peter refers to in this article. The principle is we are to obey all the instructions of the Most High God written in the law and the prophets to be sanctified and holy. The problem is people cherry-pick what command to obey and what not to obey. If you talk about the sabbaths, the feast days, the dietary law, and the cleanliness laws, they will quickly run to the Apostles’ writing to find cover for breaking the laws and commandments. We have sufficiently illustrated that Apostle Paul and others did not write against the law and the prophets—they never did!

It is not hard to obey the commandments of the Most High God. Anyone who is adamant and wants to wrongfully use the writings of Apostle Paul to break the sabbaths, dietary laws, cleanliness laws, feast days, etc., the Most High God will allow strong delusion to fall on you since you don’t want to obey him.

Some have a wrong understanding of holiness; I came across an article on the web where church leaders forced a man to shave off his beard because having a beard is not holy. Is having a beard an unholy thing? Let us see from the Bible.

Leviticus 19:27 “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.”

Keeping a beard is not a sin and is a good thing. Why? The beard is a manly feature, and erasing it means erasing a landmark feature distinguishing man and woman. In Egypt, it was a practice to make bald on their and smooth their beards, and God instructed them not to follow that practice. Moses had a beard, Aaron had a beard, Jesus had a beard,  and King David had a beard. So, where did people get the idea that shaving one’s beard means holiness? It is not from God—the commandment of men. So, let us see from the Scriptures if King David and His men kept a beard.

Why were David and his men keeping their beards? They were doing so per Leviticus 19:27. Hanun thought he could humiliate them by shaving off their beard. Can you see David kept a beard and encouraged his servants to do so? How do we know that? Watch verse 5: “and the King said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.” Can you see David telling them to wait until their beard is grown? David leads by example, so keeping a beard is not a sin.

People often run to the writings of Apostle Paul to twist his writings to find cover for not keeping the commandments. We have written extensively to illustrate precept upon precept what law is nailed to the cross. Read our article on Is The Law Done Away With?

FURTHER PASSAGES: AS IT IS WRITTEN, BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION

The Most High God never leaves people in the dark regarding how they are to be holy. Each time He states, “Ye Must be holy for I am holy”, he outlines how to be holy without ambiguity. Holiness is all about doing what the Most High God stipulates—nothing less and nothing more. Be holy in all manner of conversation (way of life—1 Peter 1:15-17). Let us see more examples:  

Can you see it in the above verses? YE MUST BE HOLY: There are always instructions accompanying this command—the set of instructions and commandments that one must obey to be holy. Can you see more of the places Apostle Peter is referring the reader to?

Can you see that the Most High God is consistent? The idea that grace cancelled the laws and commandments of the Most High God is false. If the laws and the prophets are done away with, why would Apostle Peter be referring people to the writings of the law? Why would he? The laws are still in place; the only law that was nailed to the cross is the law of animal sacrifice and associated rituals. Jesus is now our sacrificial lamb—all other sets of laws are still in place and are to be kept. The Most High wants you to repent and change your ways.

Suppose after knowing the truth and getting warnings from God, you still want to disobey the Most High God by twisting the Apostles’ writings. In that case, the Most God will permissively allow you to follow your path of delusion—not because He wants you to but because you are heady and will heed no instruction. There is a way which seems right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12).

SUMMARY

To be sanctified and holy means to be set apart for something holy and sacred. Sanctification means doing according to WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE WORD OF GOD—not commandments and precepts of men—anything short of this is not sanctification and holiness.

If one truly wants to live a holy and sanctified life, one would go back to all the places, read what Apostle Peter is referencing, and obey all the commandments—no cherry Picking!