 PART 2: Leviticus 11:44 "For I am the Lord your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." (Leviticus 11:44) The entire Chapter 11 of the book of Leviticus is devoted to the description of clean and unclean animals. When we put verse 44 into it's proper context it is the beginning of God's summation regarding the dietary laws that have preceded it. God get's to His point of WHY He has just given all of those very detailed and particular instructions regarding clean and unclean, proper and improper beginning in verse 44. These dietary laws were given:
"You are the children of the Lord your God... For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God and the Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people unto Himself above all the nations that are upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:1-2) Though these dietary restrictions are no longer binding on New Testament believers because Jesus fulfilled their purpose, the principles here of sanctification, separation, holiness, and cleanliness do still apply to New Testament believers (Christians). The fundamental principle remains unchanged even though the ceremonial rituals no longer apply. The first key to this scripture is to understand the meaning of the words sanctify and holy. Sanctify (Strongs 6942) signifies the ACT by which someone or something is set aside for the exclusive use of God. They are consecrated or made sacred and they are to be treated with special care as a possession of God. After the ACT of sanctification occurs (a verb) then one becomes holy (a noun). Holy (Strongs 6918) signifies something which has already been sanctified. It is completely separated, therefore pure enough, exclusive enough, and devoted enough to be in the category of persons or things that are set aside for God's intended use. God is commanding His people to distinguish themselves and to set themselves apart from the ungodly people, cultures, and influences around them. "You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy...", separated from ungodliness and set apart for God. WHY? "...for I am holy." God's description of Himself is of a being who is completely separated, unique, and unequaled in all His creation. NOTHING compares to God, He is absolutely different! God's people are also called by Him to be separated, unique and completely different from all others. This kind of separation is TRUE holiness. To be holy is to be removed from the realm of the ordinary, "to be a peculiar people". (Deuteronomy 14:2) "To be a peculiar people" doesn't mean to be odd or weird. Peculiar (Strongs 5459) actually translates to a special treasure which is held close to the bosom. "...The Lord has chosen you to be a [special treasure] unto Himself above all the nations that are upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2) The command to be sanctified unto true holiness is given throughout scripture to Gods people: Old Testament:
New Testament:
God is holy and what is true of the Father must be true of the children. Holiness speaks of being separated from the ungodly ways of the sinful world in being set apart for love, service and worship to God. Believers are to be dedicated to God, living to please God and striving to be complete in Him. Regarding the food a believer eats... Paul reminds us, "about doctrines of devils" that command, "to abstain from meats [vegetarianism], which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1,3-5) As you prepare the food pray over it. As our family sits at the table and says grace, we pray:
By your Word we sanctify it and make it holy. We receive it in Jesus Name. Amen. (Being a vegetarian is not ungodly for the right reasons such as personal taste or health -- but being seduced by a doctrine that requires vegetarianism as obedience is a definite sign of what the Bible is warning us about.) Does separation mean that a Christian is supposed to live like the Amish with horses and buggies, no electricity, no technology and no make-up where everyone dresses the same, looks the same and speaks to no one from outside their culture? "Wherefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) God calls believers to separate themselves from evil by separating morally and spiritually from sin and from those things which oppose themselves to Gods standards of righteousness. The Bible stresses that though believers are IN THE WORLD we are not OF THE WORLD, being "strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13) Believers are exhorted, "love not the world, neither the things in the world." (1 John 2:15) We are to, "be not conformed to this world." (Romans 12:2) In other words, we don't do it the world's way, but we do things God's way, entering into the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The separation from worldly lusts and sinful ways does not mean that believers have to shut out and live behind walls hiding from the world. Nor does it mean that believers can't keep up with the world, it's technologies or trends. Jesus said that there is one thing that is evidence of separation, the true witness on how the rest of the world would know a believer. "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." (John 13:34-35) Love is 'agape' (Strongs 26) which is a self giving sacrificial spiritual love which seeks the good of others. Agape must be the distingushing mark for Christians from all others. So even though believers are to be separated from the ways of the world and are not of this world, all believers are called to be in the world to reach out to the world IN LOVE. The ability to reach out in agape is a process that begins with being sanctified by faith in Christ and then in the Holy Spirit. Paul speaks to persons who were former sinners, "...but [now] you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified [made righteous] in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11) When a person initially becomes a believer he steps out on faith and is sanctified by the blood of Jesus. One who is sanctified is the beneficiary of God's will. Jesus told Paul that the reason for his ministry was to preach to the unsaved, "...that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me." (Acts 26:18) Even Jesus officially sanctified Himself in prayer before God to be worthy as Saviour, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (John 17:19) In sanctification, God does not violate the free will of man. To separate yourself and be a true believer in Christ -- is YOUR choice -- the alternative is that, "you are condemned already." (John 3:18) The New Testament's call to a higher standard of holiness is important for two reasons:
The second key to this scripture is to understand the barrier to holiness. The opposite of holiness is to be "unclean" (Strongs 169) which is to be impure, foul, spoiled, and defiled.
Therefore any person who habitually practices or has excessive indulgence in a work that mirrors the following is not in God's will, is apart from God, is not sanctified, is not holy, is defiled and, "...shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
Looking carefully at the "works of the flesh" the popular opinion that only murder and perverse sexual sin keeps a person separated from God and is cause for eternal condemnation is not Biblically supported. ALL SIN is cause for separation and condemnation. (James 2:10) But even for a true believer it is impossible not to violate some of the "works of the flesh" from time to time! True. That's where God's grace comes in. And the gift of God's grace is obtained only through faith in Jesus Christ. God has set forth Jesus to be, "a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past." (Romans 3:25) AND for Christ's blood to be a believers continual covering for future sin, "But if we walk in the light... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7) A true believer doesn't walk the earth using God's grace as an excuse to sin. However, "If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9) Though we are trying not to sin, there is a struggle within us between the lusts and appetites of the flesh and the desires of our born-again recreated spirit. (Galatians 5:16-17) God has given us the power to overcome these sinful lusts and He expects us not just to try our best, but to actually MATURE in the fruits of righteousness. (Galatians 5:22-25) "Be not deceived, God is not mocked: [He is not made a fool of] for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For He that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:7-8) What about the backslider... what about those Christians who quit reading the Bible, praying, and no longer attend church, etc.? The Bible says it would be better for them to have remained ignorant of the truth. "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment [the command to be holy] delivered unto them." (2 Peter 2:20-21) The Bible is very clear that we cannot claim the wonderful promises of God without living a life of separation from uncleanness seeking holiness. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1) God judges the heart and He is looking for holiness. To be spotted with uncleanness, or blemished, or wrinkled is the same as to be unclean or defiled. Rapture requirement? Yep. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of person ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness...? Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (2 Peter 3:10-11,14) Jesus is returning for His church, He is looking for holiness. IN SUMMARY: In daily living, believers are not separate from having to obey the laws and operate to some extent within the boundaries of the worlds system, but are called to a separation according the standards of righteousness given by God which are higher standards than that of the world. Wouldn't that be a wonderful world?! FINAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT! "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) The most popularly quoted Bible verse! Notice the word "perish" (Strongs 622) which implies the completion of the process of destruction or to fully destroy. In todays language, a perishable is a fruit, vegetable or meat with a very limited shelf life. When not purchased or used by its ripe time, a perishable begins to spoil, it becomes spotted, or blemished, or wrinkled. Water cannot wash the rot away. The item perishes becoming garbage, it is "unclean" for human intended use. Jesus gave His blood like 'super soap', to continually wash away our spots and blemishes and to keep us clean, separate, sanctified and holy, for God's intended use. Yes, the unsaved are unclean already. BUT when believers begin to dishonor the purity of the blood of Jesus, when believers dishonor His Word, when believers begin putting God on the back burner and begin taking for granted the standards and morals He set before us, spots begin to appear on our hearts. Keep in personal prayer:
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