The Importance of Being Set Apart

` `

All throughout scripture, we hear people talk about the notion of being holy in both the old and new testament. Amongst believers, holiness is a topic that is often shared and promoted, but not often fully understood and walked out. 1st Peter 1:16 says,“be holy for I am holy.” This is a verse that many people like to quote and share, but today we’re going to dig deeper into what that really means. Let’s look deeper into what it means to be holy, who should be holy and what this could possibly look like.

For starters, when discussing scripture, it is sometimes important to go back to the native language it was written in, so we can gain full understanding. The Hebrew word for Holy is “Qodesh” which means to be separate & sacred.

So, in simple terms, holy is to be separate, but separate from what? Let’s take a look.

John 17:14-16 tells us that we are in the world, but we are not supposed to be of the world.

Romans 12:2 further explains this as it tells us not to be conformed to the world:

”And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

To be conformed is to be similar or identical (Merriam-Webster), so what this scripture essentially means is to not be like the world. You may be asking, what exactly is meant by “the world”? Well, 1 John 2:16 explains what the “world” is like this:

16 “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Okay, so we know that the “world” is the desires of the flesh, eyes and pride of life. Now, let’s see what the desires of the flesh, eyes and pride are. Galatians 5:17-21 tells us exactly that:

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

So, all in all, to be set apart is to not be like the world. The “world” as in fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, eyes and pride of life.

Moreover, did you know these are the exact same things that caused Eve to eat the apple in Genesis?

Genesis 3:6 states this:

“​​So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was[a]pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Did you see that?! She saw it was good for her flesh, that it looked good to her eyes and she was being prideful as she saw it would make her wise (knowledge puffs up)! What Eve did was the complete opposite of being holy, as holy means to be set apart from these things.

Abba has ordained for us to be set apart from the world (desires of the flesh, eyes and pridefulness) from the beginning. These are the things Satan used and continues to use to destroy us and this is what the world is full of today. The world is full of things pleasing to the flesh, eyes and full of pride.

Okay, so now that we have the definition down pat. Let’s take a look at what this may look like.

One modern example would be dressing modestly. When we dress modestly, this is a form of holiness as we are NOT doing what’s pleasing to the flesh, eyes, or pride of life. Instead we are humbling ourselves for the glory of Yah, contrary to what the world does. The world supports immodesty and dresses raunchy for the glory of self. By not partaking in this, we are being set apart. In addition, this may also look like staying away from pagan holidays, worldly traditions, and even certain people that encourage you to do worldly things.

2nd Thessalonians 3:6 states:

“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which [a]he received from us.”

Now that we see what it means to be holy, and what this may look like, let’s see why. Holy means to be separate, but not for no reason…for a higher purpose. Leviticus 20:26 tells us that we are to be set apart for Yah:

“And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.”

All in all, when we take a look at different scriptures we see that to be holy means to be separate from worldly practices in order that we may be vessels for the Most High’s purpose. If you are a believer in Hamashiach (Christ), then this applies to you as well. We know that the command to be Holy was given to the Israelites in Leviticus 19:2:

““Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

When reading Galatians 3:7 we see that you become an Israelite by your faith in Hamashiach (Christ):

“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

In short, believers in Hamashiach are called to be set apart for Abba’s purpose.

Thank you for reading,

-Lina