📖 Biblical Definition
Holiness, in Scripture, is the state of being set apart unto God and rendered whole — and it is both granted in Christ and pursued by the saint. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30) names the granted side. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14) names the pursued side. It is positional and practical at once: declared in justification, worked out in sanctification. Christian men must hold both: never trade the imputed righteousness of Christ for moralism, never trade the call to actual obedience for cheap grace.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity.
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HOLINESS, n. The state of being holy; purity of moral character; sanctity; freedom from sin.
Scripture has both an objective and a subjective sense: God Himself is holy (Isa 6:3); His people are made holy in Christ (1 Cor 1:30); His people pursue holiness practically (Heb 12:14; 1 Pet 1:15-16).
📖 Key Scripture
Hebrews 12:14 — "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
1 Peter 1:15 — "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."
1 Peter 1:16 — "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
Leviticus 11:44 — "I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often treats holiness as either automatic (already imputed) or impossible (only future); Hebrews 12:14 commands its present pursuit.
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Hebrews 12:14 is uncompromising: follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. The verse does not earn salvation; it describes the necessary trajectory of the genuinely saved.
1 Peter 1:15-16 grounds the pursuit in God's own character: be ye holy; for I am holy. Holiness is a family resemblance — the children look like the Father over time. The saint pursues; the Spirit grows the resemblance.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew qadosh and Greek hagios — both mean ‘set apart, holy’.
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Hebrew qadosh — holy, set apart; the LORD is the Holy One of Israel.
Greek hagios — holy, set apart; New Testament saints are hagioi (holy ones).
Usage
"Follow holiness; without it no man shall see the Lord."
"Be ye holy, for I am holy — the family resemblance."
"Holiness is positional and pursued; both, not either."