Genesis 1 :26, "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

 As we once again examine what it means to be created in the image of God, our focus today, will be centered on the fact that God is holy.

 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."

 Note that the Lord instructed Moses to speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel.  The Lord did not tell Moses to speak only to the priests or the elders. We should note also, that this was not a suggestion.  It was a command; a command given to everyone in the congregation of Israel.

 The word "holy" used in this verse is the Hebrew word, qadowsh.  Qadowsh means: set apart, dedicated to sacred purposes, clean, morally pure.  Holiness is separation from everything profane and defiling, and at the same time, it is dedicated to everything holy and pure.  God is entirely holy in His nature, motives, thoughts, words and deeds, so that; He is Qadowsh - The Holy One.

 1 Peter 1: 15 and 16, " but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

 When God commands us to "be holy even as He is holy," He is calling us to let Him do through us, what He does in and of Himself.

 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

 These verses let us know that, by the Spirit of the Lord, we can and are being transformed into His image.  We realize that by our own efforts and works alone, we will never be holy.  However, it is encouraging to know that, since God gave the command, and it is by the work of the Spirit that it is accomplished, we can be holy. We must choose to work with the Spirit to reach the goal.  We are created in his image and yet, we will not be complete until we are like Him.. That means our nature, motives, thoughts, words, and deeds must be imitations of His.  Is that possible?  Yes!

 2 Peter 1:2-4, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."  His divine power has given us all that is necessary for us to be partakers of the divine nature.  "Partakers" in the Greek is koinonos, which means: a partner, sharer in anything.  Holiness is part of His divine nature, of which, we are partakers!

 As we look at the following scriptures, we see throughout the New Testament, that the Lord requires we be holy.  He also tells us how, He has provided for that requirement to be fulfilled.

 Zacharias prophesied in Luke 1:73-76, " The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. 76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,"  Verse 73 indicates that God  had sworn an oath to Abraham that through the birth of Christ, we would be delivered from our enemies and would serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness.

 Ephesians 1:4, "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love"

 2 Corinthians 5:17, " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

 Ephesians 4:24, "and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."  We must put on the new man which was created in true righteousness and holiness.  It does take an effort on our part to be holy.  Our tendency is to be like the world, which is constantly trying to influence us.  The effort we make is being submissive to the Word and will of God.  Our response to the Word of God requires action!

 Romans 12:1 and 2, " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Another action we take, in faith, is to "present our bodies," a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.  The word "holy" in verse 1 is the Greek word, hagios, which means: sacred, pure, blameless, separated, consecrated, Godlikeness, set apart for God.  We must choose to be conformed to His Word to do His will.

 2 Timothy 3:16, " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"

 1 Thessalonians 3:12 and 13 is a Holy Spirit inspired prayer. The word "holiness" in verse 13 is "hagiosune" in the Greek.  It means:  the process, quality and condition of a holy disposition and the quality of holiness in personal conduct.  It is the principle that separates the believer from the world!  Hagiosune consecrates us to God's service, both in soul and body, finding a life committed to purity.  It causes every component of our character to stand God's inspection and meet His approval.

  I end today's blog by praying this prayer for you.

 1 Thessalonians 3:12 and 13, "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish (to strengthen, make firm, to render constant and confirm) your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." "Yes, gracious and loving Father, I ask that you would establish their hearts, according to Your Word and the work of the Spirit of the Lord, to be holy, just as You are holy.  Thank You Father, for the confidence, that we are not in this alone and for the knowledge that, when You require something of us, You also enable us.  We give You, Who alone is worthy, all the glory, honor and praise.  In Your Son, Jesus' Name.  Amen