How can a young man seek holiness?<\/p>\n\t
In order to answer your question, we need to explore that is meant by “holy.”<\/p>\n
The word \u201choly\u201d translates a Hebrew word referring to something or someone dedicated to the service of a god. “Holy” includes dedication when it is applied to people and things, but it involves more than mere dedication. Holiness also means holding something or someone as extra special. God said He selected the people of Israel to be a holy nation (Deuteronomy 7:6). Concerning Israel, Moses said God \u201cwill set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken<\/i>\u201d (Deuteronomy 26:19). But God also values righteousness as a part of holiness. \u201cThe LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways<\/i>\u201d (Deuteronomy 28:9). God told Israel that righteous action on their part would cause them to become a holy people. Their obedience to God would make them distinct and special among all the nations of the world.<\/p>\n
The Israelites were told to, \u201cdistinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean<\/i>\u201d (Leviticus 10:10). The word translated here as \u201cunholy\u201d is the Hebrew word for \u201cprofane.\u201d \u201cProfane\u201d means to pollute or treat something as common and of no value. When people throw trash down in a park, they are polluting it \u2013 they act as if the park as having no more value than a garbage dump.<\/p>\n “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever<\/em>” (1 Peter 1:13-23).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Peter’s argument is that Christians are special people because they were bought at a special price — by the very blood of the Son of God. Therefore, Christians should act as special people — not by having their noses in the air, acting like they are better than everyone else — but by purifying their lives through obedience to God’s teachings. It is God’s teachings that brought us into a special relationship with God and His Son, and it is those same teachings that make us different from the rest of the world and, thus, special.<\/p>\n You can’t be holy by sinning. Sins are common and degrading. “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. 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<\/em>” (Romans 12:1-2). You become holy by seeking to be righteous.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: How can a young man seek holiness? Answer: In order to answer your question, we need to explore that is meant by “holy.” The word \u201choly\u201d translates a Hebrew word referring to something or someone dedicated to the service of a god. “Holy” includes dedication when it is applied to people and things, but…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[295,309],"class_list":["post-22020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-holiness","tag-youth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40138,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/holy-is-his-name\/","url_meta":{"origin":22020,"position":0},"title":"Holy Is His Name","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 99 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Near the end of his life Joshua told the people of Israel - Joshua 24:14-24 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After their declaration to serve God, it seems strange for Joshua to tell them that they are unable to serve because He is holy. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What is it about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33015,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/holy-holy-holy\/","url_meta":{"origin":22020,"position":1},"title":"Holy, Holy, Holy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ken Green \"And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory' \" (Isaiah 6:3)! The very first rule, the commandment that earns the #1 spot, states who God is: \"I am the Lord your God,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":91596,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/love-your-neighbor-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":22020,"position":2},"title":"Love Your Neighbor (Moyer)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are first, to love God with all the heart, soul, strength, and might, and second, to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). These commandments are the basis for everything else God commands. It's not hard to see in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40134,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/regarding-god-as-holy\/","url_meta":{"origin":22020,"position":3},"title":"Regarding God as Holy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:13-19 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Peter charges all Christians to conduct themselves in holiness - I Peter 1:15-16 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We will not see God without holiness - Hebrews 12:14 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And knowing that this world will end and we all must face God - II Peter 3:11 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Holiness\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4427,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/mission-possible-holiness\/","url_meta":{"origin":22020,"position":4},"title":"Mission Possible: Holiness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Eric Reynolds via\u00a0Biblical Insights, December 2012 Are you living in holiness? \"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, \"You shall be holy,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93852,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-holiness-should-mean-to-the-christian\/","url_meta":{"origin":22020,"position":5},"title":"What Holiness Should Mean to the Christian","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 11, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gary Henry via WordsPoint.com \"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'\" (I Peter 1:15-16). Perhaps we who are Christians today do not often think about our holiness. But we should\u00a0think\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22020\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}