Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8200 The character of the believer » 8266 holiness » 8269 holiness, as separation from the worldly God's people are called to holiness, which involves being distinct from other people. In the OT, this is seen in the command to separate from other nations and from everything that can compromise commitment to the LORD. In the NT believers are called to distance themselves from the ways and values of the world, which can be dishonouring to God and destructive to obedience to him. Israel is to be set apart from other nations Leviticus 20:23-26 See also Exodus 33:15-16; Leviticus 15:31; Leviticus 18:29-30; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; Deuteronomy 23:9-14; Ezra 9:1-2,10-12; Isaiah 52:11 Common things are designated clean or unclean by ritual law Clean and unclean animals Leviticus 11:46-47 See also Leviticus 11:1-23 pp Deuteronomy 14:3-20; Mark 7:14-19; Acts 10:14 Infectious skin diseases Leviticus 13:2-3; Leviticus 14:2 Mildew Leviticus 13:47-49; Leviticus 14:33-36 Bodily discharges Leviticus 12:2; Leviticus 15:2 Corpses Leviticus 5:2-3; Leviticus 11:31-40; Leviticus 21:1,11 What is holy must be kept separate The Israelites must distinguish between the holy and the common Leviticus 10:10-11; Ezekiel 44:23 Contact with the profane desecrates the holy Acts 21:28 See also Jeremiah 51:51 Unclean people and things must be removed Numbers 5:1-3; Ezra 10:10-11 See also Leviticus 7:22-27; Leviticus 13:45-46; Leviticus 19:5-8; Numbers 19:13,20; Deuteronomy 23:10-14; 2 Chronicles 26:21 Unclean people are not to approach what is sacred Leviticus 7:20-21; Leviticus 22:3-6 The holy must be treated with respect Unintentional defilement of the holy carries a penalty Warnings against contempt for the holy Leviticus 22:1-2 See also Exodus 19:10-13; Exodus 28:42-43; Exodus 30:18-21; Exodus 31:14-15; Numbers 4:15,17-20; Hebrews 10:28-29 Examples of contempt for the holy Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 16:1-7,18-35; 1 Samuel 6:19-20; 2 Samuel 6:6-7; Ezekiel 22:26,31; Acts 5:1-10 Christians are called to be separate from the ways of the world John 15:19; James 4:4; 1 Peter 2:9-11 See also John 17:14-16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 2:19; James 1:27 See also
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