We are to be holy, set apart for God. He purchased us with His own blood so that we could come out of the world and become His holy, chosen treasure.
Holy – “Set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively
his… Just as the Israelites claimed for themselves the title “holy ones,”
because God selected them from the other nations to lead a life acceptable to
him and rejoice in his favor and protection, so this appellation is very often in
the N.T. transferred to Christians, as those whom God has selected ‘not of the
world’ (John 17:14, 16), that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may
be rendered, through holiness partakers of salvation in the kingdom of God:”
From: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon (for the word “holy”)
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" - 1 Peter
2:9 (Exodus 19:5-6) [“peculiar” – purchased possession, one’s own property]
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise
of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." - 2 Corinthians 4:7
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For
ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what
part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple
of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
"Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39
