Wednesday: Call to Holiness
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 2nd of September 2026
In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Paul keeps encouraging the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. He presents a long list of hardships and triumphs to show what it means to be a follower of Christ and a minister of God. In short, he lists difficult situations (2 Corinthians 6:4-5), virtues of character (2 Corinthians 6:6), equipment for ministry (2 Corinthians 6:7), and vicissitudes of ministry (2 Corinthians 6:8-10). After instructing the members in Corinth to be reconciled to God, Paul appeals for them to live a holy life, and to do so by separating themselves from the harmful influence of unbelievers and from unclean things (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
Read 2 Corinthians 6:11-18; 2 Corinthians 7:1. According to this passage, what does a holy life look like?
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
Paul emphasizes in this passage the importance of affection and love within the church (1 Corinthians 6:11-13). The evidence that people have been reconciled to God is that they seek reconciliation with one another. Indeed, they become, as it were, agents of horizontal reconciliation.
Next, the call to holiness is given by means of six appeals, namely, (1) “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV); (2) “ ‘Come out from among them’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV); (3) “ ‘Be separate’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV); (4) “ ‘Do not touch what is unclean’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV); (5) “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV); (6) “Make holiness perfect in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1, RSV; emphasis supplied). These exhortations show that a holy God requires a holy life and separation from idolatry.
On the other hand, the passage also brings seven promises that highlight the role of the Christian church as a holy temple: (1) “ ‘I will dwell in them’ ”; (2) “ ‘[I will] walk among them’ ”; (3) “ ‘I will be their God’ ”; (4) “ ‘They shall be My people’ ”; (5) “ ‘I will receive you’ ”; (6) “ ‘I will be a Father to you’ ”; (7) “ ‘You shall be My sons and daughters’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18, NKJV).
Notice that the four promises in 2 Corinthians 6:16 are the basis for the three imperatives in 2 Corinthians 6:17 (see the word “therefore” at the beginning of 2 Corinthians 6:17). This demonstrates that holiness is not the result of one’s efforts but the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Although holiness results from God, believers must do their part and reject idolatry and every impure practice.
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What do God’s promises in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 tell us about what holiness is? |
The title of today’s study, “Call to Holiness” brought to mind the Holiness Movement in 1900s here in Australia. They came to my attention because just a few kilometres down the road from Avondale University is Bethshan Mission, who ran a church, nursing home and farm. It was part of the Holiness Movement. I knew nothing about it until I received a phone call out of the blue from them, asking for help to get them started with computers in the late 1980s. Another Avondale lecturer and I ran a series of classes for their staff, teaching them basic computer skills and it was through this we got to know them. They were a pleasure to work with. The Holiness Movement was based on Methodism but their defining tenant of faith was the idea that a second encounter with the Holy Spirit cleanses the believer’s heart from inherent original sin. This doctrine in known as entire or instantaneous sanctification. This is different to the Seventh-day Adventist position where sanctification is viewed as progressive and the work of a lifetime.
I don’t want to argue the doctrine but I found the folk at Bethshan believed that holiness meant that you lived by faith and that the Mission was a place where anyone could come and receive spiritual healing in a peaceful environment. It was a quiet restful place of refuge for those who needed to get away from the rigours of every-day life.
Holiness is not about churchiness but is about having the sort of relationship with God that is big enough to share. Paul says it like this:
Paul’s ministry demonstrates that holiness is not merely a personal pursuit but an essential foundation for effective Christian ministry. Throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul defends the integrity of his apostleship by emphasizing that he and his fellow workers sought to conduct themselves with holiness, sincerity, and dependence upon God rather than worldly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12). His ministry was not driven by personal gain, human approval, or the values of the world, but by a desire to please Christ and faithfully represent Him. Because ministers are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), their lives must reflect the holiness of the God they proclaim. Paul therefore calls believers to separate themselves from what defiles them and to “perfect holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). His own life and ministry illustrate this calling: despite suffering, opposition, weakness, and hardship, he sought to remain faithful, pure, and wholly devoted to Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1–2; 6:3–10). For Paul, holiness gives credibility to ministry because the messenger must embody the message. A holy life becomes a testimony that the gospel is transforming the person who proclaims it. Thus, Paul’s ministry teaches us that the call to holiness is inseparable from the call to ministry: those who represent Christ must continually allow His character to be formed in them so that their lives do not contradict the gospel they preach.
The call to holiness is a Christian clarion call; in fact, it is a war cry against the enemy—the devil. A call to holiness is a profound and fundamental command of Christian faith and living. The Christian faith that we have been crafted into demands a separation from worldliness. We have been summoned not to conform to the world. Our way of life, our perspectives, our worldview and desires should imitate Christ. “ Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2, NLT). This is an urgent call; in fact, the stakes are too high to dilly-dally. Holiness is a very serious matter of spiritual warfare. The consequences for not heeding the call to arms have eternal ramifications. It can never be business as usual.
A call to holiness is a clarion call which demands an immediate response. “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4, NKJV). The City of Nineveh turned from its wicked ways, and it was saved. This should be our response. The enemy we are fighting against is brutal, cunning, and invisible.
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” ( Ephesians 6:12).
Omwenga, I understand the need to remain uncontaminated by the worldliness, but at the same time, I hear the Gospel commission to go into all the world. What are some of the practical ways we can get our hands dirty with the Lord’s work, but keep our hearts and minds clean? We cannot be isolationists in the battle to save souls.
Dear Maurice,
Thanks, for response. I am very sure my posting did not suggest that believers live in complete isolation from unbelievers. My reference to Romans 12:2 is very evident of what I wanted to stress. “ Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2, NLT). In essence, be in the world but not of the world. In my writing, I wrote, “The Christian faith that we have been crafted into demands a separation from worldliness.” What we have to separate ourselves from is not the world but the “worldliness”.
I didn’t think you were suggesting that believers live in isolation, but I was hoping for some practical example(s) from your experience of dealing with the tension.
Hi people
Jesus has warned us to seek refuge at the right time and in the right place…
The prophet Daniel spoke about…the hated thing that destroys. Someday you will see it standing in the holy place. The reader should understand this.
Book title..All about Jesus… Roger Quy…a well woven fabric of all four gospels. Matthew 24 of course.. Authentic Publishing…New International Readers Version… purchased bulk lot from Kooroong years ago. Gave all away.. kept one. Aimed at new seekers.
Blessings reneanne Anderson.
Even as Paul made his appeal to the Corinthians it reminds me that throughout God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation the call is the same God’s people are called to a higher standard, and that is growing in holiness. Put away sin, pattern your life after God’s children who have gone before us. The message is still the same. Hallelujah!
May I add?
Pattern our lives after Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The call to Holiness is not a call to isolationism. Rather, it is a call to be different from the world’s standards of operation. Just as God is bound by nature of His character from using the tactics and methods of Satan, so are we as His ambassadors and representatives. We are called to be a peculiar people. This doesn’t mean that we are strange or weird, though in the eyes of unconverted people we may be perceived to be. To be peculiar is to be wonderfully different from the way the world operates. The end does not justify the means. We should function at a higher level. Matthew 5:16 comes into play here.
This happens as a byproduct of our relationship with God through Jesus. The fruit of the Holy Spirit begins to be revealed to a world that only knows rotten fruit and selfish, sinful deeds. This can make others to take notice and wonder why we are different, why we “march to the beat of a different drummer.” Then we will have opportunities to tell the great and mighty things that the Lord has done for us.
The Pharisees practiced personal piety as an outward show, yet some of their hearts weren’t changed. It was a charade. When Jesus hung out with sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors, it wasn’t to be like them but that they might become like Him. We should by the power of the Holy Spirit live our lives the same way. So help us, God.
I believe we can socialize with non- believers in things that would not go against your faith in Christ. Say for instance you are talking with a friend who is not of your faith and it came up that a family member is going through cancer treatment. Now you have something to pray about in your devotions other then you and your family. your prayer life becomes personal and selfish if you don’t have social contact outside the realm of Church and Sabbath School.
The advice is, when coming in contact with non-believers or of another church that is out side your belief, make sure you are grounded well in your faith, saying no to the the practices outside our beliefs.
Saying no once from the first strengthens your faith.
Be not ashamed or timid of your faith. 2 Timothy 1:8.
To be holy means to be set apart (Leviticus 20:26). How can we be set apart if we are supposed to be salt among people? (Matthew 5:13) Where is the balance in this dilemma? (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:15) We become holy when we live in constant communion with Christ, no matter where we are or what we do — this is what it means to be holy! (John 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:31;Colossians 3:17
Well said JC. I copied your message, put it in my e-mail, and sent it to my other e-mail now I have a e-mail I can refer to as gem for my not just study, but also as gem for my devotions and relations with Christ in the future. Yes, I put it in a folder called Relationship with Christ. Point of this new habit of collecting gems, is always excessable, and with the convenience of clicking on the text, wala, the Bible opened without turning a page, and without having programing knowledge.
Thank-you JC for your steadfast contributions to ssnet.org through the many years. 😃
Reflection: What Does a Holy Life Look Like?
According to 2 Corinthians 6:11–18; 7:1, a holy life is ultimately about being transformed into the character of God through the redeeming grace of Christ. Paul is not presenting holiness as something we achieve through our own strength, but as the fruit of belonging to God and allowing His Spirit to work in us.
1 An open heart; “Our heart is wide open” (6:11). Christ’s grace transforms the heart, enabling us to love, forgive and embrace others rather than becoming self-righteous or judgmental.
2. Right relationships and influences; “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (6:14). Separation from influences that draw us away from God is not an act of self-righteousness; it is a response to the new identity Christ is creating in us.
3. Separation from what defiles; “Come out from among them and be separate” (6:17). Christian separation is not isolation from people, but separation from sin and anything that hinders our relationship with God.
4. A God-centered identity; “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters” (6:18). Holiness begins with knowing that we belong to God. We do not become God’s children because we become holy; we pursue holiness because, through Christ, we have become His children.
5. A life progressively cleansed and transformed; “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (7:1). This cleansing is not self-produced perfection. It is the continuing work of God’s grace in the surrendered believer.
This connects beautifully with Christ’s words in Matthew 5:48: “Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Jesus is calling us to reflect the character of our heavenly Father. But that character is not manufactured by human effort. It is Christ’s character reproduced in us through His redeeming grace and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thus, biblical holiness is not simply separation from something; it is transformation into the likeness of Christ.
We do not become holy by trying harder to be like God; we become holy as we surrender to Christ, whose redeeming grace transforms us and gradually writes His character into our lives.
The Christian life, therefore, is not “I must make myself holy so that God will accept me.” It is “Because Christ has redeemed and accepted me, I surrender myself to Him, and His grace transforms me into His likeness.”
MAIN IDEA:👉If you are reconciled to God, you must live a different, holy life. Holiness means separating yourself from sin and anything that pulls you away from God – not by your own power, but because God lives in you.
1. How did Paul show what it means to follow Jesus?*
In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 he lists:
– Hardships he faced (beatings, prison, troubles)
– Good character he needed (patience, kindness, love)
– God’s tools he used (truth, power of God)
– Ups and downs of ministry (honored and dishonored, but still joyful)
2. What does a holy life look like? – 2 Cor 6:11-18, 7:1
Paul gives 6 commands* to be separate:
1. Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers – don’t tie your life so close to non-believers that they pull you away from God
2. Come out from among them
3. Be separate
4. Do not touch what is unclean (idols, sinful practices)
5. Cleanse ourselves from everything that dirties body and spirit
6. Make holiness perfect by fearing / respecting God
Holy life = loving other believers AND staying away from idolatry and impurity.
3. Why can we live holy? Because of God’s 7 Promises:*
God doesn’t just command, He gives power. He says:
1. I will dwell in them
2. I will walk among them
3. I will be their God
4. You will be My people
5. I will receive you
6. I will be a Father to you
7. You will be My sons and daughters
👉Bottom line: We are God’s temple. Because God lives in us, we must keep our lives clean. Holiness is not us trying hard alone – it is God living in us, and we respond by saying NO to sin.