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Second, to be set apart as a member of Christ's bride is to participate in the church's worship: to read the Scriptures and hear them preached, to recite our creeds and confessions of faith, to remember our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection, to confess our sin, to celebrate our union with Christ and one another in the bread and the wine, to observe the Christ-shaped seasons of our church year. As we participate in this collective "service" of God's people to God—week in, week out, year in, year out—its external forms and internal logic shape our thoughts and behavior in increasingly Godward ways. The more we participate in the life of the church's worship, the more we come to know at every level not only that we are a part of the church, but that we are the church—and the church is us. In Christ, we are "being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit" (Eph. 2:22).

Finally, we are set apart as the church for the sake of others. Peter tells us that we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet. 2:9). To be holy, to be set apart to God, is never an end in itself but is always for the sake of the world. From the beginning, God has intended that his covenant people be the means by which all the nations of the world are blessed. Far from leading to self-righteous, world-abnegating sectarianism, true biblical holiness leads us to participate in the ministry of reconciliation that God has given to his people (2 Cor. 5:18-19). Through this ministry, people of every nation, tribe, and tongue will come to know the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

"Be holy, because I am holy," says our Lord. Holiness is not primarily about moral purity. It's primarily about union with God in Christ and sharing in Christ's holiness. It's secondarily about life in grateful service to God and others. Only a biblical, Christ-centered holiness will safeguard evangelicals from the trap of moralism and help us recover our spiritual footing in today's world.

Joel Scandrett (Ph.D., Drew University) is associate editor of reference and academic books at InterVarsity Press.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

CT editorial "Reviewing the Fundamentals" discussed holiness in light of the Ted Haggard scandal.

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May 2007, Vol. 51, No. 5