Teaching On Holiness
Topic: HOLINESS.
According to longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines Holiness as "The quality of being pure and good in a religious way." Scripturally, holiness can further be defined as the purity of the spirit, soul and body. 2ndcor.7:1- state of being sanctified; total abstinence from evil (1Thess.4:3-7).
Christianity is a way of life different from that of the world (Acts 24:22), even Jesus Himself declared this in the book of John 17:14,16 when he said Christians (his followers)are not of the world even as he Himself is not of the world. Being not of the world, therefore, our altitude and dressing must not confirm to that of the world (Rom.12:2).
Our dressing style must follow the pattern stipulated in the scripture 1Timothy 2:9-10, "In like manner also that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness (having the feeling of shame if they behave or dress worldly) and sobriety; not with braided hair,or gold,or pearls or costly array-that gender pride and cut throat competition. But (which becometh women processing godliness) with good works". Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel but it be the hidden man of the heart(1pet.3:3-4).
Without controversy, any person having the spirit of God and reading through these passages of the scripture will see clearly the picture of dressing pattern women of God must follow. Indecent dressing like women putting on trousers, tight fitting skirts, blouses, gowns, skimpy or short skirts etc are sinful and should not be allowed among Christians.(Read Deut.22:5). Dresses that exposed a woman's armpit, her back or part of her breast should not be worn in public by Christian women.
On the side of men, even though the Bible did not spell out mode of dressing for them, we still uphold having the spirit of God, that there must be certain dressing that, Christian men should not put on.
Christian must not dress shabbily or as ruffians-putting on clothes that make them look like bogeys. The hair style they barb can also spell out Christianity or worldliness.
Let us go back to our old path of holiness and Christian discipline for then shall we find good success.
Thanks for your time and reading through.
@preechi