One of the greatest blessings we have been given is our calling by God, a divine summons that sets us apart as holy ones. This calling, described by Jesus Christ in John 6:44 and 6:65, reveals that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws or grants it to them. Our calling is to be separate and different, as the term "saint" or "holy one" signifies one who is set apart, regardless of personal goodness at the time of separation. As seen in I Corinthians 1:2 and II Timothy 1:9, God calls us with a holy calling to be distinct from others. Though declared holy by Him, we are expected to grow beyond this initial designation. Ephesians 2:1-2 clarifies that God has separated us from our trespasses and sins, the course of this world, and the influence of Satan. This separation is not merely a one-time act; He requires us to remain apart from these things, to stay free from sin's defilement, and to walk according to His course rather than the world's.

The term "holy" means to be set apart, a cut above, separated for God's use. When God sanctifies something, He makes it holy, as seen with the Sabbath, which He set apart as a beacon and evidence of His covenant with His people. God calls us to be holy, to be individuals set apart for His purpose, just as He sets aside individuals and nations for His unique plans. Holiness is not merely about physical separation but involves a spiritual and moral transformation, reflecting God's character and qualities. God made Abraham holy by separating him from his family, establishing a covenant with him, and promising to make him a great nation. Abraham's faithfulness and obedience demonstrated his dedication to being set apart for God, becoming a friend of God through his actions. Similarly, God chose Israel to be a holy nation, a special treasure above all peoples, to represent Him and live obediently as a light to other nations. Despite their failures, they were called to maintain a distinct identity through a heartfelt covenant with God. Today, we are also made holy, set apart as a cut above, chosen by God to be His special treasure and a light to the world. God chose us before the foundation of the earth to be holy and blameless before Him, appointing us to bear fruit that reflects His character in our conduct. Being holy is a daunting challenge and a process of sanctification and conversion, requiring us to grow through trials toward perfection. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, called out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim His praises. Christ's death made it possible for us to be holy, and His life and interaction with us help us to become holy. He has invested in us as His treasure, desiring us to be blameless and complete in righteousness. As He who called us is holy, we are to be holy in all our conduct, preparing mentally and spiritually for challenges, focusing our thoughts, and readying ourselves for spiritual action against temptation. We must be diligent to confirm our calling and relationship with God through our behavior, actively developing virtues to ensure spiritual growth and lead others away from sin.

Holiness, as it pertains to being set apart, is a defining quality of God, marking His uniqueness and separateness from all creation. He stands apart and above, demanding exclusive worship and allegiance due to His infinite majesty, immeasurable power, and perfect righteousness. To be holy, as He is holy, means to be set apart for Godly use, reflecting a quality beyond mere morality, encompassing attitudes and perceptions that conform to His image. The command to be holy is directed to all who serve Him, regardless of their status, emphasizing a likeness to God in character and purpose. This call to be set apart is not merely a designation but a transformative process, requiring separation from worldly influences and a dedication to living according to His standards. Being holy involves a consecration to the highest ideals, striving to maintain purity as a temple of God's spirit, keeping it clean because He dwells within. Holiness, in the context of being set apart, also carries a caution against misuse of the term. Simply being designated as holy by calling or position does not equate to possessing God-like qualities. True holiness, as God intends, includes a set of qualities in one's entire being that mirror His nature, attainable only through His spirit and an intimate relationship with Him. The challenge of being set apart as holy is formidable yet essential, as God does not command what cannot be attained. Through life experiences and a close relationship with Him, some measure of His holiness can be imparted to us, transforming our nature and the way we live. This separation may require self-control, self-denial, and even distancing from old associations, ensuring our loyalties are to Christ and our lives reflect His desires and purposes. Ultimately, being set apart as holy is a call to the entire church, each member a priest in training under Jesus Christ. It involves a lifelong pursuit of growth in holiness through love, obedience, study, prayer, and service, preparing us for roles as kings and priests in His Kingdom. This process of being set apart is a constant reminder to strive for holiness, far beyond merely avoiding sin, encompassing the entirety of our relationship with God.

At the beginning of our spiritual lives, God declares us holy or saints, and we must continue in that holiness to make it complete. He desires us to become holy ones, separate ones in truth, and not merely in name. Our calling by God to perfect holiness is our true vocation, the job that truly matters. As we go through our days, we must continually evaluate everything through the lens of being set apart. Jesus Christ says we are to be in the world, but not of it, separate from the things of Satan, removed from the defilement of sin, and detached from anything in opposition to God. Our separation from the world fits into our annual observance of the Feast of Tabernacles, which looks forward to the Millennial rule of Jesus Christ on earth, when the saints will form part of God's government. God will give the opportunity to create a new world only to those who have perfected holiness, denying authority to anyone still wrapped up in this present, evil world. We have been called, set apart, and made to be separate so we can instill values that have their source in God and reject those that originate elsewhere. This calling to be holy is foundational, equipping us to teach others how to live when this world passes away. Our duty is to be set apart in all our conduct, standing apart from the world that is fading. God has already begun the process by separating the saints from the power of darkness and conveying them into Christ's Kingdom, a nation of holy ones. As saints, our vocation is to represent that Kingdom and to perfect the holiness that our King has given us.

God has set aside His holy people, calling us to be distinct from the world. He has provided everything we need to fulfill our responsibilities as we approach the end time. Our main duty is to come out of this world and become holy as He is holy, refraining from partaking in its sins. We must follow the pattern of instruction established in His Word, not meddling with what He has reserved for Himself. As seen in the account of Jericho, God commanded His people to abstain from the accursed things, ensuring they did not bring a curse upon themselves or the camp of Israel. When Achan failed in this responsibility, the entire nation suffered, demonstrating how critical individual holiness is to the well-being of the whole body. God holds us accountable for one another, emphasizing that if one member suffers, the whole body suffers. We are called to strive with all our might to hit the mark, overcoming the accursed things in our lives to achieve the holiness He desires for His united Body of Christ.

Sanctification, in the biblical sense, refers to the state, condition, and process of being separated from others for God's purposes. It is both a result of God's calling and an active, ongoing process that becomes increasingly refined over time. The basic meaning of sanctify is to set apart or separate, akin to a rancher cutting an animal away from the herd for a specific use. In the context of our calling by God, this begins the condition and process of sanctification for His purpose of salvation and the creation of His image within us. God's acts of sanctification are evident in His dealings with Israel, as seen in Exodus 6:6-8, where He declares His intent to bring the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, redeem them, and make them His people. This separation distinguished the called Israelites not only from the Egyptians but also from other nations they encountered, such as the Moabites and Canaanites. Israel was set apart for a special purpose, chosen by God's sovereign will and grace, not by their own works, as an act of His love. This pattern of being set apart is ancient and clearly revealed throughout biblical history, from Enoch and Noah to Abraham, who was sanctified from his family and country to establish a nation through which God would work out His purpose, as stated in Genesis 12:1-2. Similarly, in Hosea 11:1, God calls Israel His son out of Egypt, and in Matthew 2:14-15, even Jesus is called out of Egypt, showing that God precipitates these separations. In John 6:44, it is affirmed that no one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father, placing us and the church within the same pattern of being called out and separated by God's grace from the rest of the world. The Greek word ecclesia, translated as assembly or church, means a calling or summons to an assembly, implying a separation from others. In our case, the Bible specifies this calling as formal and specific, summoning us to be separated from the world for God to be reproduced in us. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as sanctify or sanctification also carry implications of cleanliness, purity, blamelessness, and sacredness, often rendered as holy, holiness, consecration, or devotion in various contexts. In Revelation 18:4, God calls His people to come out of the world to avoid partaking in its sins, indicating a spiritual, moral, and ethical separation rather than a geographical one, unlike the physical movement of Israel from Egypt. Under the New Covenant, this community aspect of sanctification is reserved for the future Kingdom of God, toward which we move as God prepares those He has set apart. In Exodus 19:4-6, God proposes to Israel that if they obey His voice and keep His covenant, they will be a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation, set apart above all people. Similarly, in I Peter 2:5 and 9-10, we are described as living stones built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, and a chosen generation, called out of darkness into His marvelous light to show forth His praises. This setting apart is not for geographical separation but for spiritual transformation, contrasting the physical outward focus of the Old Covenant with the inward, heavenly, and eternal focus of the New Covenant. The term peculiar, as used in both Exodus and I Peter, emphasizes being special or a purchased possession of God, not odd or strange. In I Peter 1:15-16, we are called to be holy in all conduct as He who called us is holy, implying not just separation but also cleanliness and purity to be a suitable dwelling place for God. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 reinforces that Israel was set apart as a holy, special people chosen by God's love, not because of their greatness, but by His grace, with the responsibility to keep His commandments, statutes, and judgments. Isaiah 43:1, 7, and 9-12 further clarify that those set apart are called by God's name, created for His glory, and tasked as witnesses to declare that He alone is God and Savior. This wit

The concept of being "Set Apart" is central to the holiness code found in Leviticus, particularly in chapters 17 through 23, and extends to the broader theme of sanctification. God commands His people to be holy, as He is holy, declaring in Leviticus 19:2, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." This call to holiness signifies being set apart for God's purpose, a theme reiterated throughout these chapters with the reminder, "I am the LORD," emphasizing His authority and the expectation for His people to reflect His character. Being set apart begins with God's act of sanctification, as seen in Exodus 31:13, where He states, "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you." This sanctification is not earned by human effort but is a divine act, marking His people as distinct. Leviticus 20:8 reinforces this, saying, "And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you." God's role as the One who sets apart is further echoed in Leviticus 21:8, where He declares the priesthood holy because He, the LORD, sanctifies them. In the New Testament, this theme continues in I Thessalonians 5:23, with the prayer that "the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely," indicating an ongoing process of being set apart wholly for God. Deuteronomy 7:6 establishes the foundation of this identity, stating, "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth." This choice is an act of grace, not based on merit, but on God's love and covenant promises. The process of being set apart involves an initial proclamation of holiness, as seen in Deuteronomy 26:18-19, where God proclaims His people as special, with the hope that they "may be a holy people to the LORD your God." This legal declaration sets the stage for a lifelong journey of growing in holiness, responding to God's call by living according to His statutes. Exodus 19:5-6 further illustrates this, promising that obedience to God's covenant will make His people a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation," set apart as a special treasure. Ultimately, being set apart is not merely about following laws but about reflecting God's character through a transformative relationship with Him. It is God who initiates and sustains this process, ensuring that His people are distinct, dedicated to His purpose, and growing in holiness as they walk in His ways.