Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Primary
What this passage establishes
God grounds Israel’s holiness in His own holy character.
Why it matters in the argument
Holiness is God’s character shaping a redeemed people. It includes the heart, body, desires, relationships, worship, and visible conduct.
Apostolic connection
Apostolic holiness is Spirit-empowered consecration, not a way to earn salvation or a list detached from love, justice, mercy, and inward purity.
Common misunderstanding
Rejecting legalism does not mean rejecting holiness. The New Testament repeatedly commands a transformed life because believers belong to God.
How to use it in conversation
Begin with God’s call, move to inward transformation and the body as God’s temple, then address concrete practice.