Some Christians see happiness as the virtual opposite of holiness. But Scripture says otherwise.
Greek scholar J. B. Phillips (1906–1982) translated Revelation 20:6 this way: “Happy and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!” Similarly, the most literal English version, Young’s Literal Translation, renders it “Happy and holy [is] he who is having part in the first rising again.”
Most translations of this verse read “blessed and holy,” with the result that modern readers (unaware that in old English blessed meant happy) understand the sentence as containing two adjectives of consecration. But when the Greek is rendered “happy and holy,” readers can realize, Wow, so those who know God are not only holy but also happy? Happiness is what I’ve been searching for! Maybe I should stop dividing my life into “church me,” in which I try to be holy, and “world me,” in which I seek to be happy.
To be holy is to see God as He is and to become like Him, covered in Christ’s righteousness. And since God’s nature is to be happy, the more like Him we become in our sanctification, the happier we will be.
Holiness doesn’t mean abstaining from pleasure; holiness means recognizing Jesus as the source of life’s greatest pleasure.
This video, “Happiness and Holiness,” is the fifth in a series that was filmed to accompany the Happiness Bible Study Book and reflect the content of my Happiness book. (See my previous blogs for the previous videos. All six videos are available on our website as a free resource. I encourage you to consider sharing them with your small group or church!)
Here are some resources if you’d like to explore more:
Why We Don’t Need to Choose Between Happiness and Holiness
What Are Common Objections to the Idea That God Wants Christians to Experience Happiness in Him?
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