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Holy, Common, and Abominable

The Old Testament view of sin and judgment created a model of reality separated into three different parts.

The Holy
In the Biblical times, once something was given to God, it belonged to him alone and was considered holy. Anything devoted to God or used in his service was to be set apart. Similarly, every Christian is holy, set apart to serve God. As a result, we cannot and must not serve any other person, idea, or thing. Every aspect of our lives (including our jobs, schoolwork, families, and friendships) should be dedicated to serving God alone.

The Common
Anything that belonged to the Old Testament Israelites was considered common. Although they were under the ownership of the people who physically owned them, they were to be used in godly ways. In the New Testament, the holy and the common were joined. Everything, even the ordinary, is now to be used for God's service.

The Abominable
God abhors abominations. An abomination was anything associated with the worship of other gods, or any behavior that distorted the standard of living God intended for humans. Leviticus 18 included a list of improper behaviors such as adultery and homosexuality. As God demonstrated by sending the Flood and the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, he will punish those who practice these unlawful behaviors.