Have you ever wondered what it means to be holy? Maybe you think
of holiness as something that only belongs to God, or to some special saints or
religious leaders. Maybe you think of holiness as something that is impossible or
irrelevant for you. Maybe you think of holiness as something that is boring or
restrictive.
But what if I told you that holiness is not any of those things?
What if I told you that holiness is a gift from God, a goal to pursue, and a
witness to the world? What if I told you that holiness is something that God
wants for you, and that he has made a way for you to experience it?
In this blog post, I want to share with you some biblical
teaching and principles on the topic of holiness, and how it can transform your
life and your relationship with God.
Holiness is a Gift from God through Christ
The first thing we need to understand about holiness is that it
is a gift from God through Christ. Holiness means being set apart from sin and
dedicated to God’s purposes. It means being pure, clean, and righteous in God’s
sight.
But how can we be holy, when we are all sinners by nature and by
choice? How can we be holy, when we have broken God’s laws and offended his
holiness? How can we be holy, when we are stained by guilt and shame?
The answer is that we cannot be holy by ourselves. We cannot
make ourselves holy by our own efforts or merits. We cannot earn or deserve
God’s holiness. We can only receive it by his grace through faith in Christ.
You see, Christ is the one who made holiness possible for us. He
is the one who lived a perfectly holy life, without sin or fault. He is the one
who died on the cross for our sins, taking our punishment and paying our debt.
He is the one who rose from the dead, defeating sin and death. He is the one
who cleansed us by his blood, washing away our sins and making us holy.
The Bible says in Hebrews 10:10-14:
And by that will, we have been made holy
through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day
every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he
offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this
priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the
right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his
footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being
made holy.
This means that if you have trusted in Christ as your Savior and
Lord, you have been made holy by God. You have been forgiven of all your sins.
You have been declared righteous in his sight. You have been adopted into his
family. You have been set apart for his glory.
This is a wonderful gift that God has given you through Christ.
It is not something that you have to work for or worry about. It is something
that you can receive and appreciate by faith.
How do you receive and appreciate God’s gift of holiness? By
trusting in Christ alone for your salvation. By confessing your sins to him and
asking for his forgiveness. By thanking him for his grace and mercy. By
praising him for his love and goodness.
Holiness is a Goal to Pursue by the Spirit
The second thing we need to understand about holiness is that it
is a goal to pursue by the Spirit. Holiness means not only being set apart from
sin, but also being set apart for God. It means not only being cleansed from
sin, but also being conformed to Christ. It means not only being declared
righteous, but also being transformed into his likeness.
But how can we pursue holiness, when we still struggle with sin
and temptation? How can we pursue holiness, when we still face trials and
challenges? How can we pursue holiness, when we still fall short of God’s
standards?
The answer is that we cannot pursue holiness by ourselves. We
cannot achieve holiness by our own strength or wisdom. We cannot produce
holiness by our own works or efforts. We can only pursue it by the Spirit.
You see, the Spirit is the one who enables us to grow in
holiness. He is the one who works in us to transform us into the image of
Christ. He is the one who guides and empowers us to live holy lives.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
And we all, who with unveiled faces
contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This means that if you have trusted in Christ as your Savior and
Lord, you have been given the Holy Spirit as your helper and teacher. He is the
one who convicts you of sin and leads you to repentance. He is the one who teaches
you the truth and reminds you of God’s word. He is the one who produces his
fruit in you, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
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