“Be holy, for I AM Holy” - Lev.19: 2

“…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” - Heb.12:14

“Be holy” - that’s a pretty tall order! Quite honestly, doesn’t seem obtainable. We generally always see ourselves as ‘flawed’ in some way.

The bible actually reminds us there is “none righteous, no not one” - is God contradicting Himself? Ok, I understand the gospel and the need to be saved, but sanctification, holiness?  - Let’s not get radical!

Library’s and volumes of books have been written on the topic of holiness and sanctification.  All these books are measured by the ONE BOOK - THE BIBLE. The Bible clearly commands holiness.  The word ‘holy’ is stated

approximately over 900 times in the Bible.

But still, holiness seems to be for God, not us?! - “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isa.6:3)  We can’t escape scripture when it comes to this topic of holiness, it is not a take it or leave it, but I think we are scared of it, seems unattainable because we don’t really understand it. And quite frankly, life can be so hard. Most of us don’t need one more thing to do or to measure up to - so we get discouraged or doubt our salvation when it comes to this topic of holiness. 

Just as salvation is a gift which can’t be earned - ’Believe and you will be saved.”

Holiness is a gift of grace too, like salvation, we can’t earn it nor work for it - it possesses us - its our identity - it’s a  state of who we are by the grace of God!  Sanctification on the other hand is the process of becoming who God declares we are! “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Pet.2:9)

Jesus prayed for you, me and all those who ‘would believe’ (cf. Jn 17:20).

He prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth…for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (Jn 17: 17-19).  We make salvation too hard.  We make holiness unattainable. We make sanctification a mystery.  It is actually quite simple, everything God has for us to possess is a gift of His grace.

We don’t need to master the Word, we need to let the Word master us and possess us.  Yes, you can be ‘holy in your conduct’ because that is who you are!  You are set apart by the grace of God for His glory to be manifested in you!  “Your faith and hope are in God!”  

 Pastor Rodney