The Pursuit of Holiness

1. Holiness is God's Nature and Universal Call for Every Believer

Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.

God's essential nature. Holiness is an intrinsic attribute of God, as necessary as His existence or wisdom. It signifies His perfect freedom from all evil and His absolute moral purity, meaning He cannot but know and do what is right. This perfect holiness is the standard He holds for all His moral creatures.

Universal call to holiness. Because God is holy, He commands every Christian, regardless of background or profession, to "Be holy, because I am holy." This call is not optional or limited to a select few; it is a fundamental expectation for all who belong to Him. Our pursuit of holiness should be motivated by seeing sin as an offense against this holy God, rather than merely a personal defeat.

Holiness is not cultural. True holiness is not about conforming to the behavior patterns of other Christians or adhering to endless lists of prohibitions. It is about conforming to God's character, separating ourselves from sin, and being consecrated to Him, reflecting His moral blamelessness in our daily lives.

2. Our Holiness in Christ is a Gift, Our Practical Holiness is a Pursuit

Without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Two aspects of holiness. Scripture presents two dimensions of holiness: the holiness we possess in Christ through His perfect life and atoning death, which gives us a holy standing before God, and the practical holiness we are called to strive after in our daily lives. Our salvation is a salvation to holiness, not just from the penalty of sin.

Salvation includes holiness. True saving faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, inherently includes a desire for practical holiness. If there is no yearning or striving to live a life pleasing to God, it raises serious questions about the genuineness of one's faith. God saves us not only from sin's penalty but also from its dominion.

Holiness is necessary. Practical holiness is required for fellowship with God, who is light and has no darkness. It is also necessary for our own well-being, as God disciplines those He loves to bring them into conformity with His holiness. Furthermore, holiness is essential for effective service and provides assurance of genuine salvation, as true faith is evidenced by its fruit.

3. We Are Freed from Sin's Reign, But Still Battle Indwelling Sin

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Delivered from dominion. Through union with Christ in His death, believers have died to the dominion or reign of sin. Before salvation, we were slaves in the kingdom of sin and Satan, but now we have been rescued and placed in the kingdom of righteousness. This is a factual reality for all believers.

Indwelling sin remains. Although sin's reign is broken, our sinful nature still resides within us, constantly waging "guerrilla warfare." This indwelling sin, seated in our deceitful and unsearchable hearts, remains hostile to God and seeks to regain mastery, primarily working through our desires and deceiving our understanding.

The ongoing struggle. The Christian life involves a continuous battle between the Holy Spirit and our sinful natures. While we are no longer forced to sin as slaves, we still sin when we choose to yield to temptation. Recognizing this ongoing struggle is crucial for effectively fighting against indwelling sin.

4. God Provides the Holy Spirit's Power; We Must Act in Obedience

In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Alive to God. Being "alive to God" means we are united with Christ in His power and have been given His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. This union provides the strength needed to resist sin, overcoming the sense of hopelessness caused by sin's power. We are now under the dominion of God, who empowers us.

The Spirit's ministry. The Holy Spirit is given primarily to make us holy. He strengthens us by:

• Enabling us to see God's standard and our sinfulness.
• Creating within us a desire for holiness and a hatred of sin.
• Giving us the spiritual strength to live a holy life.

Our dependence and action. While the Spirit provides the power, we are responsible for acting in obedience. We express dependence on the Spirit through consistent intake of Scripture (allowing Him to reveal sin and motivate) and prayer (asking for strength). We must actively "put to death the misdeeds of the body" in His enabling power.

5. Holiness Requires Our Active Discipline and Effort, Not Just Passive Trust

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

Our clear responsibility. Scripture repeatedly commands believers to take responsibility for their holy walk. Phrases like "put to death," "throw off," "resist the devil," and "make every effort" are direct exhortations to our wills, indicating that holiness is something we must actively pursue.

Discipline is essential. Godliness is not attained instantly but through structured training or discipline, like an athlete preparing for competition. This discipline involves correcting, molding, and training our moral character through willing, prayerful, and persistent obedience to Scripture.

Obedience, not victory. It is more accurate to describe our progress in holiness in terms of "obedience" and "disobedience" rather than "victory" and "defeat." When we sin, we are not merely "defeated" by an outside force; we are choosing to disobey. We have the ability to say no to sin because we are freed from its reign and empowered by the Spirit.

6. Putting Sin to Death Demands Conviction, Commitment, and Perseverance

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Mortification is active. To "put to death" or "mortify" sin means to destroy its strength and vitality as it tries to reign in our bodies. This is a work we must do, though it must be carried out by the strength and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, not in our own power.

Conviction and commitment. Effective mortification requires deep conviction that a holy life is God's will and worth the effort. This conviction is developed by exposing our minds to God's Word and applying it to specific life situations. It also requires commitment – a willingness to give up specific practices or habits that hinder holiness, saying a decisive "Enough!" to sin.

Perseverance through failure. The pursuit of holiness is a slow, often painful process marked by failure. Breaking sinful habits and rooting out sinful attitudes requires persistence despite setbacks. A righteous person falls but rises again; they do not give up the fight, knowing that perseverance is necessary for progress.

7. Holiness Extends to Controlling Our Bodies, Minds, and Wills

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Holiness of body. True holiness includes bringing our physical bodies and appetites under control, recognizing they are temples of the Holy Spirit. Uncontrolled appetites (like gluttony or laziness) can become instruments of wickedness and hinder spiritual growth. We must make our bodies our slaves, not our masters, presenting them as holy sacrifices.

Holiness of spirit/mind. Holiness also requires bringing our thought lives under obedience to Christ. Our thoughts ultimately shape our character, so we must guard what enters our minds (media, conversations) and actively think on what is true, noble, pure, and lovely. We must purify ourselves from "acceptable" sins of the spirit like envy, bitterness, unforgiveness, and a critical spirit.

Holiness of will. The will makes the ultimate choice to sin or obey, influenced by our minds and emotions. To bring our wills into submission to God, we must diligently guard our minds with Scripture and direct our emotions and desires toward God's will. This requires a disciplined approach to constantly expose ourselves to God's truth and align our desires with His.

8. Developing Habits of Holiness Reinforces Our Choices

Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

Habits shape inclination. Every sin committed reinforces the habit of sinning, making it easier to yield next time. Conversely, every act of saying no to sin, in dependence on the Spirit, makes it easier to resist in the future. Holiness involves systematically working to acquire the habit of saying no to sin and developing positive godly habits.

Principles for habit change.

• Frequent repetition: Habits are built through consistent practice.
• No exceptions: Allowing "just this once" reinforces the old habit and weakens resolve.
• Diligence in all areas: Giving in to sin in one area weakens the will against temptation in others.
• Persevere despite failure: Don't become a failure by quitting; keep fighting the sinful habit.

Internal and external battle. The pursuit of holiness requires fighting on two fronts: guarding our minds and emotions from external influences and dealing with the internal habits of sin that incline us toward evil.

9. Faith is Essential for Obedience, Especially When It's Costly

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Obedience by faith. Holiness, in its broader sense, is obedience to God's will, even when it is difficult, costly, or seems unreasonable to the world. The Bible often links unbelief with disobedience, showing that faith is necessary not only to believe God's promises but also to obey His commands.

Trusting God for consequences. Faith enables us to obey God even when obedience requires sacrifice, exposes us to danger, or goes against worldly values (like pursuing humility over fame, or generosity over wealth). It means trusting that God will uphold and bless those who obey Him, regardless of immediate circumstances.

Conviction and confidence. Persevering in the difficult pursuit of holiness requires both conviction in the necessity of obeying God's revealed will and confidence in His promises. We must believe that seeking holiness is God's will and that it results in His approval and blessing. Lack of faith often leads to disobedience, prioritizing worldly concerns over God's commands.

10. Maintaining Holiness in an Unholy World Requires Strategy and Witness

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Living in the world. Jesus intends for believers to live within the world of non-Christians, not withdraw from it. We are called to be "salt" (a preserving power against decay) and "light" (bearers of the gospel) in our environment, even though this means facing ridicule and pressure to conform.

Resisting pollution. To maintain holiness amidst unholy surroundings, we must:

• Resolve to live by convictions from God's Word, regardless of pressure.
• Openly identify with Christ in a gracious manner.
• Guard our minds from pollution through consistent intake and meditation on Scripture.
• Flee temptation and avoid making provision for sinful desires.

Concern for others. Our response must be more than defensive; it must include genuine concern for the eternal destiny of those around us. Our holy lives serve as a rebuke, but our primary focus is sharing the gospel, demonstrating love and grace rather than merely denouncing sin.

11. True Joy is a Result and Strength of Pursuing Holiness

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Joy from obedience. Jesus explicitly links obedience to His commands with experiencing His joy and having that joy made complete. A life of disobedience hinders fellowship with God and diminishes joy, as seen in David's experience after his sin.

Joy of fellowship and reward. Holiness produces joy through:

• Fellowship with God: True joy comes from God's presence, shared with those who walk in fellowship with Him.
• Knowing obedience: There is joy in knowing we are obeying God, especially after overcoming a struggle.
• Anticipated reward: Like Jesus, we are motivated to persevere in holiness by anticipating the future joy of the Lord and the reward for faithful service.

Joy as strength. The joy of the Lord is also our strength, enabling us to overcome sin. When we grasp that Christ has freed us from sin's reign and empowered us, hope and joy arise, providing the strength needed to fight temptation and find greater satisfaction in a holy walk than in the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Last updated: May 28, 2025