God is holy! Because God is holy, we are required to be holy as well, (1 Peter 1:15-16)…..but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” God wants us to be a people that He can possess (1 Peter 2:9). He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing so that we can be holy (Ephesians 1:4). After all, Jesus Himself is holy. As our High Priest, His holiness has been established (Hebrews 7:26). He was (is) sinless (1 Peter 2:22), and His sacrifice purifies us unto holiness (Titus 2:14).
When it comes to God’s word, it too is holy. God’s word comes from the Holy Spirit, therefore it is a holy word, a holy message (John 16:13). Because it is holy it can sanctify us (John 17:17). And that is what the Lord does, He uses His word to cleanse and make us holy (Ephesians 5:25-27).
So, when we follow after God, Jesus, and God’s word, we can be holy and live holy lives. To be holy is to be separated (sanctified), to be pure. Is that how you are living? We read in (1 John 3:2-3)…..Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Becoming pure isn’t necessarily an easy thing to do. We become holy by purging ourselves of sin. Paul wrote to Timothy in (2 Timothy 2:21)…..Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. We are to be pure in several ways as we follow the Lord.
- In Mind – (James 4:8)…..Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- In body – (2 Corinthians 7:1)…..Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
We are called to live in holiness for God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness, therefore our members must be servants to holiness (Romans 6:19), and in all things in this life we are to be holy (1 Peter 1:15).