1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.â€
God’s Word calls followers of Christ to a life of holiness. This is a repetitive theme throughout Scripture. The Bible does not merely recommend or encourage a holy life, but it expects and demands such. Hebrews 12:14 states, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord†(NIV). Here we see the extent to which the Bible upholds the essentiality of a holy life. Just as we must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5), we must also pursue holiness in order to see the Lord.
What does it mean to pursue holiness? With respect to God, holiness means absolute purity and moral perfection. With respect to humanity, holiness simply means conformity to the character and the will of God. Pursuing holiness, then, involves continually striving to be pleasing to God in every area of life. It means that we must give our greatest consistent effort to apply the principles of God’s Word to our lives and to imitate Jesus Christ in all things.
Romans 12:1-2, among other verses, teaches us that there are two aspects or components of holiness. The first is to become separated from sin and the world system. The second is to dedicate and consecrate ourselves unto God in order to perform His will. As followers of Christ, we must not allow ourselves to adopt the mindset, customs, and fashions of this world. Instead, we must be transformed by God’s Word and Spirit, daily seeking to be found acceptable to Him.
