What is Holiness?
Holiness…
It’s not a word we use much anymore.
Not in everyday life.
And sadly…
not even in most churches.
But holiness is central to everything that matters in the Christian life.
And it starts…
not with us…
but with God.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty…”
— that’s what the angels cry in His presence.
Not powerful, not loving, not even merciful — though He is all of those —
but holy…
set apart…
different…
in a category all His own.
God is not like us.
He is pure.
Unstained by sin.
Perfect in justice, wisdom, love, and light.
So when we talk about holiness—
we’re not talking about some religious performance…
we’re talking about becoming like Him.—
The Bible tells us—
“Be holy… for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)
Now, that’s not a suggestion.
That’s not a nice spiritual goal.
It’s a command.
But here’s the tension—
God is holy…
we’re not.
So how does a sinful person…
become holy like God?
That brings us to grace.
Because grace is where holiness begins… for us.—
At the cross, God does something miraculous.
Through the blood of Jesus—
He not only forgives our sin…
He cleanses us.
He sets us apart.
That’s holiness in its first form.
It’s called positional holiness.
We’re declared holy in Christ.
Set apart from the world…
and set apart for God.
That’s what it means to be saved.—
But salvation isn’t the end of the story—
It’s the beginning.
Because once God sets us apart,
He begins to shape us—
form us—
transform us.
That process…
is called sanctification.—
Now listen—
holiness is not just about what we say no to.
It’s not just about avoiding sin or keeping distance from the world.
Holiness is about what we say yes to.
Yes to God’s way.
Yes to the Kingdom.
Yes to being His…
fully and completely.—
So when God calls us to be holy,
He’s not calling us to be weird.
He’s calling us to be His.
He’s saying—
“Live like you belong to Me.”
“Reflect My character.”
“Let the world see who I am… through who you are.”—
That’s holiness.—
And here’s the beautiful part—
We don’t do this alone.
God doesn’t call us to holiness and then leave us to figure it out.
He gives us the Holy Spirit…
to convict…
to teach…
to guide…
to empower.
“It is God who works in you—both to will and to do—for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
So yes—holiness is commanded.
But it’s also empowered.
By grace.
Through faith.
In the power of the Spirit.—
Now some people confuse holiness with legalism.
They think being holy means being uptight…
judgmental…
miserable.
But that’s not biblical holiness.
Holiness is not about being better than others—
It’s about being devoted to God.
It’s about walking in purity,
peace,
purpose,
and joy.
“The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
That’s holiness in action.
That’s life in the Kingdom.—
So yes—holiness is connected to the Kingdom.
In fact, you cannot separate them.
To be holy is to live as a citizen of Heaven…
even while you walk on the earth.
You speak a different language—truth.
You follow a different King—Jesus.
You live by a different power—the Spirit of God.—
And one day…
the holiness God began in us
will be complete.
We’ll stand before Him…
glorified…
spotless…
not because we were perfect,
but because we were His.—
So don’t treat holiness like a burden.
It’s a gift.
It’s a calling.
It’s the mark of a life that truly belongs to God.
Be set apart—
not just from sin…
but for the Kingdom.
Because holiness doesn’t make life smaller.
It makes it eternal.
