All throughout Scripture, the most used adjective to describe the character and nature of God is holy. God is, above all else, holy. It is His holiness that truly defines Him. The Lord, in all His majesty, is holy. Holiness is defined in two basic ways: (1) purity in reference to morality and cleanliness, and (2) the state of being set apart.
The Word of the Lord is clear to state that we should seek earnestly and strive to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Not only are we to endeavor for holiness, but more so, we are holy in Christ. When we live lives of holiness, we are receiving and claiming the redeemed lives that He has given and desires for each of us. It is this acceptance of our holy and blameless self that is difficult to understand but is quite simple when we recognize that our holiness is only in the Lord and never arises from within ourselves.
In regards to the holiness of morality and cleanliness, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. By the very blood that Christ Himself shed on the cross, which He baptizes us with, we are cleansed from all sin. This is a pure and true gift. Moreover, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are given the ability to live out God's moral code. The Holy Spirit infuses and imputes us with His perfect justice and faultless morality.
God, through the work of Jesus, has freed us from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:22). Because this is the case, the Lord has imputed us with His holiness. As a result, we may live holy. Not only is this remarkable, it is a miracle. Only through the Lord are we able to be holy. This is a primary gift that we receive because of confession and belief in the Lord, Jesus. Praise God.
Additionally, when we confess the Lord Jesus He sets us apart as His very own. Not only that but we who have been given the Holy Spirit and who persevere in Him are elect, chosen by God to be His holy people before the foundations of the earth (Eph. 1:4-6). Although this can be challenging theology, the point of this dialogue is simple: we, because of Christ's work in us, have been made and are being made holy as He is holy.
There is an element of passive reception of the imputed holiness of Christ, however, it is also an active pursuit. More accurately, we play an active role in not hindering the work of the Holy Spirit's work of holy sanctification if our hearts and lives. So let us pursue the holiness that is held and found only in the sovereign holy Lord!
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