What is Holiness?
The word holiness comes from the Hebrew word qadowsh, meaning "to cut" or "to set apart." To be holy means to be distinct, pure, and morally perfect. It’s about being entirely set apart for God, as one reflects His perfection and purity in every aspect of life. God calls His people to be holy because He Himself is holy. As Jesus in Matthew 5:48 commands,
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
In 1 Peter 1:15 it is also written to the followers of Christ that,
“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”
Holiness isn’t simply about following rules or looking outwardly righteous. It isn’t a religious thing, produced by doing seemingly religious acts like going to church and singing in the church choir. It's about being transformed from the inside out. A transformation of the heart brought about by God himself when he saves someone, and as he works in their life to sanctify them. To understand what holiness is and what it looks like, we must first look at the One who defines it—God Himself.
God is Holy
Isaiah 6:3 declares,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
The repetition of “holy” three times emphasizes the unmatched purity and perfection of God’s nature. In Hebrew culture, repeating a word elevates its importance. Think about describing someone exceptionally skilled, saying, “She’s brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!” Similarly, the Bible’s use of “holy” three times reveals that God’s holiness is highly unique, beyond anything we can fully comprehend. God is UNLIKE anyone in His creation. He is in His own class. Truly separate, truly unique, truly distinct.
God’s holiness sets Him apart from all creation. 1 Samuel 2:2 proclaims,
“There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”
He is perfect in moral purity, completely untainted by sin or imperfection. Everything about Him—His thoughts, actions, and nature—is holy.
God is surrounded by holiness. In the heavenly realms, God’s throne is encircled by worship and reverence, where His holiness is continually acknowledged. Revelation 4:8 describes the scene:
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’”
Similarly, the 24 elders fall down before God, casting their crowns and proclaiming His glory and holiness (Revelation 4:10-11).
God’s holiness is reflected in His glory and splendour. Exodus 15:11 asks,
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”(Exodus 15:11)
This majesty is so overwhelming that sinful humanity cannot approach Him without sanctification. When God appeared to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, He instructed Moses to consecrate the people before they could encounter Him. Exodus 19:10-12 says,
“Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”(Exodus 19:10-12)
God’s holiness is not just an aspect of His character—it defines who He is. Leviticus 19:2 declares,
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
His holiness is beyond comparison, and it is His desire for His people to reflect that same holiness.
The Challenge of Our Sinful Nature
While God calls us to be holy, our sinful nature makes this impossible to achieve on our own. The Bible is clear that all people, apart from God, we are deeply flawed:
Romans 3:10:
“There is no one righteous, not even one.”
Isaiah 64:6:
“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”
Even when we try to do good, our sinful tendencies often lead us astray. Paul describes this internal struggle in Romans 7:18-19:
“For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
This sinful nature stems from man’s fall in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world, and every human being since has been born with a sinful nature. This sin separates us from God, who is perfectly holy.
The consequences of sin are severe. Romans 6:23 declares,
“The wages of sin is death.”
Sin leads to both physical death and eternal separation from God. Without intervention, we are powerless to change our sinful state or achieve the holiness God desires.
Jesus: Our Path to Holiness
The good news is that God, in His love, made a way for us to be holy through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains,
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus, who lived a sinless life, took our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. In exchange, He gives us His righteousness. This is an act of pure grace: we are not made holy by our efforts but by faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Through Jesus, we are justified before God, meaning we are declared righteous in His sight. This justification is the first step in holiness, often referred to as positional sanctification. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are set apart as holy because of what He has done for us. When you are in Christ, God sees his righteous son in you, Jesus becomes your righteousness.
Living in Holiness
While Jesus makes us holy in God’s eyes, we are also called to live out that holiness in our daily lives. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says,
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
Living in holiness involves turning away from sin and sinful desires and aligning our lives with God’s Word. 1 Peter 1:14 urges us,
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.”
This means leaving behind our old ways of living and pursuing a life that reflects God’s character.
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this transformation. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us,
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Thereafter one will start to live a life where he/she bears the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart and also transforms one's heart, as one lives submitted to Him, the overflow of God’s own life will start to be manifest in their life as well. The Holy Spirit empowers us to resist sin and choose what is right. Galatians 5:16 teaches,
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
This daily walk requires intentionality—spending time in prayer, studying God’s Word, and seeking His guidance in every area of life. One must be willing to surrender to Jesus’ influence in their life through the Holy Spirit. God so deeply respects the will of man that he will not override it. He needs people who will truly and sincerely yield to Him. He's a gentleman. He doesn’t burge in uninvited. You have to be willing to let Him take charge in helping you be Holy.
What Kind of Holiness Does God Desire?
God desires a holiness from us that reflects His character and draws us closer to Him. This holiness is not about perfectionism or self-righteousness but about imitating Jesus in how we live, treat others, and honor God. 1 John 2:6 says,
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
Holiness involves more than avoiding sin; it’s about actively pursuing what is right. It’s about knowing God’s will and actually doing it. Micah 6:8 sums it up beautifully:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Living in holiness means letting God’s Word shape our attitudes and actions. It means forgiving others as God has forgiven us, showing compassion, and standing firm in truth. As Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:1..to live worthy of the calling that you have received. Holiness is both a reflection of God’s character and a testimony to the world. Matthew 5:16 encourages,
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The Process of Becoming Holy
Holiness is not achieved overnight; it’s a lifelong journey. While justification (being made right with God) happens instantly when we believe in Jesus, the process of becoming more like Him is ongoing. This is known as progressive sanctification.
Progressive sanctification involves daily choices to obey God and surrender to His will. As we grow in our faith, the Holy Spirit transforms us, helping us to reflect Christ more and more. This process requires humility, patience, reliance on God’s strength and yielding daily to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even though we strive to live in holiness, we will never achieve perfection in this life. Paul acknowledges this struggle in Romans 7:24-25, saying,
“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Our hope is that one day, in eternity, we will be fully sanctified, free from sin, and perfectly holy in God’s presence.
Holiness is both a gift and a calling. Through Jesus, we are made holy and set apart for God. This is not because of anything we’ve done but because of His grace and love. As we live out our faith, we are called to reflect God’s holiness in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Living in holiness requires a daily commitment to follow Jesus and depend on the Holy Spirit. It means rejecting sin, pursuing righteousness, and striving to walk as Jesus walked. While we will never be perfect in this life, we can trust that God is working in us to make us more like Him.
Ultimately, holiness is about being in a relationship with a Holy God. It’s about aligning our hearts with His, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. As we grow in holiness, we experience the joy and peace of living as God intended, and we become a light that points others to Him.
Let us take to heart the words of Hebrews 12:14:
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.”
May we strive to live holy lives, not out of obligation, but out of love for the One who made us holy through His Son.
