Holiness is the pursuit of every Christian. This pursuit is in keeping with God’s promised culmination of our salvation. He has purposed that we should be like Christ.
As the creation of God, we can never be God. This is quite impossible, but we can be like Christ in righteousness, holiness and glory, because these virtues will be fully granted to us when all things are summed up in Him. This inheritance – this promised provision – is sure and certain.
So it is with great assurance that we are to pursue holiness in our daily lives. But, how do we pursue holiness?
First, we are always mindful that holiness is derived from God. Only God is holy. His nature is pure and perfect in every aspect of His being. God Himself bestows this perfection upon all believers in Christ.
Second, we pursue holiness by being devoted to God. Our devotion is revealed by our dependence upon Him alone. We come to know God by reading His Word and spending time in prayer. We draw near to Him with the assurance that He will draw near to us. As holiness in the Godhead was revealed in eternity past by the fullness of devoted love between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, so our holiness manifests itself in devoted love toward God and toward one another. He loves us with devoted love; we love Him with devoted love.
Third, holiness in this life is progressive. We make progress in our devoted love, but the end result will only be perfected when we are with Christ. We are always pursuing sanctification in this life, but never fully obtaining. The outcome is secure, but the finality of holiness will be given to us directly from Christ when He returns. This is how we shall eternally know that our holiness is the gift of God.
All of this is wonderful truth. We are assured that our holiness will one day be finished and complete. We are encouraged to pursue what we already have and one day will possess in full. We are called to be patient in our pursuit, knowing that Christ secured our salvation – justification, sanctification and glorification – at the cross.
It is our privilege and duty to walk in the holy victory that Jesus Christ won for us!