Pursuing Holiness

  If we are truly a Christian, one that “names the name of Christ” (having taken Christ as our Savior from sin), the Bible says to “depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19b)! We will not delight in sin, dabble in sin, or defend our sin. There will not be consistent sinful thought patterns and sinful habits in our life that we will allow to go unchecked and unconfessed (Proverbs 28:13). Our desire will gravitate toward a holy lifestyle, and our words and actions will follow suit as we yield to the Holy Spirit within (Romans 8:1-2).

  So, the key is not perfection but progress. Children of God will readily admit that sin is present in our lives and not make excuses when we sin. As 1 John 1:10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Therefore, we will seek the continued and constant advocacy of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). As saints of God right now, we are ever striving to become saintly in our everyday lives. God is working in us so that we can be what we are in Christ. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7).

  It is not of God for us to “continue in sin that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1-2). If we are genuinely saved, we are dead to sin and alive to God. We are free to live for God (Rom. 6:7)! Therefore, we must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Consider 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 as it clearly says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Good works do not save a person, yet good works do evidence that a person is saved. As new creations in Christ Jesus, put off the old man and its ways and put on the new man “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:21-24).