“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” – 1 Peter 1:15 – 16
Introduction
As Christians, our goal is perfect obedience to all that God requires. Our desire is to exercise faith in every area of life and to obey God in absolutely everything. This life of perfect obedience is what the Bible calls holiness.
Yet the word holiness often makes many of us uncomfortable. Many believers tend to shy away from it, leaving it to certain groups they consider more spiritual or more serious. To many, holiness seems like an extreme condition, something admirable but unrealistic, something we are not really expected to attain.
Some people even suggest that there is no real hope of growing in holiness. There are those who excuse ongoing sin by calling it a weakness and claiming that God understands. Sometimes this attitude is insincere and used as a cover for disobedience. Other times it comes from sincere believers who have struggled repeatedly and grown discouraged. After failing again and again, they begin to believe that victory is impossible and that they must simply live with certain sins.
Sadly, believers are sometimes given the impression that they should not expect much growth. They are told that a little improvement is enough and that serious transformation should not be expected. But this is not the teaching of Scripture. God’s command is clear and consistent.
“Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2. Holiness is not presented in Scripture as an option. It is God’s requirement for His people.
Holiness as Singleness of Heart
Jesus placed great emphasis on holiness. He Himself was holy, and He called His followers to holiness. The Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount reveal His view of the Christian life. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” in Matthew 5:8, He was not speaking only about freedom from impure thoughts. He was speaking about singleness of heart.
“The pure in heart” are those whose hearts are not divided. Sin occurs when a believer is torn between two loyalties and chooses the wrong one. A victorious Christian life requires a heart fully committed to God.
Jesus explained this clearly in Matthew 6:22 – 24 when He said that if the eye is healthy, the whole body is full of light, but if the eye is unhealthy, the whole body is full of darkness. He then concluded that no one can serve two masters. A person will either be devoted to one and despise the other.
Holiness, therefore, means having a single focus and an undivided loyalty to God.
Jesus Himself was tempted as deeply and seriously as any human being, yet He never sinned. It was not simply His divine nature that kept Him from sin, but the singleness of His purpose. He had only one commitment, to do the will of God. He never allowed a secondary desire to compete for His loyalty. Because of this, temptation had no place to settle in His heart.
This is the true meaning of holiness: a life directed by one purpose and one allegiance.
The Goal That Produces Holiness
If a believer is to grow in sanctification(holiness), there must be a clear goal. That goal must be the same one that governed the life of Jesus: doing the will of God. When a believer commits to that single goal, he can make real progress in holiness through the help of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.
God is holy, and His will for us is holiness. He calls us to reflect His character. When we consider God’s holiness, it becomes astonishing. God has existed for eternity without a single moment of impurity or failure. Yet He calls His people to be holy as He is holy.
God would not command something that is impossible without also making provision for it. His grace, mercy and love include everything needed for obedience.
Some people think that God tolerates certain sins and excuses repeated failures. But Scripture does not present God as tolerant of sin. Instead, He calls His people to transformation and provides the means for it.
Christ Our Sanctification
1 Corinthians 1:30 explains how holiness becomes possible for us. It tells us that Christ has become for us righteousness, holiness and redemption. This means that sanctification is not something we achieve by our own effort. It is something we receive through Christ.
Jesus did not die only to save us from the consequences of sin, but to save us from the power of sin itself. The cross deals with every part of salvation: justification, sanctification and final glorification.
Many believers wrongly assume that Christ justifies them, but that sanctification is their own responsibility. This leads to frustration and repeated failure. People try hard, make promises and still fall again, then conclude that victory is impossible.
But Scripture teaches that we are sanctified by faith, just as we are justified by faith. Christ is not only our Savior but also our Sanctifier.
Elected to Be Holy
In Ephesians 1:4, Scripture declares that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. This means that holiness is not merely encouraged. It is the very purpose for which we were chosen.
God did not choose us only to forgive us. He chose us to transform us.
The idea of election means that holiness is not optional for the believer. Just as an elected leader cannot choose not to hold office, a believer cannot claim freedom to live in sin. Though a believer may fail to live according to God’s will, the calling to holiness remains firm.
Real progress in holiness begins when we agree with God’s purpose. When we accept that we are chosen to be holy, then our only rightful choice is obedience.
Romans 6:11 instructs believers to consider themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. This is not just a feeling but a decision of faith. It is choosing daily to live according to the new identity we have received in Christ.
This is not a single emotional experience but a daily commitment. Each day we must refuse to give place to the old sinful nature and choose to live by the new life we have received in Christ.
Conclusion
Holiness is not an unreachable spiritual ideal reserved for a few. It is God’s clear calling for every believer. It does not come through personal effort, but through faith in Christ who is our righteousness and our sanctification.
When believers accept that they are chosen for holiness and commit to living for God’s will alone, real transformation becomes possible. Holiness is not about perfection without struggle, but about an undivided heart that continually chooses obedience.
God has not only commanded holiness, He has also provided everything needed to live it. Through Christ, by faith and by daily surrender, believers can grow in sanctification and walk in victory. The call to holiness is ultimately a call to live fully for God, with a heart that is completely His.
- This article is adapted from and based on teachings by Richard Owen Roberts, from the book “Practical Christianity” and messages on Called to Holiness. The insights shared are drawn from his biblical reflections on sanctification and the Christian life.
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