The idea of holiness is very important especially in the context of the holiness movement in churches. Trying to be as holy as God can feel difficult because it seems impossible. It’s a struggle to understand what God wants while recognizing that we are only human. When we talk about holiness, we need to think about what the Bible says and what people believe today. The Bible often talks about being like Christ and trying to be more like Him. Holiness isn’t just about being in Christ, it’s also about trying to be like Him every day. It’s a call to live a life that shows God’s nature while also being a gift from God.
Throughout history, the church has often focused more on being saved or on becoming holy, but it’s important to find a balance. Different groups, from the medieval church to evangelicalism, have all tried to find the right balance between being saved because of Christ and trying to live a good and holy life.
The Bible says that we should try to be perfect like God, even though we know we are not perfect. It asks us to keep trying to do better and be more holy, rather than being okay with our sins. It’s a lifelong journey of finding peace in God’s love while trying to be more like Him. The apostle Paul talks about ‘sanctification’ or holiness in two ways. First, it’s about believing in Jesus and His work on the cross, which makes us right with God. Then, as believers, it’s about living in a way that shows we belong to Him and trying to be like Him.
Today, many people focus on being saved, but they forget about trying to be like Christ. Salvation is more than just getting into heaven or avoiding damnation. It’s not enough to just go to church on Sundays and then live a selfish life the rest of the week.
We often wonder, “Are we saved because of Christ, or do we still need to try hard?” The answer is both. It’s not always clear. For example, the Bible says that God is in control, but we also have freedom. We need to accept all of the Bible, even if it seems to have conflicting ideas. The word ‘saints’ is used many times in the Bible, often to talk about many people at once. Even though salvation is personal, accepting Christ means being part of His family and body. Today, many people focus on themselves, but we are saved to help others, not just ourselves.
Once we meet Christ, we stop thinking only about ourselves and start thinking about how to help others and the church, even if it’s hard. Holiness is about finding peace in God’s love and always trying to be more like Him. It’s about dealing with the tension between our weaknesses and God’s call to holiness. In the end, it’s about repenting of our sins, accepting God’s love, and trying to be more like Him.
Leave a Reply