The Pursuit of Holiness

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

The pursuit of holiness is the active, ongoing process of conforming one’s life to the moral precepts of the Bible and reflecting God’s character, a necessity emphasized in Hebrews 12:14 which states that “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” It is defined not as mere behavior modification or perfectionism, but as a life intoxicated with the Holy Spirit and separated from sin, enabling believers to live distinctively from the world.

Key aspects include:

• God-Enabled Process: Holiness is not achieved through human effort alone but is the fruit of God’s saving grace and the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer. 

• Communal and Personal: It involves individual spiritual disciplines and family/community connections, requiring believers to lay aside hindrances and stay focused on Jesus Christ.

• Outcome: The goal is to become like God in love, mercy, and righteousness, serving as evidence of genuine salvation and allowing believers to see the Lord in eternity.

The pursuit of holiness is a cooperative dynamic between divine empowerment and human responsibility. It is not merely avoiding sin but actively cultivating a life that reflects God’s character through specific, disciplined actions.

The Dual Nature of Holiness

Holiness operates in two distinct but connected phases: positional and progressive. 

Positional Holiness is a one-time act occurring at salvation where the believer is declared holy and set apart by God.  In this state, a person is viewed as perfect in God’s eyes because of Christ’s righteousness, regardless of their current behavior. This status is permanent and cannot be lost. 

Progressive Holiness is the lifelong, daily process of becoming in practice what one already is in position. It involves the gradual transformation of a believer’s character and habits to align with their holy status. While positional holiness is the foundation, progressive holiness is the journey of working out that salvation with fear and trembling.

Alejandro