The traditional, religious way of looking at God is to see Him as way “up there” in heaven and us as way “down here” on earth. Thankfully, Jesus has changed all that. Walking in His grace begins with realizing just how connected we are to Him. We’ve been blessed and united with Christ; we can now praise God for the grace He poured out on those who belong to His Son.
To be holy is to be like God, and radically different from the world. Holiness isn’t something we manufacture; it’s the fruit of the Spirit already at work within us. We’re set apart as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people. This is because Jesus Christ, Himself, lives in us.
God wants the transformation that begins inside our spirit to show up in our everyday living. This doesn’t happen through pressure or guilt, but through beholding who we really are in Him. Paul used the analogy of beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. Grace empowers change; holiness becomes the expression of that grace.
Looking into the mirror of God’s Word lets us see the true version of ourselves—the one God already made new. The more clearly we see that spiritual identity, the more it reflects on the outside. We approach holiness not by trying to improve, but by agreeing with what grace already made us. This alignment is what produces visible transformation.
It’s God’s will that we’re consecrated, separated, and set apart for pure and holy living. He gave us His nature so that we can live a life that pleases Him. We’re therefore not imitating holiness to earn His approval, but responding to the nature He planted in us.
Jesus shed His blood so that He could present us to the Father as spotless, holy, and without blemish. This happens through cooperation with the work God is doing in us. With His help, we live out what’s already true on the inside.
Prayer:
God, You created us to be holy, just like You. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit to help us do that. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
Ephesians 1:3, 6, NLT
Galatians 5:22
1 Peter 2:9
2 Corinthians 13:5
Galatians 2:20
2 Corinthians 3:18, AMPC
1 Thessalonians 4:3, AMPC
Ephesians 5:27