Holiness
Holiness is something broad that is very important for every Christian to one day achieve. To grow in holiness is to come to fully recognize the supremacy of God expressed in the Trinity. We consecrate ourselves to Him with devotion in everything we do in our daily lives, so we are different people from the worldly ones. “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15 ESV
In the world, new temptations are presented and offered to us every day and these are opposite to what a Christian’s spiritual life requires sanctification. Our rationality must make us understand that reality.
“The sun shall be no more your light by day, not for brightness shall be the moon give you light. But the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:19 ESV
No Christian should forget that only our faith can bring us closer to God and the universal Church.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession that you proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are a God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV
Our church life needs to be not only about holiness but also about learning from Jesus to become more like Him. That means getting rid of the dirt that sometimes prevents us from walking with the Lord. Growing towards holiness is obviously not easy, but neither is it impossible, since the Lord provides, to those who ask, the spiritual resources to participate in his divine nature.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because a sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” 2 Peter: 3-7 ESV
Our salvation, in addition to our faith in God, implies a continuous process of sanctification that will bring us closer and closer to God.
May God bless you.
