2016 Holiness Series #6: How to Get Holiness

By now you might be saying, “OK, Pastor Brian, how do I get holiness?”  Here’s some advice…

·         The first step is admitting that holiness is necessary.

We need to understand that a relationship with a holy God requires holiness on our part.  The Bible says that without holiness no one will see God. (Hebrews 12:14)

Also, in the midst of an evil world, we need to realize that simply “believing in God” or “going to church” is never going to change our lives or change the world.

·         The second step is admitting that holiness is possible.

God calls us to be holy and promises to make us holy.  If holiness is not possible, God would not do that.  God does not command us to do what he will not make possible for us.

·         The third step is to devote yourself to being holy and seeking holiness.

o   Sanctification (being made holy), like Salvation, is a gift of God by grace received through faith.

Sanctification is not something we do; it is something God does in us when we surrender ourselves to God in prayer.

Sanctification begins the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  At that moment, we are forgiven of our past sins and, in a sense, we are already holy.  Remember from the first article, holy means set apart for God; that is what happens when we get saved.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are already holy, we just don’t always act like it.

o   Sanctification begins in the heart.

Many people get hung up on the way to holiness by focusing on their outward behavior, things we shouldn’t do or words we shouldn’t say.  Holiness, however, begins in the heart.  We can have a pure heart, “our heart can be in the right place,” even if our words and actions don’t always come out perfect.  Over time, however, if our heart is right, our words and actions will follow.

o   Sanctification is both a crisis and a process.

As I said before, sanctification begins at salvation, but it grows over time.  Sometimes we have a big spiritual experience and we take a big step in holiness, other times we grow in holiness by little steps every day.

o   Sanctification is about what we do as much as what we don’t do.

Sometimes we think of holiness as a list of things not to do.  However, it is actually more about what we DO.  The spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, Bible reading, giving and serving in the church and the community, are what helps us to grow in holiness.

I do not claim to be holy, at least not yet, but I am on my way.  I have never been to Dallas, but I can look at the map and tell you how to get there.  I just happen to be the guy holding the map of God’s Word.  I hope you will join me on a journey to holier and healthier and happier living.