As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)

 

The transition from old covenant to new covenant shifts the focus of holiness from law to love. As lovers of God in Christ, we are called and set apart by the Holy Spirit to be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy.

While we are justified by faith apart from the works of the law, our faith is justified or proven by works of love. All we do for God and His Kingdom is motivated by love and produced by love.

In giving our life and love to God, we become a partaker of His holiness. Practical holiness is not possible if you do not live understand and live in the truth of your imputed righteousness in Christ. After all, holiness is a fruit of salvation, and not a root of salvation. With this gift of holiness, we heed the call to pursue it, growing and maturing into who God has already made us in Christ.

If we are not pursuing holiness, we are chasing self-righteousness, which is not holy. Pursuing holiness, however, does not imply that we must attain a certain level of holiness. Rather we pursue holiness because we want to see God and be truly blessed by Him. In other words, a desire to be holy is the most authentic expression of being children of our most loving Father.