Pursuing HolinessExemplo

God Commands Us to Be Holy

While we are in this world, we experience the status of simul justus et peccator; we are both saints and sinners — we are “justified sinners.” 

We are justified by God in light of the finished work of Christ, and yet we ourselves are not fully just or righteous; we still sin. 

This can only happen because of double imputation. Jesus died a penal substitutionary atonement, paying the penalty for our sins while at the same time crediting us with the righteousness from his perfect active obedience. We can now walk in newness of life because our sin selves were buried with Christ by baptism into death and raised with the resurrected Christ.

We are saints, not distinguished in our personal holiness, but like all other saints, holy in Christ. In the already and not yet paradigm, not only are we holy, but we are also being made holy. Sanctification is what we call this ongoing setting apart and moral reformation. 

The 1689 London Baptist Confession describes our sanctification (the process of being made holy) as such...

Those who are united to Christ and effectually called and regenerated have a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. They are also further sanctified, really and personally, through the same power, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them. The dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the various evil desires that arise from it are more and more weakened and put to death. At the same time, those called and regenerated are more and more enlivened and strengthened in all saving graces so that they practice true holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

This process of being made holy takes a lifetime as we die to sin and self and participate in the habits of grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. We progressively become holy and are freed not only from the penalty but also the power of sin. We are no longer slaves to sin in our flesh but slaves to righteousness by the grace of God.

Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing with God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. 

           J.C. Ryle, Holiness

Reflection Questions

Why do you think God reveals our sin to us progressively over our lifetimes?

How do you become more holy each day? What means does God use to grow you in holiness?

The Bible indicates that before we experienced regeneration, we were slaves to sin. What changed?

What role do we play in helping others to grow in holiness?