What does it Mean to “Be Holy”?

Have you ever been reading through the scripture and come across verses that talk about being holy, or called to holiness, such as 1 Peter 1:14-16 which says “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy””? Or maybe you’ve heard it in a sermon, or a podcast. Did it catch your attention? What was your reaction? Maybe your first thought was “there is no way I’ll ever be holy like God”.

Let’s break down these scriptures, shall we? “As obedient children”- Jesus says in John 14:15 “If you love me you will keep my commands.” This scripture reveals that love for God looks like obedience to Him. When He calls us to walk away from lifestyles of sin, our obedience to Him shows our love for Him.

“Do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance”- before you came to Christ, you were ignorant. Scripture says the god of this age blinds the minds of those who don’t believe (2 Cor. 4:4). The gospel message is this, that you confess your sin and repent, which is a turning from. It means you do a 180* turn around and begin to think differently. When you think differently, you live differently.

The word for “holy” is “hagios”- hag-ee-os, which means (physically pure, morally blameless, or ceremonially consecrated). To be holy means to be set apart. We’re called to be “set apart” for God. Holiness doesn’t mean perfection, it means no longer living for ourselves. Instead we live for Him. To honor Him and bring Him glory, to obey Him and His ways. It means we deny the flesh to live for Him.

The great news is this isn’t something we attain on our own. Romans 15:16 says that we are “made holy by the Holy Spirit”. He doesn’t call us to be holy without also empowering us to be set apart by His Spirit and throughHis empowering grace.

I pray you are encouraged as you walk with the Lord in relationship, that you know how deep His love is for you, and that you walk with Him empowered by His Spirit to live set apart for Him.