You are holy.
You are set apart.
You do not have to do something to become holy. It is who you are.
You do not walk with Jesus to become, you have become, now you can walk in who you are.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said:
“Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are…”
Most of the time we try to become everything that the Bible says we are because our human tendency is to work for everything, but in Christ, it works differently. He gives us what we need and more. He makes us who we are. If we can only receive it, we can live in that truth and develop it as we walk with Jesus.
I once read a comparison by Bill Gillham, who compares Christians to oak trees:
“Are Christians a truly holy people, or are we trying to become a holy people?… As an oak sapling grows, it doesn’t get “oakier.” Oak is oak. It simply matures into what it is, a full-grown oak tree.”
You don’t become an oak tree by acting like an oak tree; nor do you become holy by acting holy. Jesus makes you holy. The only part left for you and me is to receive it and to develop and mature into what He already made us. This does not happen overnight but it takes time. Just like a puppy that does not become more “dog” as it grows, and a tree does not become more “tree” as it grows, and a baby does not become more human as it grows, you do not become more holy as you grow. You simply grow into who God has already made you to be.
Maturity is a process and the Bible shows us how our maturing process in Christ works: “But we all … are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We mature from “from glory to glory,” not “from worthless to glory.” You are already holy in Christ. You are just as holy now as the first day you accepted Christ as your Savior. You are just as forgiven, accepted and loved now as then …
I have set out below a few Bible verses to help you fasten the truth about your holiness in your heart:
“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT)
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” (Romans 6:22 NASB)
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB)
“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:10 NLT)
“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 .” (1 Peter 1:15-16 NASB)
“But you are a chosen race , a royal priesthood , a holy nation , a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB)
Start with one verse a day and meditate on Jesus and who you are in Him. Let Him reveal your holiness to you as you continue to walk in who you are!