Are you holy? Hopefully, we can answer somewhere along the lines of saying, “I’m striving to be,” or “through Christ I am.” However, in order to answer that question, we must come to a complete understanding of what holiness truly means. Holiness is a word Christians often use because it appears throughout Scripture, but how would you describe holiness to someone who has never heard of holiness?
Many describe holiness as being “set apart for God” (Leviticus 20:26), and while that’s true, it’s only the beginning. When we say God is holy, we mean far more than that He is simply different or separate from the world. His holiness defines His entire nature. He is completely free from sin and evil, and He is full of truth, love, and righteousness (Psalm 145:17). Holiness, then, encompasses all that God is: pure, perfect, and good in every way.
So, when we are asked, “Are you holy?” it’s not just being separate from the world, but about our imitation of God’s character (Ephesians 5:1). To be holy means to reflect God’s nature in how we think, speak, and live. It is a life shaped by His truth and His example.
Josh Schutkowski