“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
Here Paul highlights a good news, bad news, good news situation regarding your salvation…
GOOD NEWS: In Christ, you are made clean, holy, and pure. When you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord Savior your sins are forgiven, your guilt and shame are ALL washed away, and you’re set apart for God’s love and service. You are truly holy in Christ and God sees you in that way!
BAD NEWS: Now you need to live like you’re holy. You need to dedicate your life to becoming more like Jesus. You must reject the casual sins and temptations that continue to surround and plague you. You are to live intentionally different from the mainstream of our culture and instead represent Jesus as His ambassador in the world. If you don’t care about holiness, don’t pursue holiness, or reject the idea of holiness altogether, then you are rejecting God Himself!
GOOD NEWS: God has given you the necessary power to pursue, grow in, and live out the holiness He already sees in you. God gives every follower of Jesus His Holy Spirit. It’s the Holy Spirit Who enables you to change and changes you over time to become more and like Jesus. This change doesn’t happen automatically – there is work you must do. You must battle those sins and temptations. You must pursue God through precious means like prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, Christian community, service, and sharing the Gospel.
Embrace who you are: HOLY. Embrace what you’re called to do: PURSUE HOLINESS. Embrace the power to succeed in that pursuit: THE HOLY SPIRIT!