But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV

 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 NKJV

In the Greek text, the word for “holiness” shares the same root as words for holy, holiness, consecrate, saint, and sanctify. In order to understand holiness, you must first understand sanctification in Christ. In Christ, He has been made unto us sanctification—setting us apart to God from the world, sin, and self. Sanctification is the gateway to holiness, and holiness is the manner of life befitting those who are separated to God. Again, Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians was that they would be sanctified wholly, i.e., completely, through and through—not just in their spirit, but soul and body.

Without “wholeness”, any attempt to achieve holiness easily becomes a “holy mess” because it is wrongly based on man’s rules and regulations, e.g., the do’s and don’ts, etc. Paul understood that true sanctification first and foremost needed to first produce wholeness; therefore, he prayed for the Thessalonians to receive complete wholeness.

In the above text, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16 trough 22, Paul outlines seven behaviors and practices of sanctification that leads to holiness. The sanctified are joyful (v.16), prayerful (17), thankful (v.18), spiritual (19), teachable (20), judicial (21), and hallowed (v.22).

In the same way that God delivered Israel out of Egypt and brought them to Himself (Lev. 11:44-45), we too are sanctified in Christ Jesus and separated unto God (Col. 1:12-13). Therefore, to be holy, we must sanctify our minds for godly action; be self-controlled; our hope must be set fully on the grace given to us in Christ, as obedient children—not conforming to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance (Rom. 12:1-2). God who called and sanctified us is holy, so we are to be holy, in all manner of behavior and conduct (1 Peter 1:13-15).  It is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

 . . . Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 NKJV

In the Greek text, the word for “holiness” shares the same root as words for holy, holiness, consecrate, saint, and sanctify. In order to understand holiness, you must first understand sanctification in Christ. In Christ, He has been made unto us sanctification—setting us apart to God from the world, sin, and self. Sanctification is the gateway to holiness, and holiness is the manner of life befitting those who are separated to God. Again, Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians was that they would be sanctified wholly, i.e., completely, through and through—not just in their spirit, but soul and body.

Without “wholeness”, any attempt to achieve holiness easily becomes a “holy mess” because it is wrongly based on man’s rules and regulations, e.g., the do’s and don’ts, etc. Paul understood that true sanctification first and foremost needed to first produce wholeness; therefore, he prayed for the Thessalonians to receive complete wholeness.

In the above text, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16 trough 22, Paul outlines seven behaviors and practices of sanctification that leads to holiness. The sanctified are joyful (v.16), prayerful (17), thankful (v.18), spiritual (19), teachable (20), judicial (21), and hallowed (v.22).

In the same way that God delivered Israel out of Egypt and brought them to Himself (Lev. 11:44-45), we too are sanctified in Christ Jesus and separated unto God (Col. 1:12-13). Therefore, to be holy, we must sanctify our minds for godly action; be self-controlled; our hope must be set fully on the grace given to us in Christ, as obedient children—not conforming to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance (Rom. 12:1-2). God who called and sanctified us is holy, so we are to be holy, in all manner of behavior and conduct (1 Peter 1:13-15).  It is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).