Chasing Holiness?

Holiness has been a gift sought after by many for a long time, some have recieved it, others have not. Some believe we can get it while here on Earth, others dont. Some say we can get it just before we die, others say you can get it now. Some say its the never ending quest. Whatever the case may be holiness can often seem an uncatchable gift.

My thinking of holiness changed recently and I am glad it has. One of my friends reminded me that Jesus is the gift. When I think about it I see that we access salvation by Gods grace by repenting and believing, but the reason we get salvation is becasue of the cross. The same is with holiness. We access Gods grace by repenting and believing, but the reason we get sanctified is becasue of the cross. Our salvation and sancitification only come about because of Jesus' death and resurrection.

The cross is central for holiness. Jesus is central for holiness. Not only does He teach holiness and live holy, but He also died and rose again and sent the Holy Spirit so that we can receive holiness too! Perhaps we need to rethink chasing the gift of holiness and start realising the significance of the cross, resurrection and life in the Spirit...