“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Peter 1:15).
God calls every believer to walk in holiness, but few actually do. Maybe it’s because being holy feels out of reach—like something reserved for super-spiritual people. Maybe it’s because we associate holiness with strict rules and solemn expressions rather than freedom and joy. The problem is that we’ve misunderstood what holiness is and isn’t. Peter isn’t promoting some out of touch ideology but practical holiness in everyday life.
To be holy simply means to be set apart—dedicated to the Lord. We see this throughout the Old Testament. Certain objects were consecrated for use in the Temple—the articles, the garments, and even the priests who handled them. They were considered holy, not because of what they were made of, but because they were set apart for God’s purposes.
But holiness wasn’t limited to objects. God repeatedly told His people to be holy because He is holy (Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8). Peter reiterates this command in the New Testament, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Ask yourself: Am I noticeably set apart from the world and dedicated to God’s purposes? Do I live with such moral and ethical excellence that my life is pleasing to God and productive for His glory? That’s holiness in everyday life. When you choose to live this way, your entire life becomes an act of worship (Romans 12:1).
Living a holy life means separating yourself from sinful thoughts, habits, and behaviors. Paul explains this change in Ephesians 4:22–24: “Lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit… be renewed in the spirit of your mind… put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
So, can you really be holy? Yes! In fact, holiness isn’t the exception to the Christian life but one of the expectations God has for every believer. Just remember, holiness isn’t about trying to be good—it’s about living in the goodness of God. Holiness isn’t a joy killer—it’s the key to fullness of joy, because it brings us into close fellowship with the Father. If you belong to Christ, you’ve been made holy. So go out and live like it!
