Before we move on, lets reexamine where we’ve been. Holiness isn’t just a command for the people of Israel; it's for all of God’s people. While Leviticus repeatedly calls the Israelites to be holy, the same command is found in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 1:14-16, we read, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" God has sent the Holy Spirit to help his people live holy lives, to be separate from the world, and to be sanctified. The word "sanctified" means to be made holy, pure, or separate. It’s about becoming more like Jesus and being transformed to reflect him. Charles Spurgeon understood this well, saying, “If I had my choice of all the blessings I can conceive of, I would choose perfect conformity to the Lord Jesus, or, in one word, holiness.”
God’s goal in saving his people is not just forgiveness, but also transformation—restoring them to reflect his holiness. This change happens through sanctification, which can be understood in three ways: Positional, Perfected, and Progressive sanctification.
Positional Sanctification happens when a person is saved. At that moment, God spiritually separates them from the world and sets them apart for his purposes. Through their union with Christ, believers are separated from the power of sin. Though they might not appear much different at first, the foundation for growth in holiness has been laid. This is the first step in becoming holy. God declares them holy, and though many struggle to accept this, it’s true because of what Christ did on the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made believers holy, forgiven, and righteous before God. Hebrews 10:10 says, "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Because of Christ's work, we can be closer to God than even the high priest was on the Day of Atonement, making holiness possible for all believers.
Perfected Sanctification is the final stage, which happens when believers are with God in heaven or when Christ returns. While believers are declared holy at salvation, they won’t experience complete holiness until they see Jesus face-to-face. This is the goal for all believers: to be fully transformed into Christ's likeness. As 1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." In heaven, there will be no sin or unholiness, and believers will be perfectly holy. Hebrews refers to the saints in heaven as "the spirits of the righteous made perfect," and we can be assured that God will complete his work in us when Jesus returns.
Progressive Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ while still on earth. Even after salvation, sin still remains, and believers must deal with it through the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives. This process is described in 2 Corinthians 3:18, which says, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." As believers focus on God, the Holy Spirit transforms them to be more like Jesus over time. Sanctification is not a passive process; believers are actively involved, working out their salvation with God's help. Philippians 2:12-13 says, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." This shows that God’s work in believers enables them to work toward holiness. As John Murray puts it, "God works in us and we also work. But the relation is that because God works, we work."
As believers grow in holiness, it shows in their lives. Discipleship is a key part of sanctification, where every part of life is lived for God's glory. In Leviticus, the Israelites were taught that everything in their lives—how they lived, worked, and worshiped—was under God’s control. Paul reminds us of this in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." When believers dedicate their lives to God, it shows their commitment to being holy. This is similar to the burnt offering in Leviticus, where the whole animal was sacrificed to show total devotion. In Romans 12:1, Paul calls believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is true worship and a sign of our dedication to God.
Holiness is a demand from God, and it’s not acceptable for someone to say they are a Christian but live in disobedience. If someone has been saved, they are called to be holy, and this process of sanctification cannot fail. The Day of Atonement foreshadowed Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. Jesus didn’t just forgive sins; he gave believers a new life and purpose, with the promise of complete holiness. If you believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and desire to become more like him, you can be confident that the Holy Spirit will continue transforming you until you are perfectly holy in God's presence.
This is why church exists, it’s a community of the genuinely reforming and transforming. We each have a personal responsibility to pursue our own sanctification. As we do so though we have a community wide influence that creates a culture of mutually edifying transformation. We recognize perfection isn’t possible here on earth, but we acknowledge the command to grow in proficiency as disciples of Jesus.