“You are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1Corinthians 1:30 NIV).

Our connection to holiness is not due to anything preexisting in us, but only because “in this world we are like Jesus” (1John 4:17 NIV). If Christ is holy, and we are in Christ, then we are holy. Still, we are reminded, “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1Peter 1:15 NIV) and “live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear” (1:17 NIV). That “reverent fear” is not simply an acknowledgement that God is who He says He is, but our voluntary agreement and trust of Him. This balance between God and man, His power and our responsibility, His ability to preserve us and our necessity to walk holy, His assurance of sustaining us and our concern of offending Him, separates us from sin unto God. In this regard, you are to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” (Philippians 2:12 NIV), remembering that, “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (2:13 NIV). All of this comes down to trusting Christ to make and keep us holy. How difficult is that?

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