Through the centuries, believers have questioned: "Which is the way that leads to holiness?" Is holiness obtained through rigorous routines of self-discipline or is it automatically ours if we passively 'let go and let God'? Is the truth found somewhere in-between? What is our response to Jesus' command to "Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect?" Is not such perfectionism cruel when we know that "all have sinned and are all presently falling short of God's glorious ideal for living?" (Romans 3:23).

Theologians continue to debate the topic: Is holiness the net result of our dedicated efforts, the effect of a mystical subjective experience (sometimes called 'sanctification') or is our holiness a gift that needs to be progressively possessed? Do believers reach 'sinless perfection' in this life? To what degree can we be conformed to the image of Christ, the paragon of perfection?

Holiness in the Scriptures speaks of being 'set apart', or 'consecrated'. It means that we are uniquely possessed by the Lord. We are distinguished as those who belong to Him. We are set apart to be used for His choice purposes. It does not mean that we no longer have a sin nature or the innate desire to sin. It does not mean that we will never again be tempted. The truth is that we still have the old sin nature but can live 'set apart' from it by living in the gift of our new nature - the indwelling life of Christ imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. We still live in this world, (this present age that is living out its rebellion to God) but we can live as those who are 'set apart' from it and can experience today the kingdom that is to come.

It is important to note that the Bible makes it clear that we do not gain spiritual victory by jumping through religious hoops of practiced piety or by a 'multi-step' self-improvement program. God indicated that His forgiveness, acceptance and perfection of us would be given as a free gift of grace 'in Christ' when He instructed that the altar be built without any steps leading up to it (Exodus 20:26). God Himself would take all the steps necessary to secure our salvation. This salvation is not only able to deliver us from the penalty of sin, but also the power of sin. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose....Therefore...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," (See Philippians 2:12-13).

"It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom (the answer) from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1Corinthians 1:30 NIV).

In the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, he shows us that Jesus' dying for us is God's answer to the penalty of sin. This secures our forgiveness (Romans 3-5). He also shows us that Jesus' living in us is God's answer to the power of sin. This secures our deliverance (Romans 8).

In Romans 6 he teaches us that Christ identified with the sinner as well as our sin on the Cross. He died for us and as us. From God's point of view, "our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--" (Romans 6:6). God's Word tells us that this is historic fact. You do not strive to make it true. It is true. You reckon on it. You proceed 'counting it as reality'.

Are you a 'pushover' for sin? In Romans 7 Paul tries to resist sin by sheer will power. The result is consistent failure. He says that the performance of self effort is so consistent that it should be considered a law of nature. The law of sin describes the fact that by the sin nature we end up doing what we know we shouldn't do. The law of death describes the fact that by our sin nature we fail to do what we know we should do. But there is another law of nature. It is not a law of the sin nature. It is the law of the new nature. It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Jesus, by nature, never fails. He produces holiness by nature. As a bird can take wing and fly by nature, so the life of Christ within us can produce holiness.

Victory over sin requires skill power rather than will power. It is the skill to exercise faith to join with Christ in what He is both willing and doing in Christ. Whereas the law made us 'sin-conscious', the gospel of grace makes us 'Son conscious'. The Book of Romans describes the skill of engaging with the activity of the Spirit through thanking (Romans 7:25-8:4), thinking (Romans 8:5-11), partnering with Him as sons (Romans 8:12-17), and praying with Him as fellow-supplicants.

Holiness involves our participation in what God is doing. The Bible has a word for this joint-participation: fellowship. When we wholly participate in the revelation of Who God is and what He is doing, the Spirit conforms us to Christ's image. When we honor God by relating to Him on His terms, and engage with Him through fellowship with the Spirit, the Word and the body of Christ - holiness is the result. We will be and do all that we have been 'set apart' for. We will bear fruit, which is nothing less than the outliving of the indwelling Christ.