The concept of becoming holy is a vital part of God's sanctification process, a spiritual journey that unfolds over a lifetime. The English word holy signifies purity, cleanliness, sacredness, and being set apart. It embodies moral and spiritual excellence, perfection, and reverence, belonging to or being devoted to God. God instructs His people to consecrate themselves and be holy, for He is the LORD their God, separating them from the world to be His own. This holiness is not merely an initial state of being chosen by God, but a process of growth through obedience and effort. As emphasized in scripture, by keeping His statutes and performing them, we shall be holy, indicating a future fulfillment and an ongoing transformation. God's command to be holy men to Him reinforces that following His instructions leads to holiness. This process of becoming holy requires a deepening understanding of what it truly means to be set apart for His purpose.

To be holy means to be set apart, a cut above, separated for God's use. When God sanctifies something, He makes it holy, as He did with the Sabbath, setting it apart as a beacon of the covenant with His people. Holiness is not just about physical separation but involves a spiritual and moral transformation, reflecting God's character and qualities through His Holy Spirit. God called Abraham to be holy, separating him from his family and establishing a covenant with him, and Abraham walked blamelessly before God, demonstrating faithfulness and devotion. Similarly, God chose Israel out of all nations to be His holy people, a model nation to represent Him by living obediently according to His commandments and covenant. Despite their failures, God desired their loyalty and a heartfelt connection. Today, we are also called to be holy, set apart as a special treasure to God, chosen to be a light and example to others. Being holy is a daunting challenge and a process of sanctification, conversion, and growth through trials, strengthening us toward perfection. Christ's death made it possible for us to be holy, but it is His life and interaction with us that helps us become holy. He invests in us as a treasure, striving to make us blameless and complete in righteousness before God. We must prepare mentally and spiritually for action, focusing our thoughts and readying ourselves for challenges and resistance against temptation, as we are commanded to be holy, for He is holy.

God declares us holy under the blood of Christ and expects us to become holy through Christian growth. We are called to strive for holiness, reflecting His nature in all our conduct. Just as God will vindicate the holiness of His great name, which has been profaned among the nations, He has called the spiritual Israel of God to magnify His name through faithfulness to His way of life. By allowing God to use us and keeping His laws consistently, we will be holy as He is holy.

The concept of becoming holy is central to the teachings found in Leviticus 17 through 23, and even extending to chapter 27, where the theme of sanctification is prevalent. God declares, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy," setting a standard for His people to emulate His nature. This recurring reminder, often expressed as "I am the LORD," serves as a shorthand throughout these chapters, emphasizing that because He is holy, His people must reflect that holiness in their actions and lives. The purpose of the numerous laws and statutes in these chapters is to instruct us on how God lives. As a holy God, everything He does embodies ultimate purity, a quality beyond human imagination. These laws are not merely rules to follow for the sake of becoming holy; rather, they guide us in living out the holiness that God imparts. Only God has the power to make anything holy, as holiness is His essential nature, a vast difference between the human and the divine. Holiness begins with God's act of setting us apart, an initial legal pronouncement when one comes under His covenant. This is not the end, but the start of a lifelong process of becoming holy, growing in God's character through His Spirit. It is not through mere adherence to laws that one becomes holy, but through God's active involvement in our lives. We are sanctified by Him, and in response, we strive to live according to His ways, learning to be holy as He is. This process of becoming holy involves a continuous effort to reflect God's character in our thoughts, speech, and deeds. As we grow in the image of Christ, we become holier, more set apart, and more distinct from those who do not strive for this transformation. The laws provided are tools to build righteous character, a process that requires willing cooperation and long years of practice. Without God's calling and Spirit, one can at best achieve morality, but true holiness comes only through His active participation. God's purpose is to build righteous character in us, something that cannot be instantly created by divine command. Even the most beautiful and talented being created by God, who was set apart, did not become holy due to a lack of cooperation, ultimately rebelling and becoming the embodiment of impurity. In contrast, God desires for us to move in the opposite direction, cooperating with Him to grow in holiness and put on the new man, continually striving to live as He does.

God has called us to be in His image, to be holy as He is holy. This call to holiness can be overwhelming, yet it is the destiny for which we were created. Becoming holy is the only way to fulfill this purpose, as without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Holiness is a fundamental requirement for every human being to enter into the Kingdom of God. Holiness means to be separate, to be cut away, to be sanctified, to be a cut above, to be transcendent, to be pure. If we desire to be like God, we must work at purifying ourselves, striving to become holy. Every person who holds this hope purifies himself, even as He is pure. Holiness is not merely righteousness but a deeper transformation, encompassing every aspect of our thinking, speaking, acting, working, loving, and attitudes. The path to holiness is not easy, nor is it always clearly marked, yet it must be marked by steady progression in righteousness toward sanctification. God has designed this path for each of us, tailored to our needs, ensuring that no trial is beyond our capacity. Everyone's journey is unique, with varying degrees of difficulty, but none is too hard to attain. We must not be dismayed or filled with doubt, for we can make it through His grace. Becoming holy involves more than following rules; it encompasses the nuances of life, unexpected twists, and challenging choices. It requires faith, hope, love, and a multitude of good attitudes, rooted in relationships, most importantly with God. Through fellowship with Him, established by Jesus Christ, the holiness of God is communicated to us. This closeness, nurtured by prayer and obedience, allows His glory to be reflected in our lives. The process of becoming holy is a cooperative effort with God, involving our will and effort alongside His grace. Growing in grace is akin to sanctification, a continuous work of the Holy Spirit within us, producing fruits and leading toward glorification. God's grace provides what is needed, when it is needed, in the measure each person can use. As we yield and submit to Him, showing our desire for holiness, glorification is within our grasp, carried to us by His unending favor.