September 28, 2008 · 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2--9

“Holiness isn't something you gain or earn or deserve. Holiness is something that God gives to you. It's in God's hand, and yes, I'm not going to doubt that the holiness he gives to you can grow. You must take that seed of holiness which you have and you must water it and allow it to grow in your life. But don't you dare say that you are not holy, and I have seen people that I have to call holy. They have met those people, you are whoa, you are holy. Or you ever talk about an old man at the church and he is a holy man. Well, yeah, it took some time to have that effect where you get pushed back by the holiness. But that holiness was there when he first said the name of Jesus Christ with love. Now God's grace is for all people and all people who call on Christ are holy. Now, it makes me feel really great when I hear this because it should spur you on to more holiness. Like, oh, I'm holy. I want to be more holy.”