"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."

                            -I Thessalonians 4:7 

As Christians, we have all been called by God to pursue a life of holiness. That may sound simple, but those of you who have read the book of Romans know that holiness is something none of us can possibly attain through our own efforts (see 3:9-12, 8:7-8). Why then are we instructed to strive for it? Because God Himself is holy, and requires nothing less of us than to be holy also (Leviticus 11:45). And though none of us can become holy by ourselves, the Holy Ghost can and will enable us to do that which would otherwise be impossible (Philippians 4:13).

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

                            -Hebrews 12:14

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

                            -Matthew 5:8

As today's text states, uncleanness (i.e. sinfulness) is the opposite of  holiness, and we should therefore stay as far away from it as possible. In fact, according to these verses, a lack of holiness will keep us out of heaven, but the result of a having a pure/holy heart is to see the face of God! What greater reward is there than that?

Sadly, the doctrine of holiness and its importance has been abandoned by many most churches today. But, contrary to what you may have heard, holiness is still important to God and, as a result, should be important to us as well. Let us do as Paul admonished us in Ephesians 4:22, 24 and put off the "old man", and put on the new man of "righteousness and true holiness."