How to Become Holy

You can’t become holy without truly repenting of your sins. It is only when you realize what a sinner you have been and how much Jesus suffered for you that you have a desire never to sin again. You need to make a recommitment to Jesus every single day of your life because every day is a new day with new choices to make and when you do that, you become stronger to tackle the day ahead. When you pray and ask Jesus to get rid of the sins in your life, all you have to do is listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and to become imitators of Christ. It is only when you have assurance of salvation and you firmly believe without any doubt, that Jesus has saved you and is preparing your place in paradise that He can really help you. Don’t let the devil plant doubts in your mind, but reject them in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and place your trust completely in Jesus.

When in doubt, who do you believe?

The Son of God who doesn’t lie but tells the truth, or the devil who is the father of all lies (see John 8: 44). Repent of your doubts and ask the Lord to help you completely trust in Him and repeat John 3: 16 where we have Jesus’ promise of Eternal life. Sadly, we knew someone who had a prominent place in the church for 50 years, who wasn’t sure whether he would be saved or not. This shows that he knew religion but he didn’t truly know Jesus. Look at the following passages that assure us of everlasting life. John 5:24 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 10:28 (KJV)28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 14:2(KJV)2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Ask Jesus to make your love increase for Him because the stronger your love becomes, the more everything else becomes insignificant in your life, and Jesus takes you out of the world and pushes you through the narrow gate which leads to Heaven. Ask yourself in any situation “would you Jesus do that in my place?” If the answer is no, then don’t do it because if you commit that sin knowing it is wrong; you don’t truly belong to Jesus, and He isn’t the Master of your life. When you belong to Jesus, you don’t compromise, and you make every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. If you have a thought that is negative or even want to criticize someone rather than being loving towards him or her, you know that it doesn’t come from God because God is loving and gentle.

Sometimes it is only afterwards that you realize that you have done something wrong. When that happens, don’t let yourself be guilt-ridden, but instead repent and you will be as white as snow again, and realize that you have progressed in your faith by being aware of what you have done wrong, and that you are being purified by Jesus now. Next time if you are in a similar situation avoid that sin and don’t compromise with the help of Jesus. Some people think that once you know God’s love, you don’t need to do anything else, and others think that you need to earn Heaven. Both are wrong.

When you belong to Jesus and are “born again” you are so filled with the Holy Spirit; that you have a great desire to evangelize out of love for God, and you can’t stop yourself because it happens automatically as Jesus takes control of your life. You therefore give victory to Jesus for your accomplishments. It isn’t earning salvation because you know that you can’t do that on your own without Jesus, but instead it is bearing fruit. Jesus said that you need to bear fruit and be one in Him. This means being united to Him and wanting to do His Will and following God’s Commandments out of love, rather than obligation. John 15:1-8 (KJV), I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Jesus said that we must follow Him as seen in Matthew 16:24 (KJV) 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Jesus said to follow His commands. See the Bible verse: John 14:15 (KJV), 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. We ought to act as Jesus did as seen in 1 John 2:6 (KJV)6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

We have to act like Jesus told us to and to follow His commands. It is clear that we can’t sit back and do nothing, but we have to bear fruit and to be the Lord’s Disciples and to love God and each other by taking Jesus’ example of serving others. We shouldn’t do these things out of duty, but out of a great love for Jesus. When you surrender your life to Jesus, you let Him become Master and Saviour of your life. Your life therefore no longer belongs to you to do as you please, but instead to do what the Lord has told you to do and give Him the victory of your life. Whatever you do to another person you do to Jesus. Your primary goal in life is living for God’s pleasure, and you want to make Him happy and be a source of comfort to Him, especially when we know that He is so broken-hearted with how He has been treated by the world. You are therefore repelled from anything that is displeasing to God, as you just want to do is His Will.

Nothing makes you happier than doing God’s Will. You become so close to the Lord that His Will becomes your will and you have a personal intimate relationship with Jesus. Desiring to please God and make Him happy becomes more important to you than anything on earth. When you do that you are filled with such joy, love and peace. When you accomplish all that the Lord desires in your life, you are ready for Jesus’ return. Ask yourself the question,” am I ready for Jesus’ return?” After all we will all have to give an account to Jesus on how we lived our lives and how much love we gave out to God and others. If not, what do I have to do to be ready because Jesus told us to lead everyday as if it was our last day, and He could be coming back very soon to judge the world.

Written by Marie-Helene and Dominic Bradshaw [email protected]