Pursuing holiness is as important as the new birth. " Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14)
God commands His people to be holy in all conduct because He is holy ( 1 Peter 1:15-16) .For God's people, holiness means conformity to God's character thinking as He thinks,
loving what He loves, hating what hates, and acting as Christ would act. Specifically, holiness is (1 ) separation from sin and the world system and ( 2) dedication to God ( Romans 12:1-2 11Corinthians 6 :17 7:1 ) .
Christians must love not this ungodly world system, identify with it , become attached to the things in it , or participate in its sinful pleasures and activities ( James 1:27; 4:4; 1 John 2:15).
Holiness is both inward and outward ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 11 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23) . It includes attitudes, thoughts, and spiritual stewardship, but also actions, appearance, and physical stewardship. Both aspects are essential. The life of holiness is a continual striving for perfection (Matthew 5:48; 11 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 3:12-16) . No one is absolutely perfect , but everyone can be relatively perfect and mature. God expects continual growth in grace and knowledge and increasing production of spiritual fruit. (John 15:1-8; 2Peter 3:18) .
Holiness is not a means of earning salvation but a result of salvation. it comes by (1) Faith, (2) Love and (3) Walking after the Spirit. All aspects of salvation , including the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work, come by faith ( Ephesians 2:8). If someone truly believes God, he will obey God's word , moreover, if someone truly loves God, he will obey God's commandments (John 14:15).