What does it mean to be holy?

As the Lord's elect, the Church, or the Ecclesia (called-out ones) are set apart from the world and sin. The very word "kadosh" in Hebrew, which is translated holy, means "set-apart". Jesus himself said:

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:48

Of course we cannot become sinless and thus perfect in every sense of the word. That is why we have to examine what are the pre-requisites of becoming holy in the eyes of God. This subject is very closely linked to the whole of salvation. First step to holiness is to become righteous. This is recorded in the Scripture:

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" - Romans 1:16a

Thus God saves us trough our faith in Jesus Christ. He sees us holy, because Jesus was holy and sinless.

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:8

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [than Jesus] under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" - Romans 4:12

How can we achieve this position in the eyes of God? How can we take Jesus? Bible tells us:

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" - Romans 13:14

It is clear that we must clothe ourselves with Lord Jesus. This is not merely calling Him Lord and claiming namely His Lordship. As He himself declared:

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." - John 14:21

It is not about our fleshly strenght that we can obey God's commandments, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. We receive this power, when we are Born Again. Even so, we have to choose obeying, instead of rebellion. But the power by which this is achieved is given by God.

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." - James 1:21

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit." - 1.Thessalonians 4:7-8

It is a testimony of the Holy Spirit in us, that the commandments of God are not burden for us. As New Creatures, we desire to do God's will willingly, out of love. This is said also in the Scripture:

"I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees." - Psalm 119:47-48

It is an outward sign of testimony about us being saved, when we delight in the LORD's statutes and keep them. Jesus said that they become to us a Law of Love. Thus the world knows we are Lord's, when they see we are holy, set-apart from the world. No longer does the flesh rule over us!

"For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." - Romans 7:5-6

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35