Did you know God sees you as perfect, holy, and righteous?
You might ask, “Even when I have just sinned?”
Yes, He does.
“And put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24, NIV)
Before you were born again, you had a sin nature and were separated from God because of what Adam did at the Cross.
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19, NLT)
So now you know: you were not a sinner because of your actions. Your identity was tied to what Adam did. Adam made you a sinner—you didn’t become a sinner because you sinned. That was your identity before.
But now, because one man obeyed God, many will be made righteous. Your identity is now defined by what Christ has accomplished at the Cross.
Without Christ, you are not righteous—but thank God, you are never without Christ.
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19, NLT)
In God’s eyes, He will always see Christ in you. You have nothing to do to change that. It is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Not even your actions can change your identity before God.
“In whom you also trusted, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13, A Faithful Version)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)
I know you’re wondering, “How is that even possible?”
Yes—it is. Your holiness has nothing to do with your salvation.
Am I saying we shouldn’t pursue holiness? Of course not. But the motive matters.
It shouldn’t be to please God or to secure salvation.
Let me explain it this way:
Before you were born again, if you did good things—if somehow you lived a holy life—let me ask you:
Could those good actions grant you salvation?
Could you enter heaven because you lived holy?
I believe your answer is “no.”
And I also believe you know that without Christ, you can’t be saved.
So the fact is, no matter how holy you lived, you couldn’t be saved without Christ.
Now let’s flip the coin.
Now that you are born again—if you sin, does that mean you will lose your salvation or go to hell?
Think about it.
I believe you’re confused here, because the average preacher has taught that your sins will take you to hell.
But if your sins can take you to hell, then why not say holiness can take you to heaven?
Why do we believe that without Christ, we can’t be saved no matter how holy we are—but when it comes to losing salvation, we suddenly think our actions (sins) can undo what Christ has done?
Where is Jesus Christ in that equation?
You may say, “We need to live holy because that’s what Jesus Christ requires.”
Yes, I agree.
But again, my point is: What is your motive?
Are you living holy because you think God will reject you, send you to hell, or withhold His blessings?
Or are you living holy because that is who you are?
The two are very different.
Most Christians today are trying to live holy because they fear God will curse or reject them—or worse, that they will lose their salvation because of their sins.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NLT)
God loved you before you lived holy.
He didn’t require your holiness in order to love you.
It was never your actions that caused Him to love you.
It’s faith in Christ that secures His love for you.
It’s your faith that binds you to Him.
So continue in the same faith that saved you.
Stop trusting in your own holiness.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,” (Colossians 2:6, NIV)