“Thomas Brooks gives us sixteen marks of real holiness, including the holy believer, ‘admires the holiness of God, . . . possesses diffusive holiness that spreads itself over head and heart, lip and life, inside and outside, . . . stretches himself after higher degrees of holiness, . . . hates and detests all ungodliness and wickedness, . . . grieves over his own vileness and unholiness.’ It is a daunting list, yet a biblical one. No doubt we all fall far short, but the question remains: Are we striving for these marks of holiness?

Perhaps you respond, ‘Who is sufficient for these things?’ (2 Cor. 2:16). Paul’s ready answer is, ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God’ (2 Cor. 3:5). ‘Would you be holy? . . . Then you must begin with Christ . . . Would you continue holy? Then abide in Christ. Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way of holiness.’ Outside of Christ there is no holiness. Then every list of the marks of holiness must condemn us to hell. Ultimately, of course, holiness is not a list; it is much more - it is a life, a life in Jesus Christ. Holiness in believers proves that they are joined to Christ, for sanctified obedience is impossible without Him. But in Christ the call to holiness remains with the context of sola gratia (by grace alone) and sola fide (by faith alone). ‘If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared’ (Ps. 130:3-4). Pray with Robert Murray M’Cheyne, ‘Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be.”

Joel R. Beeke, Overcoming the World, Grace To Win the Daily Battle, 2005, Pgs. 110-111