What Makes a Person Holy?
Let’s be clear—rules do not make you holy. God is more concerned about what’s in your heart than what’s on your plate or what day you go to church. In Acts 10:11–16, Peter has a vision from God. A large sheet comes down from heaven full of animals that Jewish law said not to eat. God tells Peter to “kill and eat,” but Peter says, “No way, Lord! I’ve never eaten anything unclean.”
Then God says something powerful:
“What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” (Acts 10:15)
This isn’t just about food. God is showing Peter—and us—that the old way of following rules to feel holy is over. Holiness now comes through Jesus, not through what we eat, drink, or avoid.
Rules Do Not Make You Holy—Your Heart Does
Jesus made this clear too. In Mark 7:18–23, He told His disciples:
“Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?”
He went on to say that evil comes from within us—from the heart. Things like greed, lying, pride, and lust. That’s what makes someone unclean.
That’s why rules do not make you holy. You could follow every diet, wear perfect church clothes, never miss a Sunday, and still be far from God if your heart is full of sin and rebellion.
God isn’t looking for people who follow man-made rules. He’s looking for people who follow Him. He wants your heart, not your habits.
Don’t Let Religion Replace Relationship
Paul also warned the church in Colossians about this. In Colossians 2:8 he says:
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
We’ve got to be careful. Religion can sound holy, but it can keep us far from Jesus if we’re not careful. That’s why Colossians 2:16 tells us:
“Don’t let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”
Some people love to pile on rules. Don’t eat this. Don’t drink that. Go to church on this day. Wear this. Say that. But God isn’t impressed by any of that. He’s looking for people who trust Him, love Him, and obey Him from the inside out.
Holiness Starts with Relationship
Real holiness isn’t about what we do for show. It’s about who we are when no one’s looking. It’s about whether or not we’re walking in fellowship with Jesus every single day. Are we listening to Him? Are we obeying His Word? Do we repent when we fall?
That’s what matters. Not coffee or meat. Not Saturday vs. Sunday.
So let’s stop letting religious rules distract us. Let’s focus on the truth of God’s Word. Because at the end of the day, rules do not make you holy. Jesus does.
And that’s the kind of holiness the world needs to see—authentic, honest, and rooted in a relationship with the Savior who gave it all for us.
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