We are born unholy. In our very nature, we love ourselves most, not God or others. The examples of this in our lives are endless. But God wants us to be holy again.

In Hebrews 12:5-13, we read that God desires to make us holy again—like He originally intended us to be—and will work with us to make it happen. The first step is for us to receive Jesus’ holiness through forgiveness. This is salvation. Second, after being saved, we will go through the process of growing in Christlike character, guided by God’s fatherly discipline and love. This is sanctification. Because of Christ, we can be made holy.