The Way to Grow in Holiness

The only way to grow in holiness is to confess often and immediately to be cleansed by God when we falter or sin, even the smallest matters in the mind, before they become actions that need to be confessed to God. If we have offended someone without realizing it and they tell us, then we should be ready to apologize to them for hurting them.

1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…

One way to discern if someone is not confessing is if they do not seem to grow. This is someone who can never admit they were wrong, even defending bad attitudes or behavior to justify themselves. These people never consider the feelings of others, they only care about remaining dominant over others.

These people refuse correction, even raging when confronted with something in them that needs to change. They will even rage when someone merely expresses their own opinion that differs from theirs.

Those who walk in humility appreciate honest correction and make changes. Humility demands that we consider the well-being of the other person so that we are not doing harm.

A kind person does not practice pride and disrespect toward anyone. They do not have it in their character to be unkind.

Someone who is kind to some people and unkind to others is an unkind person but is selective so as not to damage their reputation toward those they wish to impress, while having no concern for those they disrespect.

We can see growth in those who are sensitive to offending God and confess to be cleansed. We can also see a lack of growth in those who wish to elevate themselves above God and others through their absence of love toward those for whom they have contempt.

Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

When we have a discerning heart, we will see things in ourselves and in others that need work.