Divinely-inspired to start a thread on the importance of "holiness", so here I be...
Holiness in the highest sense belongs to God (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Romans 6:19,22; Ephesians 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Cor 7:1; Ephesians 4:23,24). (See SANCTIFICATION .)
Sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth. It is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Romans 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Cor 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 4:7 ). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it (1) secures union to Christ (Galatians 2:20), and (2) brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he is led to yield obedience to the commands...and to embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.
(From Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Holiness in the highest sense belongs to God (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Romans 6:19,22; Ephesians 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Cor 7:1; Ephesians 4:23,24). (See SANCTIFICATION .)
Sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth. It is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Romans 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Cor 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 4:7 ). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it (1) secures union to Christ (Galatians 2:20), and (2) brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he is led to yield obedience to the commands...and to embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.
(From Easton's Bible Dictionary)