Newsletter: July 2026

Neil & Robin Krause

Devotional Corner by Pastor Neil

How Shall We Live?

“Be Holy, for I Am Holy”

Galatians 2:20–21 (NKJV) — Brief Overview

What does it mean to “be holy”? Does God expect His children to truly be “holy”? Before we answer that, what does God say?

The phrase originates in the Old Testament, primarily in Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, and 20:7 — “Be holy, for I am holy.”How do we do this? As Zechariah 4:6 says by the Spirit:

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.’” (ESV)

Yes, we all make mistakes! We can never arrive at or attain holiness in our own strength. However, God can give us His “holiness,” for Jesus gave sin’s payment for all of mankind on the cross! Thus, the Holy Spirit living in us as believers has all we need to share in God’s holiness. Paul says it this way:

Galatians 2:20–21:“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

“Holiness” for man is not accomplished by attaining holiness through man’s effort. The “holiness” God demands from us comes from the righteousness accomplished by Christ upon the cross. And that “holiness” can only be given by grace, through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ “righteousness” is given to believers by trusting and reckoning ourselves to Christ’s righteousness, like the white cloak required as the “proper wedding garment,” without which we will be removed from the Wedding of Christ with His bride.

Matthew records Jesus’ parable:

Matthew 22:1–4:And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’”

When Jesus breathed upon the disciples, they received the “Holy Spirit” to direct them in determining what is holy and what is not holy. However, we must choose whose will we will obey. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, and He will never force us to do His will. But we can choose to seek first the “kingdom of God,” and all these things will be added (see Matthew 6:32–34).

All it takes is to yield our hearts to believe that “we were crucified with Christ,” so that we no longer “have to sin.”How will we choose? Remember, a dead man doesn’t have to sin. Hence, we can live “holy” when we are acting according to Christ, as we are directed through the Holy Spirit.

Living in a world where everyone is compromising through their choices can deceive us into believing that “compromise is acceptable.” For God truly does want us to be “holy as He is holy.” Not to live just “our best,” but rather to live like Jesus, by His strength and the Holy Spirit’s presence. For it has been given to us through His Spirit living within us as believers.

The Apostle Paul says it this way:

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

Yes, Christ gave us “His righteousness” for the sake of our faith, and our desire to please Him. We need not to “serve out of demand” but by our love for God’s mercy and grace – which should circumcise our heart to “desire to please Him”. 

[The phrase “the mercies of God” refers to all of what has preceded in chapters 1—11. The exhortation that Paul presents is that since we have been the recipients of God’s great mercies, we are to be “living sacrifices” to God. How do we do this? We are living sacrifices to God by not conforming to this world, but by being transformed by the renewal of our minds.] GotQuestions.org

We’ve enjoyed this ministry; we have several ways to spend time with certain mentees; fellowship with dear brothers, and sisters in Bible Studies; a Prayer group, and still able to find time to connect with our 11 beautiful grandchildren. Robin is still enjoying bowling and leading the grandkids to follow her. We recently celebrating having 5 of our grandchildren recently baptized as a big family gathered at Palmer Lake. I shared with my family my two favorite verses Romans 12:1-2 &: Galatians 2:20