It is not first holiness then peace, but peace and then holiness. The root of all holiness is peace with God. Until the clouds are rolled away and the sun shines pit, we cannot be warmed and enlightened. Until the frost is gone and the ice dissolved, the river cannot flow on and water the fields. Christ did not say “Go and sin no more, and I will not condemn you,” but,” I do not condemn you either. Go and sin more.” ( John 8:11)
In order to live a holy life God must come in and dwell in us. He cannot do this until He has brought us into peace with Himself-until we have listened to and believed the tidings of peace that He has spoken. Reconciliation must be the beginning of all indwelling, and this reconciliation is the result of our believing His message of peace.
A saint then, is one who has listened to God, who has heard the words of peace from His Lips, who has believed them, who has been reconciled, and who k ows that he is so. Therefore, he seeks to be holy. He hates his former folly. He does not return to it. He does not make his free pardon a reason for returning to it. (Horatius Bonar)
Everything starts with God, everything. He spoke the world into existence. He first loved us. Jesus was the first, the Alpha. We follow Him in everything. He is holy therefore He has called us to be holy. Yet this holiness must be initiated by the Lord. It is He who kindles the fire, it is we who are called to keep that fire burning within us.
Beware of sin brothers and sisters. It douses the fire that the Lord Himself lit in us. Add to that fire by walking in His holiness, by righteousness, by obedience, by love and kindness, by Godliness,by forgiveness and grace and mercy. Shower your heart with these things and the inner fire will burn intensely for all the world to see.
A Call To The Remnant 