Grace Calls us to Holiness (Blueprint Series)
Scripture Focus: John 1:14–17 — And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’” For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
At the heart of God’s house is something deeper than programs or platforms. It’s a culture formed by grace and holiness—a people learning to live in the tension and beauty of both. That’s what this season of building is about for us: not just planting a church, but shaping a spiritual home that reflects the Father’s heart.
The Grace That Rescues
There’s no version of Christianity without grace.
Every single one of us has a backstory, a “Titus 3:3 moment” —
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures…” (Titus 3:3, ESV)
That’s not just poetic—it’s painfully accurate. It’s where we all start: stuck in cycles of sin, self-absorbed, lost in confusion or pain. But the beauty of the gospel is that God doesn’t wait for us to clean up before He moves toward us.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…”
—Titus 3:4–5 (ESV)
Grace is what finds you in the dark and refuses to leave you there.
Grace justifies you. It cleanses. It says “holy” before anything in your life looks holy.
And it does that not because you deserve it—but because God is that good.
The Holiness We’re Called To
But the gospel doesn’t stop at grace.
After God pulls us out of the pit, He doesn’t pat us on the head and say “Good luck.”
He calls us into a new way of living—a holy life, set apart, shaped by obedience.
This is the pattern throughout Scripture:
“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
—1 Peter 1:16 (ESV)
That’s not a guilt trip. It’s an invitation to become who you were created to be.
Holiness isn’t about performing. It’s not about pressure. It’s about partnering with God’s Spirit to become more like Him. And yes, it requires participation. The same grace that worked for you in salvation now works with you in sanctification.
You can’t earn God’s grace, but you do get to respond to it.
Grace Without Holiness? Holiness Without Grace?
Here’s the tension we have to hold:
Grace without a call to holiness creates a version of Christianity that never transforms. It sounds like freedom, but it keeps people stuck.
Holiness without grace creates religion. People become self-righteous, harsh, or exhausted trying to prove their worth to God and others.
The New Testament doesn’t give us one or the other. It gives us both.
From Romans to Revelation, we see grace and holiness preached together—not as a contradiction, but as a picture of God’s full heart.
Who Is the House Built For?
This isn’t about building a platform or growing a brand. It’s about building a house where Jesus is the cornerstone, where people encounter God’s grace and grow in His holiness.
It’s about being a bold light in a city that often exalts darkness, and showing a different way: not with judgment, but with presence.
Not with superiority, but with truth and kindness together.
Like Jesus did with the woman caught in adultery:
“Neither do I condemn you… Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
That’s grace and truth. That’s the blueprint!
Grace is your foundation. Holiness is your invitation. And Jesus is the builder of it all.
Let’s keep building His house—together.
Reflection Questions
Where have you experienced the grace of God rescuing you from a place of darkness or failure?
In what areas of your life is God calling you into greater holiness?
How can you respond this week—not out of pressure, but in partnership with God’s Spirit?