Human holiness (Christianity)

In Roman Catholic doctrine, the individual may participate in the holiness of God through justification by sanctifying grace and through total surrender to God. Holiness may develop through God's grace until there is attainment of the sanctity of the saints.

The protestant "Holiness" churches see the state of holiness as sinlessness, the result of sanctification which starts with the experience of being "born again", when Christ is accepted as the individual's saviour. Through the work of the Holy Spirit the individual grows in grace, has his or her heart cleansed of sin and receives the power to live a holy life. There is some disagreement as to whether the person is in a state of holiness immediately on being born again or whether this only arises over time, through living according to a strict moral code. Other protestant churches see this state of sinless perfection as impossible to achieve through the individual's own behaviour and emphasize instead love and forgiveness.