Final answer:
In Christian belief, individuals can be purified through divine grace, as human efforts alone are insufficient to reach holiness due to the inherently sinful nature of humanity. Key figures like Martin Luther advocated for salvation through faith alone, not works, which resonates with the view that it is through God's grace that one can pursue a holy life.
Step-by-step explanation:
God's Word challenges us to be holy because God is holy. This may seem impossible, but we can be purified through divine grace. This view aligns with several Christian doctrines, particularly those emerging during the Reformation, where figures like Martin Luther emphasized faith alone as the key to salvation, not good works or human effort.
In Christianity, it is often understood that purity and holiness are not attainable solely by human means due to the sinful nature of humanity ("The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so"). Instead, it is through the recognition of God's grace and the acceptance of this divine gift that believers are empowered to pursue a life aligned with God's will. This concept opposes the idea that perfection or holiness could be achieved through rituals, human effort, or by achieving human-defined perfection, as divine grace is seen as a freely offered aspect of God's love to humanity.
Furthermore, the Protestant work ethic, emerging from the Calvinist belief in predestination, indicates a distinction between good deeds as a result of salvation rather than a means to secure it, reinforcing the idea that divine grace is central to spiritual purification and the pursuit of holiness.