There is no personal holiness without the Holy Spirit.  Jesus “suffered without the gate to sanctify the people with His own blood” (Heb 13:12).  The Bible also says that we are “sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:2).  What the blood of Christ provides, the Holy Spirit applies.  Without His empowerment, we are pulled down by sin.  He makes grace abound more than sin abounds.  He who is the Holy Spirit brings the One who said, “I am holy, you be holy,” into our very hearts.

“But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Th 2:13 (NRSV)