Why is holiness important for salvation?

Holiness is crucial in the context of salvation because God's nature is inherently holy, and He cannot allow sin in His presence. Isaiah 35:8 speaks of a 'way of holiness,' emphasizing that unclean people cannot traverse this path without being made clean first. This transformation occurs through faith in Jesus, whose sacrifice purifies believers and imparts His righteousness to them. Thus, without holiness, it is impossible to please God or attain salvation, as seen in Hebrews 12:14, which underscores the importance of holiness for seeing the Lord.