Are you holy?
1 Peter 1:13–25 (NIV84)
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:44a, 45 (NIV84) 44 “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy… 45 I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.”
But what IS holiness? And how do we do it?
Holiness refers to purity and integrity of moral character, and to freedom from sin & devotion to God.
Overall, biblical holiness is a lifelong pursuit of God’s will and a commitment to living a life that honors Him in every way.
1 Peter 1:13–25 (NIV84)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
If you are going to be pure/holy/free from sin/devoted to God, is required
Purity and holiness are established by what you DO, not what you DON’T.
Purity and holiness come from choosing God’s ways
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
- (literally, “you shall be holy”)
In one sense we are already holy:
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
In another sense we are not yet living this to the full, so we are commanded to fully become in way something we already are in Christ.
Colossians 2:7 (NLT2) Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Our heavenly Father has no favorites. He will judge or reward each of us according to what we do. (Peter is not talking about Heaven & Hell here.)
John 3:17-18 (NLT2) 17 “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
But your choices will determine if you receive a reward or not
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NLT2) 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
Eternal destiny is not at issue; eternal is.
Evidently God is not motivated by equity of outcome. Those who are more receive a greater reward.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT2) So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Your eternal salvation and right standing with God is a gift because of his Grace to us in Jesus. are earned through obedience.
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
As we obey God, we are transformed.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
We have the guarantee that we have an eternal destiny with him, so why should we live in fear of what might happen to us in this temporary life?
24 For, “All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Our call is to be holy:
- to develop a character that fully reflects the character of God and his presence in our lives
- to purify ourselves by obeying the truth
- there’s reward for faithfulness
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”