1 PETER 1:14–16 – As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
The Christian life must be understood in the light of who God is, what He is and what He has called His people to be.
First, who and what God is; the Holy One who forever hears the proclamation from the four living creatures in heaven “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come”(Revelation 4:8). Next, God calls His people to a salvation that produces holy people-Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love(Ephesians 1:3-4). But it is vital we grasp the meaning of holy and we begin with what it is not; a mere external morality of not doing certain things and doing certain other things. This is a good definition of religiosity without life. It is adhering to a set of rules without Christ; a lifestyle of looking good on the outside but being dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3). So, what is it to be holy as called by God? The word has two meanings; to be morally pure and be separated to God for His purposes.
In today’s scripture, we receive the command to be holy as God is holy and this life of holiness is whole life holiness. The apostle Peter writes “you also be holy in all your conduct.” The command leaves no room for selective holiness or to apply the meanings, we cannot pick and choose what areas of our lives are to be morally pure and set apart for the Lord.
So, what would that look like in the daily living of the Christian life? At least three areas. If we are to pursue whole life holiness as commanded, then our speech must be “pure and uplifting” (Ephesians4:29). This means no worldly talk, no belittling words, no cutting conversations, and no gossip.
Next, whole life holiness includes what we put before our eyes in the world of entertainment, surfing the web and on social media. The Apostle John warns us about the enticements of the world and that the eyes are a source of its unholy influences in our hearts – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John2:15-17). Watch worldly, sensual, and God-dishonoring movies or other forms of entertainment, and the command to be holy is compromised and disobeyed.
Finally, whole life holiness rises and falls on what we put into our minds. Holy transformation begins with holy thinking. This application appears in the opening of chapter twelve in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans12:2). There are only two forces shaping our minds and we will choose which one; the world and its unholy influence or the Word and its holy influence. Be wise in what we put into our minds for as we think so we live.
God’s call to us is the call to be holy as He is holy. And remember, when God gives a command to obey, He also gives the strength to obey and in this calling, toward whole life holiness.
PRAYER: “Father, may I learn a life of holiness is just that–in all areas of my life.”
QUOTE: “Holy conduct means holy speech, attitudes, thinking, and lifestyle.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim