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Food for Thought: Called To Be Holy

For it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." ...I Peter 1:16

Dr. Mark Ruppert

I Peter 1:13-16  

This morning we continue in our series from the first two chapters from the book of I Peter. We discussed last week the “new birth” that Peter speaks of in I Peter 1:3 where he says that by God’s “great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” A new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And now this morning we want to focus on verses 14-16 where Peter challenges the believer to be like obedient children who do not conform to the former desires that we held to in ignorance, but instead Peter challenges us to take to heart a verse that came from the Old Testament book of Leviticus, chapter 11 verse 44 where God tells His people, “For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourself therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”

Now let’s be honest. Holiness is a subject most people avoid, even as Christians.

Whether Christian or non-Christian it is a somewhat uncomfortable issue to discuss. I mean we can talk all we want about the holiness of God and we can sing hymn #138, “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!” until we are blue in the face but to make the transition, to make the leap and talk about the holiness of our lives, well, then we might say, “that person is holier-than-thou.” We don’t want to be labeled, “holy rollers,” do we? I mean we can even read in the New Testament where Jesus comes down hard on that kind of lifestyle when He puts in their place those scribes and Pharisees. For instance Jesus says to them in Luke 11:42-44, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like the unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.”

The real issue that Peter is trying to impress upon the believers is that God is calling us to live lives of authentic holiness. Authentic holiness. Now let’s set the record straight. Is it possible to be holy like God? No way for God is totally and completely holy and, we’ll, I don’t know about you but I am not. Only God is holy. So let’s define what this word “holiness” means. “Holiness” means separateness and refers to anything separated from the common and dedicated to sacred use. Easton Illustrated Dictionary says this about holiness: “Holiness, in the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (“Rom. 6:19,22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; I Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (I Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23,24).

Eugene Peterson, professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia who wrote the New Testament in Contemporary English wrote the following that says it ever so well. “God calls us to be holy. After all, God is holy. (Most of us just assume that, but in the Bible they’re so awestruck that they keep saying it: I Peter 1:15-16; Romans 1:7; I Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:4). When we speak of the ‘Holy Spirit’, we’re saying that the Spirit is holy; if we are ‘indwelt’ and even ‘filled’ with the Spirit, doesn’t that mean holiness is in us? But what is holiness? Following the law? A saintly countenance? A quietude people can see? Churchly achievement? Excellent performance? Good deeds? Good PR? Being super nice to everyone? The holy life is simply living as someone who belongs to God and who lives by the vision of the Kingdom of God. Were it only so simple to be that way. For we, on our own, don’t have much to work with. We can’t rightly envision what a life of holiness is, and even if we could, we couldn’t get ourselves to be that way.

So, the Spirit brings us into the holiness of Jesus. (When I say that, I’m not talking about a holiness ‘like’ Jesus’ or in Jesus’ style. Thanks to the Spirit working through your faith, Jesus is really there with you and within you, giving you Jesus’ holiness.) (Eugene Peterson, Leadership Journal)

Peter outlines three things for the believer if we truly want to be “set apart” or separated for God and live a life of holiness. First, he tells us in verse 13 to PREPARE YOUR MINDS FOR ACTION. Another translation puts it this way, “gird up the loins of your mind.” Now that is an interesting way of putting it, isn’t it? That translation is a bit more vivid than our translation, and to be honest, I like the second one better. Why, because in the Middle East men would wear long flowing robes, known in Egypt as “galibayas” (sp) and you have seen me wear one the Sunday before Christmas when we have our special children’s service during worship where the children get dressed up in character as they re-tell the Christmas story.

Anyway, these robes would hinder the men who would wear them if they would be hurrying to get somewhere or be engaged in any strenuous, physical activity. So around their waists would be worn a broad belt or girdle and so, when any strenuous activity would occur they would shorten the long robe by pulling it up with the belt so that the shorter robe would give them freedom to move. You or I might put it the phrase “gird up the loins” as, “roll up your sleeves” or “take off your coat.” What Peter is challenging the believer to do is get your minds ready, be prepared mentally for a life of holiness.

Peter is challenging the believer to not be spiritually flabby. How would you describe your spiritual health? Year after year we continue to encourage people to come out to Sunday school, to join one of the study groups whether it is one of the men’s or women’s groups.

I would love to see more small groups springing up over the next several months-and this is a challenge to each of you to get involved in a small group study and if there isn’t one to fit your schedule or time let me know and we’ll work on meeting your needs. But for heaven’s sake, get involved in exercising your spiritual fitness so that we are spiritually fit mentally- don’t check your spiritual mind at the door and don’t use the excuse as I heard too many times, “I don’t know much about the Bible and so that is why I don’t attend a Sunday school class or small group.” How are we going to move from A to B if we don’t make a move at sometime in our lives? Authentic holiness begins with the proper preparation of our minds. How are we preparing our minds, spiritually? Is Sunday morning the only time or are we getting into the Word on a regular basis not only individually but with other believers? Is prayer a part of our daily lives so that we are praying not only for others and particular issues and circumstances but also for ourselves- to keep us focused on Jesus and what He wants us to be and do? That is why Peter says we should not only “prepare [our] minds” but we need to “discipline [our] selves.” Are we preparing our minds and are we disciplining ourselves? It is imperative that we do both, is it not? For if we are not growing in our faith we remain stagnant and eventually we become spiritually flabby and have an unexamined faith. Peter’s challenge for the believer is to be spiritually fit. Are we willing to work on your faith as much as on your golf game, or crocheting, or wood working, or watching sports or whatever our hobby might be that we love to do? And you’ll notice that after saying this Peter speaks in verse 13 about hope- “set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you.” Through faith in Christ we have a living hope and we should be enjoying the life of hope in Christ and if we are not then we need to do a spiritual check-up. Right? Right.

Second, Peter tells us to BE OBEDIENT. He says in verse 14, “Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.” If we are going to live a life of holiness then a lifestyle of active obedience is crucial. Obedience is at the core of the Christian lifestyle. Jesus says in Mark 8:34, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take you their cross and follow me.” Jesus said in John 14:21, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me;….” You see, when our wills are submitted to Christ He can work in us and do amazing and wonderful things. Complete obedience to God is crucial, and I know when I am not in obedience to Him it messes me up until I am put back in that right relationship with Him.

And finally, Peter tells us in verses 15-16, BE HOLY. Peter says, “Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” God, in Leviticus 19:2 instructed the Children of Israel to be holy, as He is holy and now Peter takes the same liberty and calls the Christian believer to be holy.

In that Leviticus passage the Hebrew word is gadosh, which denotes apartness, holiness, sacredness, or hallowedness. To be holy is to be separated from sin, pure, or hallowed. The Greek word that Peter uses is hagios, which also means to be without sin, blameless, or separated from uncleanness.

Peter is teaching the believer to become more and more like Jesus, to live as best we can as He lived. Will we fail? Yes, but we need a model, a goal to strive towards and becoming more like our Lord is what He requires. For His holiness should increasingly replace our old nature, our natural character of lust and an evil appetite. This is what is known as the new birth, it is a spiritual transformation. And friends this is something that we do not need to tell the world about, it will be obvious to others in the way we live. Dwight L. Moody once said, “It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining-they just shine.”

And Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Friends, we are all “called to be holy.” Amen.

Key Points

Introduction: Holiness is a subject most people avoid, even Christians

“Holier-than-thou” and “holy rollers”

God is calling us to live lives of __________ holiness

“Holiness” means ___________

Peter outlines 3 things for the believer if we want to be “set apart” for God and live a life of holiness

First, he tells us in vs. 13 to prepare you _______ for action

Another translation says, “gird up the loins of your _____”

How would you describe your spiritual health?

Second, Peter tells us to be __________ vs.14

Mark 8:34; John 14:21

Third, Peter tells us in verses 15-16, be _______

Leviticus19:2

The Hebrew word gadosh which denotes…

The Greek word Peter uses is hagios, which means…

Peter is teaching the believer to become more and more

like Jesus, to live as best we can as He lived

Conclusion: Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)