Today you should read: 1 Peter 1:13-25
Holiness is one of the most misunderstood and least cared about things on this earth and sadly sometimes, the church. As verse 14 indicates we are ignorant to holiness because we are not holy, but sinful and following the desires we have because of that sin.
This includes:
- Sins of Thought
- Sins of Attitude
- Sins of Speech
- Sins of Relationships
- Sins of Commission (sin we do to God & others)
- Sins of Omission (not doing what God wants us to do)
- Sins of Self-Rule & Self-Reliance
But we should care about holiness. Why? Because God is holy and he wants to make us holy. Holiness is the attribute of God that is mentioned most often in the Bible. The book that mentions it the most is Leviticus, where it says four different times “You shall be Holy because I am Holy,” which is what Peter repeats in this chapter.
So how does holiness become practical if we’re told to be holy as God is holy?
- In Conduct (v. 15)
Your conduct is how you live, what you value, your personal integrity & morals. It’s important to not turn this into legalism. Legalism says, “Pursue holiness to make God happy with you.” The Gospel says, “Pursue holiness because God is happy with you.” But our conduct does display holiness and our righteous lives will point others to a Holy God who’s imputed His holiness on us through Christ.
- In Holy Fear (v. 17)
We have a holy, loving father that disciplines us and will use fear to protect us.
“A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I do not mean the fear of a slave, who only works because he is afraid of punishment and would be idle if he did not dread discovery. I mean rather the fear of a child, who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his father’s face, because he loves him.” -J.C. Ryle
But remember, as verses 20-21 say, Jesus is the only one who reveals holiness to us.
Now you are believers in God because our faith & hope is in Jesus. and we are given His Glory, His Resurrection—these are all common themes here. This is when we will be raised in Heaven which is pure, 100% holiness.
We must be holy, because without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven.
Heaven is a never ending holy Sabbath. Where the inhabitants are singing day and night “holy, holy holy, Lord God Almighty”
People say, “I hope to go to heaven,” but don’t know what they are saying. Our hearts must be somewhat in tune with heaven and it’s holiness.
Jesus makes us HOLY in the Gospel (vs. 18-19)
See, ultimately you can’t obtain holiness, what you need to be with God, in trying to live a moral, good life, just like you can’t obtain holiness by just fearing God.
The only way that moral life can transform into a holy life and fearing God turns into a Holy fear of a loving, protecting Father is by obtaining holiness through Jesus Christ. Jesus ransomed your sinful life with his perfect, holy precious blood.
He shed this blood on the cross to impute His holiness to you so you can’t but help to live a holy righteous life. Jesus sacrificed and broke His perfect holy body for you to have a holy fear of a loving Father who disciplines and protects us for our own good.
Holiness comes through the gospel, the good news that unholy sinners become holy in repentance & faith.
By: Erik Koliser — West Campus Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 