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1 Peter 1:13-25
So yesterday we concluded that in Peter’s time and culture, and in this world today – our time and culture – how we respond to suffering as Christians because of spreading the Gospel, or even because we are Christians is a concern to Peter. And this should be something that we are aware of and are ready to address in a Christ-like way.
And right off the bat, Peter begins to talk about holiness. This life of holiness is not just relegated to living holy lives when everything is going well. Living this life of holiness is also about living holy lives when we are suffering – especially suffering for the cause of Christ – because we have a living hope. Let’s listen to Peter.
1 Peter 1:13-25 (NIV) Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 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 ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
It’s the command that Peter re-states from the Levitical law, handed down to the people of Israel from God through Moses: Be holy, because I am holy. And remember Peter’s underlying premise from back in verse 2 that this is all from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
So when this passage starts out with the therefore in verse 13, we need to loot at what it’s referring to. And this section is all based on the living hope we have from in believing in Christ Jesus to the point of salvation that this sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit can actually take place in the life of every Christian.
We see holiness of heart leading the Christian to holiness of life. Holiness of life then spills over in the world around the Christian. So there are some thoughts here.
First I realize there are those in many churches who believe that they will indeed sin in word thought and deed daily. I do not believe the Bible tells us that at all, and it’s simply because all the way back in the Old Testament, in Leviticus, God Himself gives this command repeatedly to be holy as He is holy.
So if God were to give a command, that He holds us accountable to, but that we are completely unable to attain, where is the just-ness of that command? So one must conclude that holiness of heart is indeed attainable. I would add especially in light of the Holy Spirit, that is the very Spirit of God coming to reside within the heart of every believer. It is indeed possible.
You take what Peter is saying here that it indeed is possible to live a life of holiness that is a byproduct of a heart of holiness in that we do have some part in this. Not that God just does all of it for us and we are without responsibility.
Peter tells us that we must first be of sober mind – we must do our part. While it is all of God’s ability to make us holy of heart, we must roll up our sleeves and respond to that divine ability, which He will bestow upon us and do the work within us.
We put our hope in Christ Jesus in the grace provided through faith in that Christ is the Messiah – the Savior of the world.
We then walk as obedient children – we do not run ahead, lag behind, run off to the side. We are attentive to the Holy Spirit, and the work He wants to accomplish in our lives – which by the way prepares us to minister to others. The preparation in our lives today is for ministry – for you to do ministry tomorrow.
Then we are to be holy as God Himself is holy. And probably one of the best thoughts I have heard regarding this is an illustration about ocean water. Just like a single cup of water from the ocean shares the same properties of the ocean, or if you would like something more contemporary, how a smart phone would keep time matching the atomic clock, our finite beings can indeed be in step with the Spirit and holiness of God.
So today, and everyday when we are living our lives we need to ask ourselves, are we walking in step with the Holy Spirit? Are we inviting Christ through the Holy Spirit to invade our souls that we indeed would be the reflection of Him?