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14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16

 

Being a Christian goes far beyond saying a simple prayer or being a member of an organized religious group. The Bible tells us that you and I should be holy. What does that look like in real life?

In yesterday’s blog, we mentioned that breaking one part of the law makes us guilty of shattering all of it. Now let me give you one last thought to consider.

God Demands His People to be Holy

Because God is holy, He demands that His people live in a way that exudes holiness.

In this part of 1 Peter, the writer returns to the basic teachings of salvation, i.e., true salvation results in a life of obedience to God. In light of this truth, Peter challenges his readers with a negative-positive push.

First, he tells them not to be conformed (syschēmatizō, fashion one’s self according to) to the passions (epithymia, longing for what is forbidden) of their former ignorance (agnoia, moral blindness). He points out that they should no longer be identified with the corrupt desires that dominated their lives before they knew Christ. In other words, they should control their desires rather than be controlled by them.

Second, Peter points his readers back to the nature of God, whom he describes as the “holy” God who called them. The root of the Greek word used is a noun that literally means “an awful thing.” The adjective (hagios) means “most holy thing.” It describes the moral superiority of God or the ceremonial acceptability of people. By definition, it is separate from common conditions or use. 

By saying so, Peter declares that God is separate from all, morally perfect, and worthy of honor. Since God is the Father of believers, Peter tells his readers to be like God in holiness.

God is unique. There is none like Him. He is morally excellent. He is perfectly holy. Because He had called people in His name, He wanted them to reflect His nature. That same expectation is passed on to us; we should be holy.

If you are a disciple of Christ, you know how important it is to pursue holiness. You are no longer identified with your old nature and the evil system of this world. As such, calling God your “Father” is more than just pronouncing words; it is intentionally pursuing His righteousness every moment of your life. You may or may not win every time, but you keep trying anyway.

How are you doing in this area?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash