There is a call in the Scriptures to live a holy life but if we aren’t careful, we can take that straightforward command and head to one ditch or another. On the one hand, we can land in the “works righteousness” ditch and think that our salvation is based upon our living a holy life. In other words, it’s salvation by works. On the other hand, there are those who act like there is no law and go to the fact that all of God’s children have received the righteousness of Christ so as they say it doesn’t matter how we live. That is called “antinomianism” or “no law.” Obviously, ditch living is not the teaching of the Bible, rather the straight and narrow path is.
1 Peter 1:13–21 (ESV) — 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 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.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
As Peter begins this section with “therefore” we need to go back to understand what the therefore is there for. 😊 Looking back from 1Peter 1:1 through 1Peter 1:12 Peter has laid out blessing after blessing to those who are called by God to be His children concluding with the description of the prophets speaking the things which they had come to believe as taught in the Gospel that even the angels long to look into such matters. So, they have been blessed with God’s grace and understanding. Therefore….
Peter’s admonition is much like the apostle Paul’s in Romans 12:1-2, after he concludes his treatise on the great salvation that God has brought to both Jew and Gentile, he says…
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 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.
Peter is presenting straight forward thinking on how to live avoiding the ditches. He begins with a call to action, namely in preparing your mind, setting your hope, and applying your passions to the obedience of Christ. Obviously, he’s talking about discipline as the above does not just falls into place without an application of focus and determination. Notice then that Peter just slips into a very important statement in calling for conduct that is holy since God is holy. Remember that Peter has declared the great work of God in calling his readers and causing them to be born again to an inheritance. That inheritance is for His children who bear His name. Therefore, He calls His children to walk in holiness since He is holy.
Then it goes even farther as Peter quotes from Leviticus…
1 Peter 1:16 (ESV) — 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 20:7 (ESV) — 7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.
It’s interesting to note that the passage in Leviticus is surrounded by threats for lawbreakers and the call to come out and be different. In 1Peter we see the accumulation of benefits but the same call to be different, in particular, is to be holy as God is holy.
Is this optional? Not if we, as Peter goes on to remind us, understand that God is a righteous judge and has the right to judge His people, and understand that the Lord Jesus Christ has purchased away from slavery to sin and the captivation to the world by His precious blood, as He, the perfect spotless lamb of God was ordained to do for us.
To understand that this motivation is a blessing but to be motivated to give yourself to a holy life is both pleasing to God as it reflects ultimate gratitude. It’s just straight forward thinking to be disciplined to live a holy life which by the way leads us to see God working mightily in our lives. Not that we have earned anything but that He is working by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about what He has told us to do and as He has said….
Hebrews 12:14 (ESV) — 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
