1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  NKJV

It is of concern that my title will convey the idea that I think of myself as spiritually superior.  I do not!  I feel as the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15, “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”  I am constantly reminded of my human frailty and the kinks in my armor, so please do not take my words as speaking in a condescending tone. 

I am making an impassioned plea for all of us who name the name of Christ to realize that God expects and demands something of us that sometimes finds itself other than the modern narrative of Christianity. 

Holiness should not be an antiquated word or objective in the hearts of believers.  I agree we need to move beyond the legalism of some groups that make holiness primarily external with a laundry list of things we are not and cannot do.  But we dare not allow it to become defined by modern private moralistic notions that are not always consistent with scripture. 

I have seen studies that indicate many who call themselves evangelicals are either in agreement or not disturbed by the modern ideas regarding divorce, spousal abuse, extramarital sex, pornography, materialism, and even some biases and prejudices.  Many will nod to the idea of the Bible calling us to be holy, but it is only a mental assent, not a practical application. 

I am convinced that believers must, as individuals and collectively, recover or rediscover the biblical idea and concept of holiness.  That concept covers private morality and every other aspect of life.  It is a message that needs to be restored to the message and mission of the church for believers. 

If those of us who stand in the pulpit, fail to preach something, it will be soon forgotten, discarded, and abandoned in principle and practice.  Peter was reiterating what God said to Israel in Leviticus 11:44, and God is a God who does not change.  He is holy and demands holiness in our lives in order to have a relationship with Him.  He cannot and will not tolerate sin.

The biblical terms “holy” and “holiness” [qadosh, hagios] carry an incredibly strong connotation to moral purity, but it could be argued those are secondary.  The primary implication and directive of God’s call for us to be Holy means to be Set Apart or Dedicated to God.

Remember, He said, “I will be your God, and you will be My people.”  [Leviticus 26:12; Hebrews 8:10] Even before the Bible addresses morality, it calls for our unique relationship with God, from which moral purity springs and as a basis to live, survive, and thrive.  Before God called us to be “good,” He called us to be “holy.”  I believe it is vital that we view Holiness through the prism of our relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Galatians 2:20,the apostle Paul declared, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”  Is Christ holy? Of course, He is, and if He lives in me, my holiness springs from my relationship with Him. 

Colossians 3:3, the apostle declares that we have been “seated with [God] in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”  The powerful word of the apostle John in 1 John 4:17 rings in my consciousness, “…as He is, so are we in this world.”  AS HE IS!  

How is He?  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He is the sinless Son of God.  He is eternal righteousness.  “So are we, IN THIS WORD…”  Not when we get to heaven but in this World!

Therefore, God is asking for more than mere displays of morality.  He is asking for our lives in totality.  That is a more genuine picture of holiness than simply focusing on the external and following a legalist list of “dos” and “don’t.”  He is asking us to become radical in giving Him our lives.  

To be a disciple of Jesus requires that we “die to self.”  Remember the words of Mark 8:35-36, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul?”

Being Holy as He is Holy is about more than moral purity. It is about complete surrender and walking the Light of His Word, Love, Person, and Power.  Only biblical holiness will be a safeguard against modernism and the modern concept of moralism and propel forward in the process of becoming the Church Jesus came to build.

God bless you as He guards and guides you through this wonderful day!