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

Fearing that my title will convey the idea that I think myself 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 ever reminded of my human frailty and the kinks in my armor so, please do not take what I’m saying as speaking from a condescending tone.  It is 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.  Yes, I agree we need to move beyond the legalism of some groups who misguidedly make holiness largely 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 polls 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 give a head nod to the idea of the Bible calling us to be holy but it is only a mental assent, not practical application.

I am totally convinced that we, believers, must, as individuals and collectively recovery 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 we, who stand in the pulpit, fail to preach something it will become forgotten, discarded, and abandoned in principle if not practice.  Peter was simply relating 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 convey the idea of being 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 RELATIONSHIP to 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 then my holiness springs from my relationship with Him.  In 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 more than mere 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 “do’s” and “don’ts”.  He is asking us to become radical in totally giving our lives to Him.   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!