OUR GOD IS HOLY AND IS WITHIN US THEREFORE WE SHOULD BE HOLY

PROCLAMATION

“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.’ ”  1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Peter, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers who scattered after the crucifixion of Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2)  After introducing himself and greeting them, Peter offered praise to God for giving them a new living hope through the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-5)  He told them that they may suffer for a little while, but their joy was coming. (1 Peter 1:6-7)  Then he told them to be holy and keep their minds on things which are good.  He also told them to keep their hope in Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 1:13-14)  He told them, as it is written in The Old Testament, that God is holy so they should be holy. (Leviticus 11:44 and 1 Peter 1:16)  He told them to live out their time on the earth as foreigners in reverent fear of God because they were not of this world and their Father was in heaven. (1 Peter 1:17)  Then Peter reminded them of all that Christ had done for them. (1 Peter 1:18-21)  He told them that they were to love one another because they had been born again. (1 Peter 122-23)  He then again quoted the Scriptures said that people are like grass and their glory is like flowers.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but The Word of The Lord endures forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8 and 1 Peter 1:24-25)

 

APPLICATION

Peter quoted from The Old Testament Scriptures when he told them, and believers today, to “be holy” because our God is holy. (Leviticus 11:44, 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, and 20:26)  Today we need to be careful with our thoughts, our words, and our actions.  We should keep our minds on things which are holy, good, and Christ-like, and not on the evil desires that we had before we were saved. (1 Peter 1:13-14)  If we think right, there is a good chance that we will talk right and act right.  We need to be holy because He is within us and He is holy.  We ought to exhibit Christ-like behavior in good and bad times.  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)  We may be going through stormy times now, but we need to keep the faith because our day of rejoicing is coming. (1 Peter 1:6 and Revelation 21:4)