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) 

 

OUR GOD IS HOLY AND 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 and on Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 1:13-16)  God is holy so they should be holy.

Application:

Here Peter quoted from The Old Testament Scriptures when he told them, and believers today, to “be holy” because our God is holy. (Leviticus 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, and 20:26)  We need to be careful with our thoughts.  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)  We may suffer for a while during this life but our day of rejoicing is coming. (Psalm 30:5, 1 Peter 1:6, and Revelation 21:4) 

EXALT THE LORD OUR GOD AND WORSHIP HIM

Proclamation:

“The King is mighty, He loves justice; You have established equity; … Exalt The Lord our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy.”  Psalm 99:4-5 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm of praise are thought to have been written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  He says that The Lord God reigns, He is great, He is awesome, He is holy, and He is mighty.  In the past, He led and protected His people, He spoke to them and answered their prayers.  He forgave their sins but He also punished them for their misdeeds. (Psalm 99:8)  They were encouraged to lift up His name and to bow down at His feet.

Application:

The Lord God is holy, and He is also great and powerful.  He is ruler over all the earth and He is worthy of our praise and worship.  He is The King of all kings, the creator of all things, and He rewards of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)  He answered them in the past when they called to Him, and He will answer us when we call upon Him.  The effectual fervent prayers of the righteous are productive. (James 5:16)

Speak Act And Live Holy

"Do not steal. Do not lie.  Do not deceive one another.  Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God.  I am The LORD."  Leviticus 19:11-12 (NIV)

The Lord God spoke to Moses and told him to tell the people to be holy because The Lord their God was holy. (Leviticus 19:1-2)  They were to deal and speak honestly with one another.  They were not to steal from, lie to, or deceive each other.  They were not to curse each other, or put stumbling blocks in front of each other.  They were to obey all of The Lord's decrees. (Leviticus 19:37) 

Believers today are to live by a different standard that the rest of the world.  As people of God we are to speak and behave in a Christ-like manner.  We are not to be dishonest with one another, nor are we to deceive one another.  The world will know that we are children of God by the way in which we treat one another. (John 13:35)  We are to speak, act, and live holy because The God that we serve is holy.  Let us pray that the mind which is in Christ Jesus would also be in us. (Philippians 2:5)