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Scripture Reading:  1 Peter 1:13-19

"Be Holy, For I Am Holy"

 

Intro.

1.   Holiness of God is our compelling reason to be holy, 1 Pet 1:13-16.

2.  What is holiness? What defines it? How do we become and remain holy before God?

 

I.  WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HOLY?

  -Holiness (noun): “signifies (a) separation to God, 1 Co 1:30; 2 Th 2:13; 1 Pe 1:2; (b) the resultant state, the conduct befitting those so separated, 1 Th 4:3, 1 Th 4:4, 1Th 4:7” (Vine).

  -Holy (adj.): “separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred” (Vine).

 

  A.  The Holiness of God:

    1.  His absoluteness and majesty (general sense of separation between the Creator and His creation), Exo 3:5; Psa 99:1-5, 9.

    2.  His ethical holiness (those moral qualities of righteousness and love in which true holiness consists, and before which men are convicted as sinners), Isa 6:1, 3-5.

  B.  The Holiness of Israel, Exo 19:5-6; 20:2; Lev 11:44.

    1.  Because their God was holy, they were to be holy, Lev 19:2.

    2.  Separated from the nations and from defilement:

      a.  Ceremonial defilement, Lev 11:44-47.

      b.  Moral defilement, Lev 20:7-10.

  C.  The Holiness of the Christian (1 Ths 4:3):

    1.  The holiness of conversion, 1 Pet 2:9-10 (separation from sin).

      -The dilemma of sinners approaching the holy God is solved in the reconciliation of the blood of the cross, Col 1:19-22 (1 Pet 1:18-21).

    2.  The holiness of character, Eph 4:20-24 (separation of the mind).

    3.  The holiness of conduct, 1 Pet 1:15 (separation of our conduct).

 

PART 2

 

II.  HOLINESS BEGINS IN THE MIND, 1 Pet 1:13; Rom 12:2 (1).

  A.  Must Gird Up the Loins of Your Mind, 1 Pet 1:13. (Cinch your belt)

    1.  Metaph., to be prepared, ready mind; unimpeded, cf. Jas 1:8.

    2.  Are you ready in your mind to be holy? (Acts 17:11)

  B.  Must Rest Your Hope on the Grace to be Received at the Lord’s Coming, 1 Pet 1:13.

    1.  Our hope must be on things eternal, not material.

    2.  So, we do not “lose heart”, but remain obedient, 2 Cor 4:16-18.

  C.  Must Not Conform our Thinking to the Former Lusts, 1 Pet 1:14.

    1.  Mind of Christ is contrasted with mind of the world, 1 Pet 4:1-2.

    2.  Ignorant, blind and hardened, Eph 4:17-18.

    3.  Futile thinking, foolish, lustful hearts, vile passions, reprobate mind and evil-mindedness, Rom 1:21-22, 24-25, 26, 28, 29.

 

III. HOLINESS MUST PREVAIL IN OUR CONDUCT, 1 Pet 1:14-16.

  A.  Obedience Harmonizes with Holiness, 1 Pet 1:14.

    1.  As children obey their parents, we obey our Father, who is holy.

    2.  In obedience the mind is submissive to God, resulting in holy (not ignorant) conduct.

  B.  Must Become (Cause to be) Holy, 1 Pet 1:15.

    1.  Decision of the will that is reflected in our daily lives.

    2.  A living sacrifice that is holy, Rom 12:1.

  C.  Come out and be Separate; Touch nothing Unclean, 2 Cor 6:14-18.

    1.  Our holiness is affected – either strengthened or compromised – by what we join up with (have fellowship with).

    2.  Holy by our moral choices and conduct, 6:14.

      a.  Modest clothing, 1 Tim 2:9-10 (Full complement that conceals rather than reveals, advances holiness and godliness, not provocation of the flesh).

      b.  Sexual purity, Heb 13:4 (pre-marital, extramarital, etc.).

      c.  Free of intoxicants, Eph 5:18 (1 Pet 4:3).

      d.  Free of covetousness, Col 3:5-6.

    3.  Holy by walking in the light (truth), 6:14; Jno 8:12; 1 Jno 1:5-8.

    4.  Holy by submitting to Christ’s authority, 6:15 (Col 3:17).

    5.  Holy by genuine faith, 6:15; cf. 1 Pet 1:17.

 

Conclusion

1.  Holy God dwells on high with the humble in heart, Isa 57:15.

2.  God chose to save us in Christ in order for us to be holy and without blame before Him, Eph 1:4.

3.  We bear the responsibility of reverent holiness, knowing our conduct will be judged, 1 Pet 1:17.