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BE HOLY. I Peter 1:13-16. 01/05/25. #5.
13 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.”
1. Choice
a. Once we receive Christ, we have the power to live
holy lives
a1. Holy living is not automatic, for sin is in us
a2. Choosing to be holy is an act of the will
b. No one can force another to be holy and being in Christ does not guarantee holy living
c. No excuses are adequate not to be holy
d. Peter gives five commands, which are actually two commands and three explanatory participles
a1. Gird the loins of your mind
a2. Be sober
a3. Rest in your hope in Christ
a4. Be obedient
a5. Be holy
e. Each command rests on choosing to obey it
a1. Not a matter of feelings, reasoning, opinion, or working up desire
a2. We choose to obey for the love of the Lord and his sacrifice for us
f. Choice requires the removal and repudiation of selfish desires and impulses
a1. To say, “I can’t do it” is to say “I won’t do it” or “I refuse to do it”
a2. Love for Christ must be stronger than love for what you desire or your habits
2. The 5 commands for Christians
a. Gird up your mind = to focus, to put your mind on the right things (PHP. 4:4-9)
b. Be sober – to think clearly (Romans 12:1-3)
a1. Clear-minded thought requires rejecting fleshly or worldly impulses
a2. Christ died for us; we owe ALL to him; he is worthy of our entire devotion
c. Rest in the hope given by the grace of God through the revelation of Jesus Christ – it is the hope of the promises of Jesus Christ which energizes, motivates, and encourages believers to keep going
a1. Peter listed the promises given to us in Christ that inspires us to serve under trials
a2. True hope provides unwavering commitment, determination, and perseverance
d. Be obedient – to comply with the Lord’s Word and will despite opposition, fleshly impulses, and cost
a1. Obeying the Word of God keeps us truthful, faithful, determined, and humble
a2. Obedience keeps marriages together, God’s work continuing, and testimonies pure
e. Be holy – to be separate from world and sin unto God
a1. A shunning of fleshly desires and worldly activity and enticements
a2. A focus on righteousness in Word and deed
3. A desire for holiness
a. One cannot desire righteousness and be fascinated by evil and sordid things at the same time
b. We must ask if we really desire to be holy, totally separated unto God in our focus and desires
c. Peter quotes from Leviticus 11
a1. Just as the Jews were to be a separate people, so are Christians
a2. The unsaved should be able to see and hear righteousness in us in humility, love, grace, faith, and dedication
d. Though believers do not live in isolation, our choices of entertainment, activities, priorities, expenditures, and time usage speaks volumes
e. The distraction trap is easy to fall into and can take us away from our Bibles, callings, and the Lord
Key Passage: Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your [a]gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.