AS CHILDREN OF GOD WE ARE CALLED TO WALK IN HOLINESS – 1 Peter 1:15-16

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) 

SO WHAT IS HOLINESS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE? 

Holiness is simply ‘separation unto God.’ It involves walking with God and allowing Him total access to all areas of our lives. It is daily yielding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that our attitudes, behaviors, and responses line up with the living Word of God. 

The word translated “holiness” in the New Testament means to be “set apart.” In the Old Testament, holiness was generally connected with God’s perfection. 

HOW CAN WE BE SET APART? 

All people have sinned (Romans 3:23) and are imperfect. Our only option to be set apart is through the salvation offered through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9). When we believe in Jesus as Lord, He cleanses us from sin and makes us holy (1 John 1:7). 

First Peter 2:9 speaks of this new position as well: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” God calls us holy even though we still commit sins during this life. 

In addition to being “made” holy, we are called to live holy lives. First Peter 1:15 teaches, “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” The previous verse adds, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance” (v. 14). We are commanded to avoid the ways we practiced before becoming a Christian and live according to God’s ways. We can only do this by living by the power of God’s Spirit, following the principles found in His Word. 

As we seek to follow God’s will each day, we can increasingly become holy as we become more like Christ. Our goal should be to say like Paul, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). 

Regardless of the progress we make to become more holy in this life, we will never be perfect. We will still sin at times, as Paul wrote in Romans 7:18-19, “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” It will only be in heaven that all sin will be removed from our lives and we are made perfect. 

When we are saved, we are made holy and we are called to obey God and grow in holy living each day. Though we will never be perfect in this life, God can and will work in our lives to help us better live for Him. After this life, we can anticipate a perfect, eternal existence with God in which we no longer sin and are made perfectly holy, living in the presence of God forever. 

WHAT ARE THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HOLINESS? 

Holiness is frequently viewed as a huge unattainable feat. It is perceived as an attribute that describes God and Jesus, but not us. After all, “we are only humans.” But regardless of how we may feel, the believers in the New Testament were often referred to as holy, which means that holiness should be a central part of our lives today.

HOW CAN WE OBTAIN THE HOLINESS GOD EXPECTS OF US? 

Holiness involves purity in our thoughts, words, and deeds, this includes having a pure heart and meditating on the Word of God instead of allowing dark negative thoughts to overcome us. Speaking God’s words of faith into all situations instead of allowing our tongue to stir our life in the wrong direction; instead we should act like Jesus would when confronted with different circumstances. 

Holiness is putting God first and obeying Him even when we do not feel like it by casting off the flesh with all its deceitful desires and imitating God. 

ARE WE COMMANDED TO LIVE HOLY LIVES? 

YES – God has commanded us to be holy as the Word teaches us: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). 

WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF BEING OBEDIENT? 

As we obey God’s command, our fellowship with Him is strengthened, resulting in a deeper walk with Him as He manifests Himself to us more and more. But we need to rely on Him daily because our holiness comes from Him and not from our own strength. 

First and foremost, you are made positionally holy at the new birth by God because He has made you the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then, as a result of your position in Christ, you are enabled to walk in holiness through the grace of God by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells in you. 

Holiness is imputed to us by God because of Jesus Christ. Then, we are to respond by walking in holiness through the help of God. 

Therefore, as believers, we are both declared holy by God – positionally – and also called to live a lifestyle of holiness, which reflects our relationship with God. 

WHERE TO I FIND SCRIPTURE THAT INSTRUCT THESES COMMANDMENDS FROM GOD? 

“And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:21-22). 

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity”  (2 Timothy 1:8-9). 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:3-4). 

IN CONCLUSION 

Scriptures point out that God did it because of His own purpose and grace not based on our works or anything we may have done. 

God has made the believer in Christ Jesus holy and has given them the ability to walk in holiness. However, it will not manifest in anyone’s life until the person make a concrete decision to obey God and walk with Him in light of what He has already done for us. 

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also” (Colossians 3:12-13). 

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