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Monthly Archives: March 2025

Be Holy

We’re continuing on our walk through 1 Peter. He’s bringing us along the path of holiness. After telling us how to prepare our thinking, Peter takes us to the bottom line.

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

To be “holy” means to be “set apart.” It means that we see ourselves as reserved exclusively for God’s use. I’m no longer a part of a crowd, headed for destruction. Through Christ, I’ve been singled out to serve the Lord.

Notice that it’s not about what we do. We’re not called to simply do holy things. We’re called to BE holy.

It’s not enough for me to look holy. I must have a lifestyle of holiness to the Lord.

The problem with the Pharisees of Jesus’ day was that they only wanted to appear holy in order to impress those around them.

That can’t be our way of living. This is Peter’s whole reason for writing. He continues.

Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

1 Peter 1:17 NIV

We need to look at this verse closely. First of all, Peter makes an assumption. He’s assuming that the people he’s addressing are calling out to God. So, he’s not talking to carnal Christians.

We serve God the Father. So, we need to understand His way of doing things. The literal translation of this verse tells us that the Father does not judge our work on face value or what it appears to be.

Like I said earlier, it’s not enough just to appear holy. You can do holy looking works, but God isn’t fooled by them. He knows whether or not your heart belongs to Him.

Knowing this should bring us to the next level in our Christian walk. That’s the fear of the Lord. According to Peter, knowing how the Father judges…in fear we should spend the rest of our time as strangers.

This is another thing we miss sometimes. There are many who try to soften God’s image. Even in this translation they say reverent fear. Some explain the fear of the Lord as a holy respect.

God is big enough that He doesn’t need your defense. You don’t need to tone down the words He uses.

The word for fear in this verse is the Greek word phobo. That’s where we get our word phobia. It literally means fear. But we do need to understand the object of the fear God is looking for.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:7 NIV

Noah is a good example of this. Because of his faith – he believed what God said – he was afraid of what would happen if he ignored God’s warning. He was not afraid of God. I’m sure he loved God for warning him of the future.

It’s like someone who buys a new, expensive sports car. He may drive slowly and carefully. But it’s not because he’s afraid to drive, but afraid he may lose what he has invested in because of recklessness.

That’s what it’s about for us. We’re not to be afraid of God. He’s not out to get us. But we need to be afraid of doing something to ruin the relationship we have with Him.

Question: How do you see the fear of the Lord working in your life?

The Path to Holiness

05 Mar

As we’ve been going through Peter’s first letter, we see a clear path that leads us to the walk of holiness. He has taken us step by step through the process. It’s what I’ve talked about for the last few posts.

First, we needed start the renewal of our minds by the Word of God. Then, we must become spiritually sober. After that, we can take up an eternal perspective.

At this point we’re beginning to hear from the Holy Spirit. Now, the final piece is to do what we’re hearing from the Lord.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

1 Peter 1:14 NIV

We need to understand that this word, obedient, literally means to hear attentively. So Peter is addressing people who want to see God at work in their lives. They are closely listening for the Lord’s instructions to them.

Also, don’t forget that he calls them children who hear attentively. At this stage in their spiritual development, they’re not quite mature yet. But they’re headed in the right direction.

Peter now gives an exhortation to those who want to grow spiritually. If you’re trying to hear and obey God’s voice, then you must stop conforming to your old lifestyle.

The word picture speaks of external conditions. It’s like the apostle is telling us to stop wearing the uniform of our old life before Christ. We need to stop running after the things we used to long for when we didn’t know what we know now. Basically, we must walk in what we know.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about the world. How they’re operating in ignorance. They don’t understand that their longing will never be fulfilled.

The more they run after these things, the less they’re satisfied. That’s the effect of pursuing the temporary.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

Ephesians 4:20-21 NIV

We don’t serve Christ like the world lives. Paul says the same as Peter. The truth of God’s Word is the foundation.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

First we have to be taught by the Word. Then we can put off the old self. We can stop conforming to the old lifestyle.

He also tells us to renew our minds. That includes beginning to look to the eternal things and spiritual issues.

Then we can walk in the new self. That’s what will lead us to true holiness and righteousness. Which also means we are now acceptable for his service.

That’s the difference between simply being called versus being chosen for the Lord’s work.

Our goal is to be holy. It must be done the Lord’s way. Setting ourselves apart for His use. He’s done His part – it’s time for us to do ours.

Question: How far along the path to holiness do you see yourself?

A Future Perspective

03 Mar

As we go through the book of 1 Peter, we’re now at verse 13. There are a few good points here, so I have taken the last couple of posts to talk about them. Today’s post will tackle the final one from this verse.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:13 NIV

The third section of this verse tells us to expect the grace of His return. That tells me that we need a future oriented mindset. We must learn to look to the eternal.

This means that we must stop seeing only the temporary – the things which are passing away. We can’t be distracted by the situations that come and go. Our focus has to be on what will be important 1,000,000 years from today.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

Because we died with Christ, we’ve also been raised with Him. That’s the basis of an overcoming life. Sin doesn’t have the hold on us that it used to have.

We now have a higher calling. We kill off the desires of the world in order to seek the eternal.

That’s where we need to focus our attention. Paul says this in two ways. He tells us, set your hearts and set your minds on things above. Those phrases literally mean to diligently seek and obsess on things above, respectively. Our attitude should reflect an upward vision.

This is a very important truth. We receive from God when we seek the eternal. The writer of the book of Hebrews understood this.

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

Hebrews 11:14-15 NIV

Eternally minded people search for, crave, demand a hometown. That’s why Jesus told us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We’re not looking for the temporary high that the world offers us.

Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:16 NIV

The final result of this attitude is that God is not ashamed to be called their God. That’s interesting. Are there times when God is ashamed to be called someone’s God? I think this verse implies that He could be.

Before we pick up this eternally minded attitude, we’re only accomplishing what a man can do. Is God satisfied with what is merely possible even without His help? Of course not. He expects us to do a God sized work.

When that happens; the world can see His glory. God’s people need to stop chasing the temporary pleasures of the world and focus in on the eternal glory of God. Let Him accomplish what He desires in you.

Question: How do you stay eternally focused?

The Spirit and the Word

Monthly Archives: March 2025

Be Holy

The Path to Holiness

A Future Perspective

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