“BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY”

Passage: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Key verse: 16

NIV

Be Holy

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,(A) set your hope(B) on the grace to be brought to you(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.(D) 14 As obedient(E) children, do not conform(F) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(G) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(H) 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a](I)

17 Since you call on a Father(J) who judges each person’s work(K) impartially,(L) live out your time as foreigners(M) here in reverent fear.(N) 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(O) from the empty way of life(P) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(Q) of Christ, a lamb(R) without blemish or defect.(S) 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,(T) but was revealed in these last times(U) for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God,(V) who raised him from the dead(W) and glorified him,(X) and so your faith and hope(Y) are in God.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, (A)preparing your minds for action,[a] and (B)being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, (C)do not be conformed to the passions (D)of your former ignorance, 15 but (E)as he who called you is holy, you also be holy (F)in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, (G)“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you (H)call on him as Father who (I)judges (J)impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves (K)with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you (L)were ransomed from (M)the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but (N)with the precious blood of Christ, like that of (O)a lamb (P)without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but (Q)was made manifest (R)in the last times for the sake of you 21 (S)who through him are believers in God, (T)who raised him from the dead and (U)gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 1:13 Greek girding up the loins of your mind
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

In light of this living hope we have, Paul warned us: Prepare for action, and be self-controlled. We are to set our hearts fully on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ until he is revealed. So, until that time arrives, how should we live? We live in a culture where people do as they please and with no regard for God’s words. But we ought to be different. As we wait for the Lord’s return, we should no longer conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance. It is because we have been called by God. His word says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”

To be holy means to be set apart. We have been set apart by God and bought not with the things of this world but with the precious blood of Christ, which has given us new life in God. Therefore, we should not grow comfortable while living in this world but as strangers on the earth with reverent fear before Him. May we never take for granted what Christ has done for us, but live, set apart for God, with our faith and hope fully anchored in Him alone.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the blood of Christ that removed my sin and gave me new life. While we live in this world, may we not conform to it, but live set apart for You alone.

One Word: Bought with the blood of Christ to be holy and set apart for God