Be Holy for I Am Holy

I. Introduction: In the beginning of his first letter, Peter reminds the Christians that they have been born again according to the eternal plan of God, the precious blood of Jesus, and the proclamation of the word through the Holy Spirit. Since the Christian is a child of God, he must be holy like God.

II. 1 Peter 1:13-16

III. “Therefore” – since you have been saved according to God’s eternal plan

IV. “Gird up the loins of your mind”

V. Ancient clothing was often a flowing tunic secured in the middle by a belt

VI. “When men needed freedom to work or for running, they lifted the hem of the tunic and tucked it into the girdle to gain greater freedom of movement. It was called ‘girding up the loins,’ and the phrase became a metaphor for preparedness.”

VII. Note this was mental preparedness (of your mind).

VIII. Be sober

IX. 1 Peter 5:8 – be on guard against Satan

X. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 – Be ready for Jesus’ return

XI. Rest your hope upon Jesus

XII. “Rest fully” – depend upon God completely; Paul committed himself to God

XIII. Grace that awaits

XIV. Romans 8:17-18 – Glorified when God is revealed from heaven

XV. 1 John 3:2 – we will be like God

XVI. Matthew 24:45-51

XVII. Do not conform to former life of sin

XVIII. Ephesians 2:1-7 – Formerly children of disobedience made alive in Jesus

XIX. This was a life of ignorance about God and what life was all about

XX. Behave as obedient children

XXI. God is our Father whose children should respect and obey Him.

XXII. God is holy and His children, reflecting His image, must also be holy.

XXIII. Be Holy

XXIV. Definition of holy

XXV. Thayer’s: “(1) reverend, worthy of veneration” – hardly describes us; (1a) “[used] of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence,” (2) set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively His,” (3) sacrifices and offerings purified and set apart for God, (4) morally: pure, sinless, and upright.

XXVI. Vine’s: Separated from sin and consecrated to God; saints are called to cleanse themselves from sin and sanctifying themselves for God’s use

XXVII. We must eschew sin and embrace holiness; reflect godliness every day

XXVIII. Gower, Ralph. The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times. Moody Press: Chicago 1987. p.14.

XXIX. Thayer, Joseph Henry. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, MI 1962. pp. 6-7.

XXX. Vine, W.E. An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville 1984. p.556.

XXXI. Page PAGE 1 of NUMPAGES 1