A Call to Holy Living

KEY VERSE: “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” —I Peter 1:15

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Peter 1:13-25

IN THE OPENING words of this epistle written by Peter to his brethren in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, he reminded them that they were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” After telling them of their great blessing, honor, and salvation, he exhorted them to holy living.

The word, holy (Greek, hagios) , means ‘separate’ or ‘set apart’. Peter cited Leviticus 11:44: “I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves and ye shall be holy, for I am holy.” Here the Hebrew word for holy (qadosh) has the identical meaning to hagios. (Young’s Concordance) As God is separate and distinct from this present sinful world, so also his people are likewise to be separated and set apart.

We set ourselves apart from the world when we make a complete consecration of our lives to God to strive to know and do his holy will. Peter exhorts us, “Like obedient children, do not be conformed to desires you formerly had in ignorance. … You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.”—I Pet. 1:14, 18,19, Revised Standard Version

By alluding to the unblemished lamb selected at the time of the first Passover, Peter reminds us of that night in Egypt when the firstborn of Israel were in jeopardy of their lives. They were saved by the “blood of the lamb,” which pictured how “the precious blood of Christ” saves us. The firstborn in Israel were set apart and belonged to God. (Exod. 13:2) Therefore “the church of the firstborn which are written in heaven” belong to God, and are set apart as he is from all evil, sin, and unrighteousness.—Heb. 12:23

The ransom merit of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to come to God and to consecrate our lives to him. This was in Peter’s mind when he wrote, “Through him [Jesus] you have come to trust in God, who raised him [Jesus] from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.” (I Pet. 1:21, RSV) We set ourselves apart by making a consecration to him. In turn, God sets us apart by “sanctification of the Spirit.” This means he blesses us by giving us his Holy Spirit, holy influence, so that we can learn to be like him. The Holy Spirit guides us to a revelation of God’s character—his justice, wisdom, love, and power—through a study of his Word.

This reaction is described by Peter: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.” (vs. 22, New International Version) We show our love for God by demonstrating our genuine love for one another. Since God is love, we can demonstrate holy living best by the interrelationships we have in the family of God. Our love must be very broad—it must extend to all with whom we deal, including our enemies.

Righteous principles found in God’s Word now must form the basis of our new life. They are principles which will endure forever. If we incorporate them into our lives, making them an integral part of our very being, we will endure forever, even as God endures forever. Peter fittingly concluded, “The Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.”—vs. 25

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