As he who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. [1 Peter 1:15-16]
The word 'holy' is not popular in our postmodern world. It would surprise me if there is a rush to read this particular blog - especially on social media. We like to be successful or rich or popular or trendy or tolerant or respectable or whatever but to be holy is not 'cool.' This is going against the grain. It is counter-cultural. But as Christians we are called to be just that.
This call to holiness seems an impossible standard. The bar is set very high at God's standard of holiness. God is absolutely and completely holy. God is light (speaking of holiness) and in Him there is no darkness (speaking of sin).
These verses contain a very challenging phrase. We are called to be 'holy in all our conduct.' If we imagine our lives as a home, it is not good enough to decorate the public rooms but leave a cupboard in a filthy, disgusting condition. I have a tendency to shove things out of sight when I am cleaning my garage workshop which is usually pretty untidy with lots of sawdust and debris on the floor and on the workbench. I don't take visitors to see my garage although I have some neighbours who visit me when they are needing help with a DIY task and I can often find the particular screw or bolt or fitting somewhere in the dark recesses of this garage. God wants every room in the house of my life to be holy. There have not to be dark cupboards where we hide our sins.
Notice, too, that Peter places a great deal of emphasis on our thoughts. This part of the chapter begins with a verse which might raise a few eyebrows if it is quoted in the King James Version.
Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind , be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 1:13 KJV]
The English Standard Version translates this as follows:
Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded. [1 Peter 1:14a ESV]
The word translated as 'girding up' is a metaphor. It refers to the long garments which were worn in Bible times and they were not good for running or fast walking. They hampered the individual's movement. This metaphor or word picture comes from the book of Exodus when the Israelites were getting ready to leave the land of Egypt where they had been held in slavery for 400 years. God had miraculously delivered them from the clutches of Pharaoh and they were ready to leave. Before they left, they were to eat the Passover lamb which they had killed and painted the blood on the lintol and the doorposts of their homes. This was hugely significant because it pointed forward to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. They were given instructions on how they were to eat this lamb. Again, I am going to use the King James Version because it uses the same literal imagery which we find in 1 Peter.
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. [Exodus 12:11 KJV]
The nation of Israel are turning their back on Egypt and its gods, its customs and its cruelty. They are eager to go to the promised land. In the same way, Peter is saying that the Christian should be alert and eager in expectation of the Lord's coming. We should also be sober-minded which comes from a Greek word which means free from the influence of intoxicants. It implies vigilance and watchfulness. It is interesting that Peter focuses on the importance of our thoughts and emotions in our drive for holiness. We are to keep us free from the intoxicants of the world. I am not just speaking of alcohol and drugs. The world wants to lull us into a false set of values. If we are going to live holy lives, we need to let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and minds. There are many intoxicants which can clutter the mind and drive out desires for holiness.
Negative thoughts such as fear and anxiety can destroy our faith and hope. There are 134 Bible verses which instruct us to "Fear not" (28 of these are in the New Testament and 14 in the Gospels). Anxiety associated with materialism and wealth is also an obstacle to holy living.
Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. [Matthew 6:25 ESV]
Sins can clutter the mind and impede action. Here are some verses which are relevant to this line of thought.
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. [Colossians 3:8 ESV].
Notice that Paul encourages us to take action to put these sins away. We need the help of the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification (becoming more holy and more like Christ).
[12] Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [Colossians 3:12-13 ESV]
These verses deal with the very relevant issues relating to how we treat each other in church fellowship, especially tackling harbouring grudges.
We must also deal with jealousy and strife as Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians.
for you are still in the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way. [1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV].
Pride can hold us back and needs to be confronted as we seek to allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us.
[6] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. [1 Timothy 3:6 ESV].
In its context, Paul is referring to the qualifications for elders but there is the potential for pride and conceit affects to destroy the spiritual life of every believer.
To return to Peter's letter, we have a powerful incentive to holy living.
... set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 1:13 ESV]
One Bible scholar (Wuest) expands the phrase 'set your hope fully' as follows: 'perfectly, wholly and unchangeably, without doubt and despondency'.
This same scholar has a very helpful rendering of 1 Peter 1:13 which I have already quoted in the King James Version.
Wherefore, having put out of the way once for all everything that would impede the free action of your mind, be calm and collected in spirit. [1 Peter 1:13 ESV].
This is a real personal challenge - I need to be 'calm and collected in spirit.' Peter himself was prone to impulsive erratic behaviour as described in the Gospels. The Holy Spirit can change our conduct if we consciously allow him access to every part of our lives.
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