Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 11

 We as Children of God are Called to be Holy Part 2

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle Peter having first exhorted the new Jewish converts to Christ (and we today and all of every era and generation) not long after His resurrection from the dead and His ascension back to Heaven to fortify their minds and be sober, serious, and like a person in the natural who goes hours upon hours without sleep in order to guard their property, but in this case the Apostle Peter wanted them and wants us to remain wide awake spiritually to guard our inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩 from going back into our old life since we have now been resurrected from spiritual death by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:5), so Peter now declares these words to us, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16) (KJV). The English word 'obedient' is translated by the Greek word hupakoe meaning attentive hearkening, i.e. (by implication) compliance or submission:--obedience (Strongs.pdf). When we observe an earthly parent discipline their child or children 🧒 for an obvious act of defiance, disrespect, and disobedience we think to ourselves that there stands a loving parent, because when we see a parent who lets their child or children 🧒 go about doing whatever wild, wilful, wrong thing that comes into their minds we see a non-caring parent who cares not for their childrens 👶 welfare or the people in the community where they live. Good earthly parents are themselves flawed, yet they know how to reel in their children 🧒 when they go wrong for the child's sake and for the sake of other people in the community, remember what our Lord Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11) (NKJV). Our desires before Ephesians 2:5 were due to our seperation from God because of our sin and we were completely ignorant of the ways of God, the worship of God, and the will of God. Therefore, we had no capacity to please Him because we did not know Him, however, now the Word of God tells us this truth, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the Blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13) (NKJV).

Since we have been brought near to our Father in Heaven through Christ Blood, we must be as He is and that is Holy. In the Word of God the greatest of all the attributes of God is not His love, His mercy, His grace, but it is His Holiness. Throughout the Old Testament YAHWEH stressed to the children of Israel His Holiness must never be taken lightly, loosely, or lazily, therefore, we must desire above all else to fashion or conform ourselves (not to our old man 👨 or old woman 👩 who walked/lived according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air) to the will of God for us and His will for us is to be holy as He is Holy. Here is what was said and written by the Prophet Isaiah, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!'" (Isaiah 6:1-3) (NKJV). The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Thessalonian believers, "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness." (1 Thessalonians 4:7) (NKJV). The English word 'conversation' in 1 Peter 1:15 is translated by the Greek word anastrophe meaning conduct and behavior. Our lifestyle before Christ was wrought in these words as written to us by the Apostle John and we are now called out of and away from these things that are not a part of our Father in Heaven, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17) (NKJV). This is why there is no such thing as a Christian this or a Christian that, whatever this or that might refer to, for we are Christians period made anew by the Gospel of Grace and indwelt by God the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians these words speaking of everyone of us who have been truly begotten again or born again or born from above, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8-10) (NKJV). How do we find out what is acceptable to the Lord? We read and listen to what His word says and the Author of the Word of God (God the Holy Spirit) within us will teach us in the way of truth and righteousness. If someone says, 'I know God' or 'I belong to God' and then accepts, approves, and affirms what God says in His word is evil 😈, then they lie and the truth is not in them.

Here is what the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary says about Holy, "Biblical use of the term 'holy' has to do primarily with God's separating from the world that which He chooses to devote to Himself. As God's redemptive plan unfolded through the OT, the 'holy' became associated with the character of God's separated people conforming to His revealed law. When the time became ripe for the saving work of Jesus Christ, His redeemed people came to be known as saints (literally, 'holy ones'). The Cross made this possible by inaugurating the fulfillment of the preparatory OT teachings on the holy, opening the way for God's Holy Spirit to indwell His people.  God's chosen people, in separation from the world, are called to an ethical life in conformity to His revealed word. The command to His people is to 'be holy; for I am holy' (Lev. 11:44-45; cp. 19:2; 20:26). This demand is not abrogated with the coming of Christ but is to find its fulfillment in the Christian community (1 Cor. 7:34; Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:16). Christians are to perfect 'holiness in the fear of God' (2 Cor. 7:1NASB). If necessary, God will discipline the followers of Christ for their own good so they 'can share His holiness' (Heb. 12:10 HCSB). John the Baptist, however, predicts that Jesus would inaugurate a new era for God's people by baptizing them with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11). The atoning death of Jesus, by meeting the just demands of God's righteousness (Rom. 3:21-26), makes possible this intimate relationship of God and His people. Jesus, as the true Holy One, does not see decay in His death as the prophetic Scriptures foretold (Ps. 16:10; Acts 13:35). Thus His resurrection signifies the accomplishment of salvation and the inauguration of the age of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:4) in which the followers of Jesus are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). This enduring promise for believers in every generation (Acts 2:38-39) is the empowerment to make them holy: the Holy Spirit makes them so (Rom. 15:16)." Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of be ye holy for I am Holy, "Peter would stir his hearers to the emulation of the Divine holiness by that thought of the bond that unites Him and them. ‘He hath called you.’ In which word, I suppose, he includes the whole sum of the Divine operations which have resulted in the placing of each of his auditors within the circle of the Christian community as the subjects of Christ’s grace, and not only the one definite act to which the theologians attach the name of ‘calling.’ In the briefest possible way we may put the motive thus—the inspiration of imitation is to be found in the contemplation of the gifts of God. What He has said and done to me, calling me out of my darkness and alienation and lavishing the tokens of His love, the voice of His beseechings, the monitions of His Spirit, the message of His Son, the Incarnate Word, and invitation of God—all these things are included in His call. And all of them are the reasons why, bound by thankfulness, overcome by his forbearance, responding to His entreaties, and glued to Him by the strength of the hand that holds us, and the tenacity of His love, we should strive to ‘walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.’"

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…