by Cindy Geyer
The Living Word: ...just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy as I am holy'.” I Peter 1: 15-16
The Word in Motion: To be Holy as He is holy. How is that possible and what does that mean exactly? First we have to understand that He is a holy God. He is pure and without sin. To say He is holy is to say He can do no wrong. He can’t lie and He can’t fail. All the aspects of who God is flows through His purity. He is purely faithful, pure love, pure peace, and pure grace, all of them without fault. His character pours out of His holiness . All that he is, is holiness. In other words, if the Bible says He is good - THAT is holiness; if it says He is love - THAT is holiness; if it says He is peace - THAT is holiness.
But, because of His holiness, our sinful nature can not dwell in His presence. All there is, is separation from Him and that is death. The penalty for sin is death and that had to be paid, for us to be in His presence. But in ourselves we could not afford the price. Yet, in Gods perfect grace had a plan for us. He loved us so much that from the very foundation of all His creation He provided a way: a sacrifice so perfect that it would pay the penalty for sin once and for all. He sent his only Son to be that sacrifice. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His patience He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. (Romans 3:25) Jesus paid the debt with His life, on our behalf. He did this because he loved us so much and desired to have a personal relationship with us. When we accept the gift of His sacrifice we have full access to His presence. Forgiven and set free. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. (Romans 4:7-8) The price has been paid.
So why and how are we to be holy as He is holy?
As his people we ought to be like our God. Complete holiness should be the desire and duty of every Christian. Impossible you say! Yes, in our own strength it is. But He sent His only Son not only as the sacrifice for sin, but also as our example and encouragement to be holy as He is holy.
The consideration of His holiness and of His great love for us should cause us to seek, no hunger, after the highest degree of holiness we can attain. It is a place where we desire: “to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) It is a place where our love for Him drives us to be like Him. It is a desire to be holy in all we do; to be holy as He is holy, out of reverence, honor, and love for Him.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, “Be holy as I am holy”. (I Peter 1:13-16)
The Word in Motion: To be Holy as He is holy. How is that possible and what does that mean exactly? First we have to understand that He is a holy God. He is pure and without sin. To say He is holy is to say He can do no wrong. He can’t lie and He can’t fail. All the aspects of who God is flows through His purity. He is purely faithful, pure love, pure peace, and pure grace, all of them without fault. His character pours out of His holiness . All that he is, is holiness. In other words, if the Bible says He is good - THAT is holiness; if it says He is love - THAT is holiness; if it says He is peace - THAT is holiness.
But, because of His holiness, our sinful nature can not dwell in His presence. All there is, is separation from Him and that is death. The penalty for sin is death and that had to be paid, for us to be in His presence. But in ourselves we could not afford the price. Yet, in Gods perfect grace had a plan for us. He loved us so much that from the very foundation of all His creation He provided a way: a sacrifice so perfect that it would pay the penalty for sin once and for all. He sent his only Son to be that sacrifice. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His patience He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. (Romans 3:25) Jesus paid the debt with His life, on our behalf. He did this because he loved us so much and desired to have a personal relationship with us. When we accept the gift of His sacrifice we have full access to His presence. Forgiven and set free. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. (Romans 4:7-8) The price has been paid.
So why and how are we to be holy as He is holy?
As his people we ought to be like our God. Complete holiness should be the desire and duty of every Christian. Impossible you say! Yes, in our own strength it is. But He sent His only Son not only as the sacrifice for sin, but also as our example and encouragement to be holy as He is holy.
The consideration of His holiness and of His great love for us should cause us to seek, no hunger, after the highest degree of holiness we can attain. It is a place where we desire: “to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) It is a place where our love for Him drives us to be like Him. It is a desire to be holy in all we do; to be holy as He is holy, out of reverence, honor, and love for Him.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, “Be holy as I am holy”. (I Peter 1:13-16)
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