Our HolinessI Peter: 1:13-21

February 3, 2013

1 Peter 1:13-21 (NRSV)

Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.  Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.  Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct;  for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

 If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 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.

He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Luke 12:48 (NRSV)

From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

We have been given the greatest gift so we have the greatest

obligation:

To be holy

“The greatest mission field in the world is not the foreign field or the home field; it is the mission field of the membership rolls of

American churches”Billy Graham

1 Peter 1:15 (NRSV)

…be holy yourselves in all your conduct…

Our Holiness

I. The Basis of our Holiness: God’s Grace1 Peter 1:13 (NRSV) … “Therefore”

1 Peter 1:18 (NRSV)

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,…

Legalism : I purchase my ransom, and God is indebted to me

Liberalism : God purchases my ransom no matter what I do, and God is indebted to me

Titus 2:11–12 (NRSV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,  training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly…

“Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no

importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one

thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

C.S. Lewis

Our Holiness

I. The Basis of our Holiness: God’s Grace

II. The Origination of our Holiness: God’s HolinessI Peter1:16: “You shall be holy, for I am holy”

Holy = “Kadash” means cut off, separate.

Psalm 50:21 (NRSV)

These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one just like yourself.

God is like:

o A FatheroA KingoA PriestoA Judge

oA ShepherdoA LamboA Lion

Exodus 15:11 (NRSV)

“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NRSV)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The Story of Job

Job 42:3–6 (NRSV)

I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Our Holiness

I. The Basis of our Holiness: God’s Grace

II. The Origination of our Holiness: God’s Holiness

III. The Outcome of God’s Holiness: Our Holiness

“Kadash” = cut off for normal usage to be used

exclusively for the purposes and pleasure of

the Lord

It means that everything belongs to God. That we

love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and

strength.

The Story of Abraham and IsaacGenesis 22: “Take your son

Isaac, your only son, whom you love – and go sacrifice him

to me!”

Hebrews 12:2 (NRSV)

who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross…