'How To'
Instructions in Righteousness
Lesson 40: Be holy for God is holy.
Key verse:
1 Peter 1:15-16
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.
[But as he which hath called you is holy]
The meaning here is, that the model or example in accordance with which
they were to frame their lives, should be the character of that God who
had called them into his kingdom. They were to be like him.
[So be ye holy in all manner of conversation] In all your conduct. The meaning is, that since God is holy, and we profess to be his followers, we also ought to be holy.
[Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
holy]
Lev 11:44.
This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with
equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God.
The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people,
and that as his people they ought to be like their God. Compare
Mic 4:5. It is a great
truth, that people everywhere will imitate the God whom they worship.
They will form their character in accordance with his. They will regard
what he does as right. They will attempt to rise no higher in virtue
than the God whom they adore, and they will practice freely what he is
supposed to do or approve. Hence, by knowing what are the
characteristics of the gods which are worshipped by any people, we may
form a correct estimate of the character of the people themselves; and,
hence, as the God who is the object of the Christian's worship is
perfectly holy, the character of His worshipers should also be holy. And
hence, also, we may see that the tendency of true religion is to make
people pure. As the worship of the impure gods of the pagan moulds the
character of the worshippers into their image, so the worship of Yahweh
moulds the character of His professed friends into His image, and they
become like him.
–Barnes
[But as he which hath called you]
Heathenism scarcely produced a god whose example was not the most
abominable; their greatest gods, especially, were paragons of impurity;
none of their philosophers could propose the objects of their adoration
as objects of imitation. Here Christianity has an infinite advantage
over paganism. God is holy, and he calls upon all who believe in him to
imitate his holiness; and the reason why they should be holy is, that
God who has called them is holy, 1 Peter 1:15.
–Clarke
As he which hath called you is holy. Christ's imminent return, the believer's precious hope, also is a strong incentive to holiness (1 John 3:3). For Christ is holy. Recall Peter's embarrassing realization of his own sinfulness and truancy when suddenly confronted by the risen Christ while fishing on the Sea of Galilee one morning (John 21:7). This was reminiscent of a similar realization when he had first been called by the Lord (Luke 5:8). Conversation. Better, deportment, manner of life. Be ye holy. This was a commandment very well known to all who knew the Pentateuch (Lev 11:44; 19:2; 20:7; cf. Matt 5:48). –Wycliffe
Conversation, [anastrofee (NT:391)] - deportment, course of life: distinct from, but reflecting, one's internal nature. Christians are holy unto God by consecration; they must be so also in outward walk and behaviour.
Scripture is the source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice.
Be ye holy; for I am. It is ME you have to do with. Ye are mine. We are too prone to have respect unto men (Calvin). Since I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in my essence, be ye zealous to partake of holiness, that ye may be as I am (Didymus). The creature is holy only in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey, through the sanctifying Spirit (1 Peter 1:2). –JFB
Lesson 40:
Instructions –
Be holy
for God is holy
1) Know that our model of holiness is God.
2) Know the characteristics of God. Imitate these characteristics.
3) Understand that the goal of the Salvation Process is for us to have the
character of Christ and the holiness of God.
4) Know that all other gods [human, idols, objects] are not holy and
cannot result in holiness in the firstfruit.
5) Know that your hope of Christ's return is a strong incentive to
holiness.
6) Understand that "conversation" in the Bible means your deportment,
conduct and course of life.
7) Make your behaviour reflect His holiness.
8) Be zealous to partake of holiness.
9) We are holy in so far as we are sanctified by God. We are
sanctified as long as we remain in the Salvation Process.
back to Lesson 40