Holiness

There are many passages in the Apostle’s writings which appear in the New Testament which instruct believers how they should live in the world.  If you took all these passages and narrowed them down to one statement it would be found in the letter from Peter. 

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who 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 1:13-16 

Peter admonishes the followers of Jesus to be holy because our awesome God is holy.  The Greek word Peter uses for holy is hagos, an adjective which describes the believer.  The meaning of hagos is an awful thing, relating to the sacred. 

hagos – meaning an awful thing, sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint. 

Peter instructs believers to be ready at all times to defend their faith for the sake of the Gospel.  To be ready to contend for our faith.  To be ready for spiritual warfare for our faith.  Believers are to be in control of our mind and emotions so that we can spiritually deal with life in calmness and peace.  Believers are to leave their old desires and passions behind as they mature in Christ becoming obedient to His desires and passions.  Live as saints who are set apart from the world as we are set apart to Him, the one who loves us. 

The Holy Spirit directs Peter back to the Old Testament for this revelation of Yahweh’s holiness.  Peter is quoting from the book of Leviticus. 

“ For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45 

The Hebrew word for holy is kaw-doshe’, an adjective meaning, sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary:—holy (One), saint.  It comes from a verb, - kaw-dash' which has the meaning, to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate 

So, Peter is admonishing us as believers to separate ourselves wholly to Jesus.  We are dedicated to Him and have consecrated ourselves for Him.  So, let us live today as the separated saints we are and leave our sin behind as we tell the world of all the good things Jesus has done for us. 

Because Jesus loves us, 

Brother Hugh Folds 

Matthew 6:33