Called to Be Holy
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 11 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction |
We are called to guard our testimony. We are called to be holy. What are we going to do? Are we going to be obedient? Are we going to be that which the Lord has called us to be? Or are we going to continue down a path of disobedience?
Focus Passage |
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Outline |
Guard your mind to guard your character (v. 13)
‘Therefore’ is pointing back to the previous text. As we review what Peter has been writing about up to this point, we find several truths that when applied to one’s life, call for action and response by the hearer. This is true for all the Word of God. Often, we fail and deceive ourselves when we hear the word, but then do nothing with the word presented. As James writes in his espistle,
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.
So, what truths have been presented before us through Peter’s first epistle through the first twelve verses that demand a response and application?
We were called, chosen, and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (v.2)
We have been told that our trials are there to grow our faith and reveal God’s faithfulness over and over (vv. 6-9)
We have been told that there is a priority placed on salvation by the prophets, angels, and the Word. Therefore there should be a priority for salvation in our lives (vv. 10-12)
How are we to respond to these truths? Peter, within our text, truly has a singular answer and calling for his recipients, be holy…in all your behavior (v. 15). I believe that we can add to this calling, guard your character, a character that is to be holy, to be righteous, to be separate from the world. Remember, one’s true character is not what others see, but who you truly are when no one is around. As Christians, we do not see, at times, the importance of living separate lives from those around us. We see that friend at school, that coworker, that family member doing all kinds of ungodliness and we see them having fun and want to at least experiment with them, but what happens to our testimony/character in that moment? We ruin our witness, our testimony, and our character is damaged. We are truly not being what God has called us to be, Holy.
We must guard our thoughts and imaginations - ‘…prepare your minds for action…’
The terminology of the Gk of the word ‘prepare’ means ‘gird afresh the procreative power of your deep thoughts.’ It goes beyond just the surface into the deep recess of your mind. How do we do this? We begin with prayer. We then move forward to guarding what we allow to influence our mind(s). We become aware and filter out what we watch on T.V., what music we listen to, what apps and social media we allow in, our different relationships (friends, co-workers, and family). We do exactly what Paul writes to the church at Philippi.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
We learn that we are to truly bring down every thought and imagination that goes against the word and will of God.
5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
We must be on watch - ‘…keep sober in spirit…’
The idea is being discreet, no drunk, but rather watchful in the spirit. It is addressing spiritual discernment. We cannot just allow anything and everything to influence us. We cannot just allow everyone influence us. We must be on guard at all times about the influence of peers, family, co-workers, social media, T.V., and the music we listen to. There are three gates that influence our mind on a consistent basis. There are never ending streams of influence that must be guarded against.
Three Gates of Influence
The eye gate
The ear gate
The mouth gate
This happens in a two-fold process. The words that come from others that we allow to influence us. That words that come from our own mouths that paint a very honest picture of the condition of our heart (character).
18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person.
We must embrace our hope - ‘…set your hope completely…’
Our hope is based on grace - ‘…completely on the grace…’
Our hope is carrying us - ‘…to be brought to you…’
Our hope is supplied in our acceptance of Christ Jesus - ‘…at the revelation of Jesus Christ…’
Be transformed in the mind to guard your character (v. 14)
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
Peter calls us to be obedient children - ‘…As obedient children…’
What is Peter saying when he calls us to be obedient children? What does he mean? Who are we to be obedient too? The Gk interprets ‘obedient’ as to be children who have listened and applied the words spoken to them, children who submit to the rules and words given, to be compliant.
As children, we don’t necessarily like the rules our parents give us. We don’t quite understand the rules. Since we do not understand or like the rules, we have a tendency to rebel. This is the propensity of our human nature. As Moses writes…
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.
This propensity to rebel against our parents has been there from the beginning (Adam and Eve). The consequences of our rebellion toward our parents has been there from the beginning (Adam and Eve being kicked out of the garden). This begs the question, How do we go from being disobedient children to obedient children? The answer is simple. There must be a change. It is a change of mind, of heart.
Peter calls us to be transformed not conformed - ‘…do not be conformed…’
We are no longer to live in our former lusts (i.e. our passions/attitudes/character before we were saved), according to to the former lusts which were yours. When we were lost in our sins and transgressions, we were not aware of our sins and sinful passion/appetite, which were yours in your ignorance. When we accepted Christ, that sinful appetite is brought to light. Paul states the positive of Peter’s negative. Whereas, Peter states not to do something…Paul states to do something. He writes the following in his epistle to the Romans:
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
and in his epistle to the Corinthians believers:
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Answer your call to guard your testimony (vv. 15-16)
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter identifies the only true source of holiness - ‘…but like the Holy One who called you…’
There is but one that truly holy and the world is filled with his glory. As the prophet Isaiah writes…
3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of His glory.”
To be holy, one must draw from God, the only source of holiness - ‘…You shall be holy…’
We must get to know Him through His word and prayer, love Him and obey Him. We cannot love God and then turn around and disobey God. This is truly the relationship between a child and their parent. As Christ told His disciples, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say.” He went on to say, “If ye love me, keep my commands.” If a child says they love their parent, then that child should be obedient to His words. Our obedience should not be limited to the areas that we agree with Him on or in the areas that we like or find easy to be obedient in.
That is the problem that many face today. We, as disobedient children, only want to obey the Lord in the areas that we like or agree with. If we do not like that command or this command or this rules or that rule, then we will not obey it. However, if we are ok with it, then we’ll obey just because. However, that is not true love or true obedience.
We are to obedient (Holy) in all ways - ‘…in all manner of conversation…’
When we try to piece meal our walk with the Lord, we are destroying not only our testimony and character, but the testimony of the one we claim to know and call as Lord. Our lives are to be examples of His grace and faithfulness. We should be in the world but not of the world. We are to be set apart in all ways, not just some, You shall be holy, for I Am holy.
Conclusion |
We are called to guard our testimony and character. We are called to be Holy. What are we going to do? Are we going to be obedient? Are we going to be that which the Lord has called us to be? Or are we going to continue down a path of disobedience.
