Pursue Holiness

Greet and Honor

Peter wrote this to a church that was in the middle of suffering. You will constantly see him in this letter refer to their current testing, trial, suffering, or persecution.

But he is writing this as an encouragement to continue to pursue God and pursue Holiness

So what is holiness?

Holiness is something that is SET APART — pile of bananas vs apples.

To be holy as God is holy is to live under God’s culture and not the world’s culture

This is how God is — this is His customs and culture — and it is very different from the world — that is holiness. Its separated

The world

1 Timothy 1:8–11 ESV

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

VS

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

So when God says “be holy as I am holy” he isn’t giving an impossible request or this vague request

No, through His grace, He’s empowered us to be holy and then laid out what that means

“Be holy” isn’t a command as much as its a promise.

Alright so let’s read …

1 Peter 1:13–25 ESV

13 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. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Introduce Title and Pray

First Peter wrote this letter as a general letter to the Christians scattered throughout the region of Asia Minor and to whoever would read it.

Unlike Paul’s letters, this letter is written not to a specific church or pastor in specific place, it is a general letter to any and all christians in multiple areas.

This entire book of his was written to any Christians who could get their hands on it because they were being driven from their lands, exiled for their belief, and persecuted for their faith. And in the middle of the letter of encouragement Paul’s takes a moment to remind them that, Hey, I know things suck for you right now. But there is a standard of living to be a Christian.

Verse 13

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

13 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.

Peter is saying now that you remember what’s coming, that you belong to Jesus and get to spend eternity with Him, it’s time to get your head on straight. Think clearly and reset our affections and our focus on Jesus.

Trials and suffering have a way of shifting our minds from Jesus. When hard times come. We get so overwhelmed with life and what we’re going through that we forget who God is and who we are.

1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

I believe that too often we are trying to avoid our suffering that we never ask God what he’s trying to do with us in it.

If I really believe that all things work to the good of those who love Jesus, then maybe the question I should be asking is, “God, what are you teaching me here?” “How are you stretching me?”

I don’t believe for a moment that this is easy but necessary, in our sanctification: our process.

Verse 14

1 Peter 1:14 ESV

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

As Children as shaped and formed by their parents — Our Heavenly Father is transforming us with the culture of Heaven

your former ignorance.

Once you know - there is no excuse for going back.

Once you’ve learned, you can’t unlearn.

You can’t not know what you now know.

Ignorance can no longer be an excuse once you’ve been told.

Peter is telling them, now that you know, don’t go back to things you desired before you knew Jesus.

Verse 15-16

1 Peter 1:15–16 ESV

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Holy - separate or set apart.

As God is so holy that He and sin cannot dwell in the same place, we are to emulate that by separating ourselves from sin and our sin nature.

By denying ourselves of the things our flesh desires.

This is relenting our Will and accept His Will.

CS Lewis said that Hell is simply “My Will be Done” and Heaven is “Thy Will be Done.”

Being set apart is strange before men but honorable before God. We must be more concerned about pleasing God than man.

Verse 17

1 Peter 1:17 ESV

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

Fear as in a fear of the Lord.

Fear or reverence of the Lord is healthy. When I begin to live my life however I want to live my life, and give into the desires of my flesh, it is because I have lost my reverence. I’ve lost my fear of the Lord.

Peter uses the term living as strangers multiple times in 1 Peter. These people were literally living as strangers in a land that was not theirs because of their  faith.

They were persecuted so heavily they had to flee their lands. And while this is a sad and unfortunate reality that none of us here could truly understand, Peter doesn’t let them off easy.

He uses his understanding of their suffering to remind to keep their fear of the Lord no matter where they were.

Verse 18-19

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Listen to what Peter is saying - The old way of life is empty, it’s unfulfilling! It will never satisfy you! You were purchased with something far more valuable than silver or gold. You were purchased a with a currency far greater than anything we could value. So why do we keep returning to the things that he saves us from? Why do we keep going back to sin?

This pursuit of holiness requires us to not only abstain from sin, but run from it. Don’t just ignore it, but to run from it. Run from sin and pursue holiness!

There is this process that happens -

The more we are obedient to the word of God, the more we deny the desires of our flesh.

The more we deny the desires of our flesh, the more we become like Christ.

The more we become like Christ, the more we desire the things that he desires.

The more we desire the things he desires, the less we desire the things of our flesh.

The less we desire the things of our flesh, the purer we become.

This scripture calls them defiled and unbelieving but still says they know God. Recognizing the existence of God does not equal a pure heart. Recognizing the existence of God doesn’t make you a Christian.

The demons know God exists. Satanists don’t deny the existence of God.

The simple acknowledgment of God isn’t what he’s looking for.

He’s looking for those that desire him with their whole hearts. Looking for those that desire the things that he desires. A people that desire his heart. People that long for his presence.

And here’s the best part, if we search for him, he promises that we will find him. In Jeremiah 29:13, he tells the Israelites who had rebelled from God and were put under Babylonian captivity, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”

Pursue God. Pursue Holiness.