Be Holy...

1 Peter 1:13-19 (ESV) - Called to Be Holy

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.

Being holy - things that are precious and perishable.  These are all things that are worthy of a Christ follower's thoughts and meditation.  What does it mean for us to be holy - is it even possible? What is perishable and what is precious?  What in all of creation could be considered so valuable, that it would be accepted as payment for the sins of all the world?  Peter answers these questions in his first letter as we read above. 

Peter writes these words in a very straight forward, very open and specific manner.  We can hear his very words being spoken as we read them, and what we hear truly is powerful and full of authority.  He speaks plainly and boldly so that his point is made and understood immediately.  Very much to Peter's personality isn't it, he was a no-nonsense kind of guy I imagine.

Verse 13 - Peter tells us that we are to prepare in such a way that we will be ready, mentally and spiritually, for what we will receive when the Lord comes again.  He's saying prepare soberly (meaning with a clear mind, unobstructed, unimpaired by anything), setting our hope fully on the grace that God has promised to give to those who believe on and trust in His Son.  As Christians we do have hope - but in today's age people all too frequently confuse hoping and wishing.  Jesus is not a genie in a bottle wanting to grant you 3 wishes.  He owes you nothing, but He offers you everything.  Our hope in the grace that God promises is an expectant hope - because we KNOW that God is a promise keeper, and so the hope we have in His grace and mercy is expectant, not wishful thinking.

Verses 14 through 16 - Here Peter very clearly gives us a "don't do this, do that instead" command.  He says since you are obedient (you have trusted in Christ and turned to Him as Lord and Savior), don't fall back into your old ways!  Don't go back to the sins you left at the foot of the cross when you accepted Christ, don't continue in the evil ways of your past now that you have been reborn and made into a new creation, but instead be holy just like He who saved you is holy.  Is salvation a get out of jail free card?  Is it license to live for the devil and to sin recklessly because our salvation is secure in heaven?  Absolutely not!  

Are we tempted daily, yes.  Do we have times where we fall and fail, sure do.  But the mark of a Christ follower where sin and temptation are concerned is the struggle that we put up against that sin.  Do you just give in and decide well I'll just ask God to forgive me after.  Friend if that is your mindset, pray and pray hard that the Lord will convict you of that and help you to find your feet and set to struggle against that sin for all you are worth.  For those who are fighting against sin, but you had a setback, get up.  Dust yourself off, turn back to the Lord for His help as you restart your struggle again.

Verse 17 - Peter speaks of exile - what exile?  How are we exiled now?  By sin - our sinful nature.  Before the fall, Adam and Eve lived with God, walked with Him in all His glory.  They were not separated (exiled) from Him, they walked in the garden with Him continually.  It was only after they committed that great sin that they suffered separation and exile.  They were put out of the garden, removed from God's direct presence, and we have suffered that exile ever since.  Peter is saying as we live this exile, as Christ followers we are to fear the Lord with reverence and great obedience.  I believe that the capital "C" church has basically lost its understanding of God's righteousness and holiness.  He is a holy and righteous judge.  Does He love us, of course He does.  Does He care for us and have compassion on us, absolutely yes.  And yet at the same time He is Holy and Righteous and He will judge sin, period.  You can't live for the devil six days a week and then jump on the church bus on Sunday morning and call it all good, it does not work that way.  Following Christ is a lifelong, day by day - no - minute by minute - no - second by second pursuit.   

Verses 18 and 19 - here is where we tie into the ideas of precious and perishable.  Peter says that the people were ransomed - what's a ransom?  It's a payment, but it's really more than that isn't it?  A payment is a payment, but a ransom is a payment for someone who is in harm's way.  Friend, can I share this truth with you, if you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior, you are in harm's way.  I can't say it any more plainly than that - harm, danger, hell, that is your future without Christ.  God does not want that for you, He loves you so much that He made a way, He gave His own Son to be that ransom in your place, to take your place and pay that price so that you can be free and safe and reconciled to Him.

Peter says that the ways of their forefathers was futile - what is he talking about here?  The law - the law that the Hebrews of old, rescued out of slavery and bondage in Egypt, chose instead of the grace that God offered to them.  He gave them the law so that they could see and understand exactly how lost and wretched they were without Him and His saving grace.  

Peter then reminds us that the ransom was paid with something that is far more valuable, far more precious, then even things that people consider to be most valuable.  And he uses this idea of perishable to make his point.  He says you were not ransomed with something perishable, like silver or gold, but with that which is unperishable, the shed blood of the Lord Jesus.  Wait a minute - silver and gold perishable?  These are metals - do metals perish?  Iron does - it can rust.  Copper can over a long time right - it tarnishes and is soft so it can wear down.  But silver and gold?  There are golden artifacts created during times that we read about in the bible that still exist today, and yet Peter says that even gold such as this is perishable when compared to the precious blood of Jesus.

The truth is that it is possible for us to be holy, if we will struggle and try.  It won't happen simply on its own, it won't happen without your intentional effort.  But isn't it worth it to try?  Jesus said that you are worth it, He went to the cross and suffered that death because you are so very much worth it.  You are precious, because He shed His most precious blood, so that you could be returned to Him, ransomed, paid for, paid in full, saved.  His is the only name in all of God's creation that can save, and He does save.  And if you are saved, you are called to be holy as He is holy.  I pray these words are a blessing to someone who reads them, and if so then all glory to God, Amen.  May God bless you and keep you, thanks for reading.

PJ