GOD IS HOLY; BE LIKE HIM

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.      The Christians to whom Peter writes his first epistle were facing some challenging trials and persecutions.  In 1 Peter 1:6, he writes:  “…ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.”

 

B.      Peter writes to them giving them reasons to endure these tribulations.

1.       They have an inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4).

2.       Their trials will make them shine brighter after they are over (1 Pet. 1:7).

3.       They are experiencing the salvation the prophets of old testified to (1 Pet. 1:10) and things which “the angels desire to look into” (1 Pet. 1:12).

 

C.      If they truly understood these things, they needed to live a certain way on the earth (1 Pet. 1:13-16).

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedience children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  but as he which call you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

D.     The last two verses, verses 15 and 16 form the basis of our study in this lesson.  The title of our lesson is:  “God Is Holy; Be Like Him.”

 

I.                    THE POWER TO BECOME

 

A.      One of the marvelous things about being a human being is that we have the power to become something we may not be right now.

 

B.      The power to become involves the possibilities that exist in the future.

1.       When Abraham was called by God, his family worshiped idols. 

a.       Abraham had the power to become something else.

b.       Genesis 12:2-3

 

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:  and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 

c.        Abraham became the “father” of the Jews.

d.       Too, he became the standard of faith for all humanity.  In Romans 4:16 Paul writes these words of the patriarch:  “…who is the father of us all.”  In Galatians 3:29, we are told:  “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

2.       David was just shepherd who became a mighty military man and the king of Israel who set the standard for all other kings.

3.       Esther was just a young virgin maiden who lived in the land of Persia.  Yet, she became the queen of Persian and saved her nation from destruction devised by the wicked Haman.

4.       Peter and Andrew were just fishermen, but Jesus make them “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:18-19).

 

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea:  for they were fishers.  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 

5.       Paul was a zealous Jew who persecuted Christians and was determined to destroy the church.  Yet, he became the noble apostle Paul who suffered and died for the cause of Christ (Acts 9:13-16).

 

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.  And here hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way:  for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

 

C.      God gives all of us the power to become something we are not now. 

1.       In the context, we learn that we have the power to become like God.

2.       Two times in verses 15 and 16 we read these words:  “be ye.” 

3.       What do we have the power to become?  We have the power to become holy as God is holy.

 

II.                 THE PATTERN TO FOLLOW

 

A.      “But has he which hath call you is holy, so be ye holy…” (1 Pet. 1:15).

“Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).

 

B.      Holy

1.       Holy is the Greek word “hagios.”

2.       From this word, we get several terms:  holy, saints, and sanctify.

3.       Lexicons:

a.       Strong (40):  sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated)

b.       Thayer:  most holy thing, a saint

c.        Vine:  fundamentally signifies “separated,” … in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred

4.       There are three fundamental thoughts involved in the term “holy.”

a.       Purity

b.       Separation

c.        A purpose in God’s service

 

C.      Three thoughts:

1.       God is the standard of holiness.

a.       In Luke 1:49, we learn that God’s name is holy.

 

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

 

b.       God’s nature is holy. 

1)      There is absolutely nothing in Him that is tainted in any way by sin or iniquity.

2)      In Revelation 15:4, we learn this about God:  “…for thou alone art holy.”

3)      Twice in the pages of God’s Word, we see individuals praising God, and crying out with these words:  “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8).

c.        Three unique things said about God.

1)      Habakkuk 1:13

 

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…

 

2)      James 1:13

 

…for God cannot be tempted with evil…

 

3)      James 1:13

…neither tempteth he any man.

 

d.       God’s holy nature causes Him to hate all sin and evil.

1)      Psalm 5:4-6

 

Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:  neither shall evil dwell with thee.  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:  thou hatest all workers of iniquity.  Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:  the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

 

2)      Proverbs 6:16

 

These six things doth the Lord hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto him.

 

2.       We are to become holy as God is holy.

a.       God is our standard. 

1)      This is difficult for us because all have sinned.

2)      This is difficult because we will sin in the future.

b.       God is willing to assist us in this process. 

1)      He will cleanse us with the precious blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5).

 

…unto him that love us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

 

2)      This purification happens when we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:22).

 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

 

3)      The example of the Corinthians (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you:  but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

c.        We, too, play a part in being holy.

1)      We shun sin (Prov. 4:14-15).

 

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

 

2)      We allow ourselves to be used in God’s service each and every day (1 Cor. 6:20).

 

For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

3.       Holiness is to permeate all aspects of our lives.  “…so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”

a.       Our thoughts

b.       Our speech

c.        Our recreation

d.       Our dating

e.        Our behavior

f.         Our jobs

g.       Our education

h.       Our homes

i.         Our hobbies

j.         Our friends

 

III.              THE PRECEPT TO OBEY

 

A.      When we think about God’s holiness versus our holiness, we can be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge before us.  Some might even say:  “I can never be holy like God is holy.  Therefore, why should I even try?”

 

B.      The answer lies in the fact that seeking to be holy like God is holy is not an option.  It is a requirement found in the precious Word of God.

 

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

1.       This is a precept.  This is a statute.  This is a law.  This is a command.

2.       It is a command that was originally given to the Israelites.  It is found three times in the book of Leviticus (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 20:7).

 

For I am the Lord your God:  ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy…

 

3.       Once the New Covenant became operative, Christians became the people of God.  And the standard of holiness set for Israel was transferred to God’s people in the Christian dispensation.

 

C.      Remember, God intends for His commands to be obeyed (Rev. 22:14).

 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.      We have studied a wonderful concept in this lesson.  Each one of us has the power to become like the God of heaven.

 

B.      We can become like Him in holiness. 

1.       Each day we seek to remain pure.  We separate ourselves from the evil of the world.  We dedicate ourselves to the service of God.

2.       When we fall short, we have the blood of Christ to cleanse us (1 John 1:9).

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

C.      It we will obey God in this matter, we will eventually enter into that place that is free from all sin.  A place that is what some refer to as “the holy of holies” (Rev. 21:27).

 

And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or make a lie:  but they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.