A Life of Holiness (1 Peter 1:13-21)

Big Idea: Personal holiness comes from deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ, motivated by God's holy character, loving discipline, and the cost of salvation.

I have shocking news for you this morning, although I sense that not all of you will be surprised. I'm not always the holy, fine, upstanding man you see in front of you.

One day I was lining up to pay for my groceries at Valumart, and the express aisle was completely clear. I did a quick count of my items, and I was right on. The thing you need to understand is that my items were very large, so although I had the proper amount, it sure didn't look like it. I was surprised to be challenged by the woman behind me, who made a snide comment to the cashier. As an ordained minister who had just preached about being transformed into Christ's likeness, I asked the woman, "Where did you learn to count?" I completely blew it.

In a moment of testing, I chose to respond in a sinful manner instead of in a gentle, Christlike way. I kept thinking afterwards, "What happens if that woman shows up at church the next Sunday and sees me in the pulpit?" I realize that the story I shared may seem minor, but I've recognized a significant lack of holiness in my life. I don't want to exaggerate, but there are times when I'm cut off on the highway that I don't respond as Christ would. There are times that I'm not as patient and kind with my family as I should be. And there are certainly times when I don't pray and seek God's kingdom and his righteousness, as he commands me to. I may meet human standards, but I fall short of the holiness required by Scripture.

I'm not sure I'm the only one. Does anyone struggle with a lack of holiness? Slips of the tongue, impure thoughts, moments of anger or selfishness? Or perhaps, more generally, a lack of passion to please and obey God in all things? Okay, if you won't confess to a holiness deficiency, can I ask your spouse?

Holiness can be defined as being dedicated to God and set apart from sin and its influence. That's the purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and the desire of most of us here this morning. Holiness encompasses all the ethical commands of God in Scripture. And the passage in 1 Peter this morning speaks of the need for believers to live holy lives. I'm glad Peter didn't just say "Be holy," because I would walk away with more guilt and little clue of how to be holy.

Peter reveals what I think is the key to holiness along with three reminders to help us remain motivated. My goal is to help you become a godly person with three practical reminders for when you face difficulties. If you're ready to transform your behavior and please God more than ever, take a moment to ask for his blessing as we explore this passage.

Father: the passage we're about to read tells us to be holy, as you are holy. We long to live holy lives. And I pray that as we open 1 Peter this morning, your Spirit would speak clearly to our hearts in some area. And make us holy people, we pray. Amen.

The Key to Holiness

In 1 Peter 1, I believe that Peter gives us the key to personal holiness. The key to holiness is that it flows out of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you find it hard to be holy, the key to becoming more holy isn't to try harder or resist more. The key is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Where do I get this? "Therefore…" It's a general rule of Bible study that whenever you see a "therefore," you ask what it is there for. In the Bible, "therefore" often indicates a shift from theology to ethics. In other words, "Because this is true, this is how you should live." In this passage, we're forced to ask what the "therefore" refers to.

The answer is found in verses 3 to 12. Verses 3 to 12 discuss the benefits of salvation, including new birth, living hope, and assured inheritance. And Peter says, because of these things, you ought to be different in how you live. Our relationship with Jesus Christ and its benefits forms the foundation of our personal holiness. Because Peter goes on to spell out what sort of lives we should lead because of our salvation.

Some time ago, Charlene and I began to experience some tensions in our marriage. Nothing earth-shattering – just a little more conflict and a little less enjoyment of our relationship. Until one night we hired a babysitter and went out for dinner together. As we sat across from each other over a candlelight dinner, I began to think, "This woman is amazing. Now I remember why I married her!" And that one night of re-establishing a relationship together made a tremendous difference in how I treated her. For at least a week after that dinner, I was a husband that would have made Jim Dobson proud. But for me at that time, the secret to wanting to act as a good husband was that our relationship was strengthened.

It's the same with a Christian. If you want to become a holier person, don't try harder, just draw nearer to God. David Brainerd was a missionary to Native Americans, and out of his missionary work he wrote this:

I never got away from Jesus and him crucified. When my people were gripped by this great evangelical doctrine of Christ and him crucified, I had no need to give them instructions about morality. I find my Indians begin to put on the garments of holiness and their common life begins to be sanctified even in small matters when they are possessed by the doctrine of Christ and him crucified.

Augustine put it well when he said, "Love God and do as you please." Our relationship with Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers forms the basis of our obedience and holiness. And a strong relationship with Christ will conquer a thousand sins.

Three Reminders

Now Peter also goes on to give us three reminders that provide motivation to pursue holiness.

Three reminders help us stay motivated to be holy.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13)

You'll notice here that Peter gives specific actions that will lead to personal holiness. He first tells us to be mentally alert: "prepare your minds for action." This literally means "gird up the loins of your mind," or in today's language, "roll up the shirt sleeves of your mind." He tells us to be disciplined or "self-controlled." The word literally means sober, not just from alcohol, but from the intoxicating effects of things like a career, possessions, recreation, reputation, or friendships. Don't "be under the influence," he's saying, of any of these things. And be focused: "set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Now, the problem with me isn't usually knowing what to do to be holy. At the checkout, I realized that being rude to the woman behind me wasn't the best choice. When confronted with an impure thought or temptation, I typically recognize the right action to take. The problem with me is not knowledge, but motivation. Wanting to overcome the natural tendency to sin, wanting instead to please God.

Peter gives us three reminders that will help us stay motivated to be holy when we lack motivation:

The Character of God

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)

One of the fun things associated with having a child is watching everyone ask, "Who does the baby take after." It's amusing how people attribute different features to family members: the nose to the father, the mouth to the mother, and the legs to Uncle Louis. But there usually is some sort of family resemblance.

Peter encourages us to imitate our heavenly Father in everything we do—every day, moment, thought, and action. You see, it's the nature of children to imitate their parents. We should take joy in being like God, our Father, whose moral excellence is beautiful and worthy of admiration. To be like him is the best way to be. It can be helpful to remember how good, loving just and holy God is. And to remind ourselves, "If Jesus were in my shoes, he wouldn't do this!"

The recipients of this letter knew that the Roman gods were warlike, adulterous, and spiteful. They knew that the pagan gods were bloodthirsty and promiscuous. Peter says, "Your God is holy and just—imitate him." That's the first reminder that will give us motivation.

The Discipline of God

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (1 Peter 1:17)

God is an impartial, penetrating, and absolutely honest judge. 1 Peter 4:17 tells us that God's judgment will begin with "the family of God." I believe Peter is referring not only to future judgment but also to God's daily evaluation of our actions and thoughts. God both blesses and disciplines Christians according to their conduct. We are told that knowing God is watching our actions and thoughts leads to "reverent fear." Fear, I believe, that if we don't act in a godly manner, God will bring discipline into our lives that will correct us.

Growing up, I had a reverent fear for what would happen if I disobeyed my parents. I didn't particularly look forward to their discipline. When I was old enough to be left alone briefly, but not old enough to be trusted to behave, my mother would take off her glasses, place them in front of me, and say, "I'm stepping out for a minute, but I'll be watching everything you do while I'm gone." It worked for a while.

In every action, we should ask, "Will this hold up under God's judgment?" We risk facing his discipline if we don't. A friend of mine the other week spotted a temptation that was coming my way. He said, "You had better watch this certain area, because I can see Satan using it in your life pretty soon!" I replied, "You're right. I've learned that if I become weak in that area, God quickly disciplines me." Respect God's discipline. During times of temptation, remember that God is watching and may bring discipline into your life for correction if needed.

The Price and Plan of Salvation

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

In this paragraph, Peter reminds us of the highest motive for holy living – our salvation. And he reminds us of the price that Jesus paid. The term "redeemed" in verse 18 is less understood now, but at the time it was written, there were likely 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. A slave could purchase his or her own freedom if they could collect enough funds. Redemption was precious and costly.

This passage reminds us that we were slaves to the empty way of life handed down generation after generation. Peter witnessed firsthand Jesus' death on the cross. A slave could be redeemed by money, but no amount of cash could set a lost sinner free. Jesus shed his precious blood for us – he gave his life as a sacrifice. Jesus paid such a high price for our freedom – why would we want to go back into slavery? When tempted by sin remember the price Jesus paid to bring you freedom. Remember the pain that it brought him.

Verse 20 says: He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (1 Peter 1:20) In other words, this was no afterthought. God always knew he was going to do this for us. God didn't slap together some contingency plan – our salvation is so great, it was part of his eternal plan. As Eugene Peterson's The Message translates it: "It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately – at the end of the ages – become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you."

When you're at the checkout and feel tested, when your children annoy you, when you face temptations, or when anger rises, remember that obedience comes from your relationship with Christ. Remember three things: God's character, His discipline, and the cost of salvation, all of which are part of his eternal plan.