1 Peter 1:13-16
Suffering from Happiness -
Can we really be Holy?
I. What are the truths that require action
A. You are loved by God! vs. 2
B. You are sanctified by the Spirit of God! vs. 2
C. You are born again! vs. 3
D. You have a living hope! vs. 3
E. You have an inheritance! vs. 4
F. You will face trials! vs. 6
G. You believe in a real person, Jesus! vs. 7
H. You are able to rejoice greatly! vs. 9
II. Since these statements are true, what should we do? vss. 13-16
A. Prepare your minds for action. vs. 13
B. Be self-controlled. vs. 13
C. Set your hopes on Jesus. vs. 13
D. Do not be conformed to your evil desires. vs. 14
E. Be holy as God is holy. vss. 15-16
III. What does the language say?
A. The different texts:
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.” NIV
But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." –NASB
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy." – NLT
Always live as God’s holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy. That’s why the Scriptures say, "I am the holy God, and you must be holy too."-CEV
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." –ESV
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."- NKJV
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy." – Living
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy." – The Message
B. The different word meanings
Holy – ?
Holy ground Acts 7:33
Holy Sabbath Exodus 16:23
Holy men Exodus 22:31
Holy Offering Lev 2:3
Holy place – Holy of Holies – on and on!
What does Holy mean?
Hebrew
Noun – Essential nature of – the total not parts
Adjective – When something earthly is admitted into the sacred world – through blood
Verb – An act of consecration – to be set apart
Greek
Noun –
1. Separation to God
2. Your conduct that separates us
3. The quality of character
4. “Right” relationship to God
Adjective –
1. Describes your state – set apart from the world
2. Have been “set aside” for a special use
3. Not polluted -
4. Completely – fully
Written – Legal document that stands forever (CSPC property)
Called – Personal to you by name
IV. So how are you to apply this to yourself today?
A. You must understand that in this life you will never be holy in your eyes.
B. You must see yourself as Jesus’ sees you
C. To be holy is to hate sin – do you?
D. Do you greave over the sin in your life?
V. So what
“A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine”.
- D.L. Moody.
A. As you move to be holy – you understand the cross more
B. As you move to be more holy – the Gospel is seen in your life
Once, as an experiment, the great scientist Isaac Newton stared at the image of the sun reflected in a mirror. The brightness burned into his retina, and he suffered temporary blindness. Even after he hid for three days behind closed shutters, still the bright spot would not fade from his vision. "I used all means to divert my imagination from the sun," he writes, "But if I thought upon him I presently saw his picture though I was in the dark." If he had stared a few minutes longer, Newton might have permanently lost all vision. The chemical receptors that govern eyesight cannot withstand the full force of unfiltered sunlight.
There is a parable in Isaac Newton’s experiment, and it helps illustrate what the Israelites ultimately learned from the wilderness wanderings. They had attempted to live with the Lord of the Universe visibly present in their midst; but, in the end, out of all the thousands who had so gladly fled Egypt, only two survived God’s Presence. If you can barely endure candlelight, how can you gaze at the sun?
Philip Yancey, Disappointment With God, Zondervan, p. 74
VI. So what now?
A. As you move to be holy – you understand the cross more
B. As you move to be more holy – the Gospel is seen in your life
