I Peter 1:13-16

1. Intro.
1. "wherefore" is the link between what has been said, and what is about to be said
1. because our destiny is what it is, be holy
2. because our salvation is what it is, be holy
2. the word "holy" means: to be separated, to be cut off, to be different, to be distinct
3. holiness is a subject that makes a lot of believers very nervous
1. the subject is often neglected
2. Christians that try to live a holy life are often called a "holy roller"
3. in the eyes of the unbeliever; the believer who say and does nothing is fine, but the believer who tries to live his faith is ridiculed
4. it is not easy to live in this world and maintain a holy walk
1. the world is always pressuring us, trying to force us to conform
2. God has saved us to be different
3. we, who have been the subject of the grace of God should resemble God in holiness
2. preparations for holiness - 1:13
1. how do we become holy
1. holiness is a position that is ours at the moment of salvation
2. holiness is also an ongoing development in our life
2. two ingredients are necessary for our growth in holiness
1. divine help by the Holy Spirit
2. human responsibility
3. the working of the Holy Spirit
1. He introduces us to ideas of holiness
2. He points out the wickedness of the devil
3. He brings conviction and concern, as well as, aspirations and longings
4. He is also the power by which we can fulfill our holy desires
4. human responsibility
1. a well ordered mind - "gird up the loins of your mind"
1. the meaning is: pull your thought together, a state of constant preparation
2. the picture is of a robed man, that tucks his garment in his belt for better movement
1. the long robes would grievously hamper a warrior or pilgrim
2. our mind is filled with flowing garments of various taste, appetites, and affections
3. these affections and appetites are constantly catching on the things of the world, and hindering us in our Christian pilgrimage and warfare
4. the believer is to prepare his mind for serious business
2. a well disciplined life - "sober"
1. Peter uses this word to speak of moral alertness
2. the Christian should not live a life of self-indulgence, but one of discipline and self-control
3. God has set limits for us, not to spoil our fun, but to enrich our life
3. a well defined goal - "hope to the end for..."
1. the idea here is that a believer must hang on to the end
2. the hope of the believer is sure, therefore, he may be confident of the Lord’s favor when He appears
3. the goal of the Christian is to live and move toward the day of Christ appearing, with hope and joy
4. looking for Christ to return will strengthen our faith and hope in difficult days
5. once we have our minds well ordered, our lives well disciplined, and our goals well defined; we will find that holiness is the theme of our life
3. nature of holiness - 1:14
1. children inherit the nature of their parents
1. if we have been born of God, then we will have His nature (indwelling Holy Spirit)
2. unsaved people have the nature of their father the devil
3. we are partakers of the divine nature, and we should reveal that nature in godly living
2. true salvation will always lead to obedience
1. Peter reminds them of what they use to be, and what they should be now
2. the believer’s life has been changed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
3. outward change is the natural result of the inward change
4. we have been set free from the bondage of sin in our life
3. unsaved people say that they want to be free and different, but they all imitate one another
1. unsaved people lack spiritual intelligence - "in your ignorance"
2. ignorance leads to indulgence
3. since all are born with a fallen nature, it is natural for us to live a sinful life
4. nature determines appetites and actions
5. we would still be in that sad condition were it not for the grace of God
4. God’s decision to make saints out of sinners always involves a responsibility, not just a privilege
1. "children" – privilege
2. "obedient" – responsibility
3. Christian liberty does not lead to lawlessness, but to obedience
4. obedience is the necessary ingredient for a life of joy and power
4. reason for holiness - 1:15
1. the One who called us to salvation is holy
1. God called us before we called on Him for salvation
2. those who choose to be identified with God must remember who He is – the Holy One
2. God doesn’t just want to give us things; He wants us to be a part of all that He is
1. He called us to a relationship
2. He called us to Himself
5. Scriptural bases for holiness - 1:16
1. it is the command of God
1. we may not understand holiness, nor appreciate it
2. we may not even like holiness, but that is irrelevant because He has told us to be holy
2. holiness is not something new that God has sprung on us
1. God has had one basis message down through the ages in His dealing with man
2. nobody can ever say that they did not know they were suppose to be holy
3. anybody who has ever begun to think about who God is, and what He has said will know that He expects holiness
3. when it comes to holiness we have a lot against us
1. there is an unholy trinity against us (the world, the flesh, the devil)
2. the devil is opposed to all that God stands for
3. the world crucified Christ, and it still has no love for Him
4. our flesh is constantly fighting with the Holy Spirit which dwells within us
4. the standard is clear, but the believer must realize that he can never in this live achieve absolute holiness
1. does this mean we should throw up our hands in despair and quit? (absolutely not)
2. we can never be perfectly holy, but we can seek to be holy in the eyes of God
3. it is very obvious that some Christians walk closer to the Lord than others
4. the person who bears the name of Christ, should be like Him