Be Holy

Chad Ball

Adamsville First Baptist Church

1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

1 Peter 1:14–16

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Introduction

A couple of weeks ago, we were in 1 Peter 1:13 and we looked at having our minds ready for action. We saw that we are to be sober-minded. Sober-mindedness not only deals with substances in excess that lead to drunkeness, but also deals with thoughts that consume us to the point where we think of nothing else. These thoughts cripple us in our spiritual growth and our effectiveness for the kingdom of God.

We also saw that we are to set our hope on the grace that is to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. That is where our hope should be. Not on these temporal matters such as life getting back to normal. We don’t need normal. We need Jesus. That is where our hope should be - Jesus.

Today’s passage is a continuation of our message from two weeks ago. How are we to act or behave while we wait on the day that we will see Jesus? We will see the answer in today’s passage.

Please find 1 Peter 1:14-16 in your copy of God’s Word and stand with me in honor of His word as we read our passage this morning.

1 Peter 1:14–16 CSB

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Pray

An Obedient Child

As we go through this passage this morning, we want to be mindful of the obedient child. Now, I understand and realize that even the most obedient of children slip up sometimes. In fact, even the most committed of Christians slip up from time to time as well. However, we do know that there is a difference between an unruly child and one who is obedient. It is the obedient child that we are to take an example from today. We are not considering the rebellious child, the unruly child, the lazy child, or any other type of child this morning, save the obedient child.

The first thing we want to notice about the obedient child is that...

An obedient child recognizes the authority of the parents.

Recognizes Authority

A child is able to recognize the ones who have taken responsibility for raising them. Whether it is a single parent, foster parent, adopted parent, grand parent, or both parents in the same home; an obedient child recognizes the authority of those that take care of them.

An obedient child submits to their authority.

Submits to Authority

Without the submission to authority, the child would not be obedient. The child that does not submit to the authority over them is in rebellion and is disobedient. It is impossible to be an obedient child without submitting to the parental authority.

An obedient child may start obeying because of consequences, but will eventually obey out of love.

Obeys from Love

When we are young, we have to be disciplined so that we will obey. We use different things to teach our children. It may be spankings, time out, taking things away, or grounding them. We have to use different things at different stages, but hopefully we don’t have to discipline as much because the children will respond in obedience more than disobedience. An obedient child does not obey out of fear of discipline, but obeys out of love for the parent.

It is common for a child to want to spend time with & be like the parent.

Wants to be like

I can remember wanting to be like my dad and I have seen it in Lamar as well. When a child loves his/her parent, they want to be like their parent. They may not necessarily want to have the same job, but would want to act like and be like that parent. Kids have discussions about whose nose or eyes they have. Did their eyes come from their dad or mom?

An obedient child is one that is recognized by others. It does not take long for teachers or other adults to recognize which children are obedient and which are not. So, it as obedient that we are commanded,

Do not be conformed

Rather than being like the world and the way that we used to be, we need to strive to be like our Heavenly Father. As an obedient child, we are to

Recognize God’s Authority

Can we really say that we recognize God’s authority over us? We can say it with our lips, but do we live our lives as if we truly recognized God’s authority? Too many Christians are in the habit of saying, “No, Lord.” If you ever say, “No, Lord,” you are lying. If you tell Him, “No,” then He is not your Lord. As Vance Havner said, He is either Lord of all or not Lord of all. We must get back to the understanding that Jesus has all authority.

Matthew 28:18 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Submit to God’s Authority

I just quoted Vance Havner and that quote is well worth repeating: He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. We must submit to the Lord’s authority in obedience. If we do not, we are in rebellion.

Obey God from love

Our motivation for obedience must not be so that we get something in return. God owes us nothing good. We deserve eternal punishment for our rebellion even the rebellion in our former ignorance.

Our motivation for obedience must not be from fear that God will zap us if we do not obey.

Our motivation must come from a sincere and pure love for God. Loving God is easy, but loving Him as He deserves, that is not so easy. Even as adults, we must be like a child showing his parents love through obedience. We show God we love Him by our obedience. There is a big difference between telling someone that you love them and showing them that you love them. So, let us show God our love by obeying Him.

Be like Jesus

Folks, I can say that you need to be like Jesus until I am blue in the face, but until you want to be like Jesus, its not going to make any difference. Like a young boy that wants to be like his Father or a young girl that wants to be like her mother, we should have an even greater desire to be like Jesus.

Be Holy

What is Holy?

Holy can be defined as:

Holy: having the context of moral or ritual purity

In this context it has the idea of moral purity. We cannot ritually purify ourselves and meet God’s standard. We must be purified by God through the blood of Jesus.

When we are pure in our love and devotion to Christ; then we will be pure in our thought as well as conduct.

The idea of purity means that there is nothing else mixed in with it.

-Our love for God must not have anything mixed in with it.

-Our devotion to God must no have anything mixed with it either.

-Our obedience to God must be like an obedient child’s - pure.

This is our standard!

How many times do we fail by falling into sin. This does not just include things like immorality, hate, lying, and such. It also includes things despair, fear, worry, gossip, and even busyness. How can busyness be a sin? When we are too busy to be obedient to God, then it is a sin.

When should we be holy?

-At all times

Not just on Sunday, but everyday.

Not just at church or in public, but even at home.

There is no time nor place where we are given a pass on holiness or purity.

-In all of our conduct

Our obedience should be in thought, speech, and deed.

Everything that we are submitted to the Lord in obedience

How can we be holy?

You must be saved to be holy. It is impossible to be holy without placing your faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:10 CSB

By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

This idea of being sanctified has the idea of being made holy. We are made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus. Some of you have not been made holy because you have not trusted Jesus and made Him your Lord.

Christ died for you! He died to make you holy, but for you to benefit from His sacrifice you must believe in Him. Repent of your sins, and ask Him to be Lord of your life.

If you will do that, then He will make you holy. Being holy is a privilege for us even on earth, but it goes even beyond that. His holiness applied to us makes us worthy of being in heaven.

Pray

Conclusion

Christian brother and sister, let me leave you with this thought: The balm that will soothe the problems in our society is for God’s people to be holy.

Those of you that have not been saved, If you would like for the Lord to make you holy, why don’t you come this morning and trust Him as we sing?