Take Time to Be Holy

Take Time to Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God has an expectation of us, but He also gives us the power to fulfill it.  Our Sanctification -- our "holy-fication" -- comes because of the work of Christ on the cross.  He paid the price to make us holy by His own blood.  Our own effort does not make us more like Jesus, but His grace does.  As we trust in what God has done for us in Christ, we surrender more and more to His purification to become just like Jesus -- in His character and His power.  Grace is not a license to keep on sinning, enough though God's love is great enough to forgive every offense.  Rather, grace leads us to live holy lives.  "Holy" is such a misunderstood term, because it conjures up ideas of people praying in stagnant buildings, or men in suits and women in jean dresses and head-coverings.  Holiness begins as formation of character -- a rejection of evil and an acceptance of God's goodness. 

God wants us to be distinguished from people who don't believe in Him:
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Galatians 5:19-21)

If people choose to live in any of these and claim "the grace of God" in their lives, they are tragically mistaken.  You cannot inherit God's kingdom blessings and still hold unto evil.  This might seem elementary, but I am surprised at the pervasiveness of unholy behavior among people who call themselves Christians.  Not just that people make mistakes (because we all have), but that they violently cling to it and call anyone "religious" who even begins to question their lifestyle.

God has placed you in a strategic position that no one else has -- to be salt and light.  You maintain your salt-of-the-earth-ness by surrendering to the grace of God in your life and confessing where you have fallen short of His glory.  That's right -- sin isn't just breaking a command, it's merely living outside of His glory -- outside of His character.  This is why He says that having hatred in your heart is the same as murder, covetousness the same as idolatry, lust the same as adultery. 

When you have once again found God's grace in your life, He commands you to bring light to others.  This means actually helping to restore others to God's grace by encouraging them to give up their sinful behavior.  This is the part that has been difficult for so many Christians.  They either over-react and bring angry judgment or gossip about their brothers and sisters -- always fault-finding, or they don't say anything to them directly at all, mistakenly thinking they are "loving" their relatives, friends, and neighbors.  It is never love to ignore evil.  The key is to follow the Holy Spirit, addressing what He says to address, when He gives opportunity, and waiting and praying about everything.  Whenever you see sin -- anywhere -- you are at least accountable to pray for repentance.  God is calling you to address the sin in other peoples' lives, even bringing others with you to help you if they seem stubborn to follow the grace of God.  If they will not follow, He actually tells us to break fellowship with people who say they are Christians but won't listen -- to not even eat with them!  (1 Corinthians 5).  He specifically points out some sins:  sexually immorality, greed, idolatry, slandering, drunkenness, and swindling.  That's right! -- God actually holds you accountable for other peoples' sins -- if you are aware of any it and don't address it.  In fact, if you don't address it and continue to be-friend them, you are actually sinning yourself.  You are in a unique position, because you know about evil in the lives of those around you that no one else does.  Sometimes people share their secrets with you, and you know about things in their life that are spiritually unhealthy for them.  Use their confidence to point them to the cross and bring correction; don't just let them perish as evil overtakes them!  Stand up and be counted.  Be brave and be willing to face persecution and name-calling, attacks and anger from people who won't listen.  Your own holiness is at stake.