EXPLORE THE TEXT

Holy (1 Peter 1:13-17)

Application Point:

Because God is holy, His people should also be holy.

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded
and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children,
do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.
15 But as the one who called you is holy,
you also are to be holy in all your conduct;

16 for it is written,
Be holy, because I am holy.
17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one�s work,
you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.

Key Word

Conformed

The idea is of being conformed to a particular shape by an external force.
In the New Testament, the Greek word suschematizo is used only here and in Romans 12:2.
Christ followers are called to become more like Jesus so the world can see an accurate reflection of His work and character.
A believer points others to Christ in this way.
However, the forces of the world want to distort God�s good design
by shaping believers into an image that will damage their testimony and water down their spiritual influence.

Compile:

Using 1 Peter 1:13-17,
compile a list of what is required in pursuing holiness.

• Minds ready for action:
  carries the idea of a person binding up a robe or tunic. Prior to running or other similar forms of physical exertion, individuals would gather up their long robes around their waist so as not to be impeded in their motion.
• to be sober-minded.
  Besides the literal meaning to avoid intoxication, From a spiritual perspective, it emphasizes living free from forces that distract and deceive. For believers, sin pulls away from what is real and true. To use a contemporary phrase, we must keep our wits about us spiritually. (See 1 Pet. 4:7 and 5:8.)

• Set your hope:
  Biblically, hope is an active belief that God will fulfill His plans and purposes. It also suggests the willingness to wait patiently until His work is complete. It reflects an expectation or confidence.
• Former ignorance (obedience):
  Salvation is a gracious act of the Lord, and sanctification is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, but the Christian life is not passive. Christ followers do not drift toward holiness. It requires intentional effort and focus. We are called to fight sin and put it to death.

• The one who called you is holy (be focused):
  It is more than a mere invitation. It is powerful and effective, bringing people out of darkness and into light. That which God demands (holiness) He graciously provides through His call. This call to be holy as He is holy has been a longstanding expectation of God for His people, being traced back to the early days of the law (Lev. 11:44-45).

• Living as strangers (conduct, reverence):
  Christ followers are distinct from the prevailing culture. This is not a matter of isolation or withdrawal, which would run contrary to God�s command to be salt and light in the world. Rather, Peter urged his readers to avoid mirroring the values and behaviors of the world that contradict the gospel.

Remind the group that to be holy is to be set apart.

Ask:

• What obstacles can we anticipate when we pursue holiness?
• Why is the pursuit of holiness a worthwhile pursuit? (PSG, p. 22)

Summarize:

People pursue things that are important to them.
Being holy as God is holy is important to the believer and worthy of pursuing.