Holiness

Holiness:

”As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.“ 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This will be the section we will keep coming back to. As it fills in a lot about holiness, us being made holy, the need for Jesus to make us holy and how we ought to live our lives.

Take some time today on your day off and really ponder this scripture.

1) What does it mean to be Holy?

2) What do you typically think about right away when you hear the word Holy?

Holy:

”But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.“ ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Exodus‬ ‭19‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter says that we are a holy nation which puts us squarely in exodus. In exodus God tells Israel that they will be his treasured possession. A “holy nation” = set apart. Set apart from all the other nations. To be significantly different in it culture, how they eat, how they talk, how they treat their neighbor. If we go back to the creation story we see that God is the creator of all things and can not be a part of what he created. The potter is not the clay. Nor is God the created. He has always operated “other worldly” separate from his created but chooses to interact with us. Though still holy. Not if the world but in the world.

1) How does this hit you?

2) What is the significance of us being his Holy Nation today? What does this mean to you?

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