SEP 23

1 Peter 1:15-16
Memorise 1 Peter 1:16
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy”

God is holy. This describes His transcendence, that He is above and beyond His Creation in such a way as to be distinct from it. God is so pure that He is totally separate from all sin. When God calls us to holiness, it means that we are to be set apart from the world unto God, separate from all sin, and take Christ as our perfect benchmark for holiness. The great problem for us is, as fallen creatures, “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), how can we ever hope to be holy?

There are three aspects in which we are holy or sanctified as God’s people. The moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour, we are positionally sanctified or set apart unto God. This means that through faith, we become perfectly holy and pure in the sight of God, and no longer have to face His wrath at judgment. However, this does not mean that our lives will instantly become perfect. The next aspect of holiness is our progressive sanctification. This process will not be complete as long as we are in this mortal body, but we must actively work at it. If our faith in Christ is genuine, it will result in a life of progressive holiness. If a person is not striving against sin and seeking to grow in holiness, it is doubtful whether his faith is true saving faith. In this Scripture text before us, we are commanded to pursue holiness in all the areas of our life. The Puritians who lived in the 17th century certainly understood this for they lived out their Christianity in all aspects of life, from the most intimate aspects of married life to the most public aspects of social life. Every area of life was sacred and all activities were sanctified to the glory of God. That kind of integrated living gives us a Christian worldview that promotes holiness and eliminates hypocrisy. The final stage of our holiness will be when we meet the Lord for then we will be perfectly sanctified, given the perfect, incorruptible glorified body, and made completely like Him (1 John 3:2).

Dear teen, are you guilty of coming to church and then going your own way the rest of the week? You put on a front on Sunday and then let down your standard after that. Then it is time to repent of this sin and put your trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Do not fake your Christian life outwardly, but inwardly, you are not living in holiness. Be a total and sincere Christian, not a hypocrite. God is faithful and just to forgive your sins, if you confess them before Him (1 John 1:9). Resolve not to linger and dither, living a double life. Be whole-hearted and true-hearted for God our glorious King.

Thought: Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord. ♫
Prayer: Lord, cleanse me of my sins and I shall be whiter than snow.