Petros; Πέτρος

(A Historical, Literary, and Biblical Context for the Apostle Peter’s Epistles to the Early Church)

 “We have not chosen the wrong path  – we have followed the more difficult one. We were chosen for it.  It is no longer enough just to be on the right path – circumstances now dictate that we follow the path that leads to righteousness. It is difficult, it is costly, but it is the path. But remember, we were chosen for it. So chosen ones, with the Day of the Lord at hand, use all righteous means possible – be willing to pay any price necessary – to follow the revealed and Holy One – the Kyrios Iesous Christos.”

Core Four – The Call of God’s People to Be Holy

Highly relevant – a  Christian’s morality must be defined by the Word of God, and derived from the character of God (Who God Is) as revealed in Scripture, and then ultimately as a way of life for those who find their meaning, purpose, and the way to love in the life and person of Jesus Christ. This is the biblical roadmap to what Peter is asserting to his listeners. Cambridge professor of Theological Studies J. de Waal Dryden writes, 

“The world projected in 1 Peter is a moral universe, with God himself, the central character of the meta-narrative, defining the contours of that morality. Within that moral universe, Christian ethical norms become virtually self-evident.”  

What is clearly seen initially in the verses of I Peter chapter 1 is defining the call of God to His people to be holy by simply pointing out the opposite of what he means: “Do not be conformed as previously to the desires of your ignorance” (1:14). In other words, to be holy requires a change in one’s way of life from before when one’s behavior was determined by unrestrained impulses to sin and wrong-doing, even in—and perhaps especially in—ways accepted by godless culture or society. The call of God’s Spirit that has brought Christians to Jesus/Yeshua, is also a call to deny and shut down those sinful and wrongful “feelings-driven” impulses and abstain from certain socially acceptable customs and “less than godly” practices. Ironically, most often this makes one a stranger or outsider within one’s own cultural circle and a marginalized outcast to an anti-Christ society. Verses 14–19 present several contrasts between the former and the current state. 

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ESV

[NOTE] The word “fear” used here is the Greek word “phobos”; its original meaning and intent is… conduct yourselves with reverence, awe, and deep respect for the Sovereignty of God.

We can come back to look at these contrasts later. However, this is a good transition point to provide straight-forward conversation needed to bring practical and Biblical definition to what Peter meant by “to be holy as I am Holy.”  Of course that’s not daunting at all.

Understanding Biblical Meaning – To Be Holy as I Am Holy

I am asking you to hear me today on this Peter’s passage and this viable command and call to Biblical holiness. Hear me, not as it relates to anyone or anything other than you and your soul. 

In this highly accessible world we have limited access to certain essential commodities and knowledge. The limitations I speak of are regarding absolute and objective truth, and then the courage to seek it, find it, and then live in it and with it. Most of what we need in regard to objective and absolute truth has been culturally marginalized, minimized, emasculated, and weaponized against anyone or any mission that dare embrace and stand for it. We are exploited emotionally and psychologically and then being held hostage by the abundance of our appetites for what we desire  and by our love for, and pursuit of, hedonism (pleasure). 

So, let us be still for a few minutes and consider the matter of “being holy as He is Holy.” Let’s take a few minutes today – long enough to understand and hear what Peter was saying then  – that absolutely must be said now. The call to being holy is our remedy, not our enemy. The restorative nature of holiness is what can heal families, save communities, and correct cultures. I believe I might have chosen a subject more popular and pleasant – but then you would not love me like you do. I am sure I might have found one more easy to handle. But with great conviction, I deeply believe we could not have chosen a call and command that is more connected with what is happening in now in real-time. We could not be talking about anything more profitable to our souls. So lets start with this…

Hebrews 12:12-14

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” NKJV

You must admit it gives most of us reason for pause to hear the Word of God saying “Without holiness no man will see the Lord.” 

The goal today, by God’s help, is to examine what it means to be holy within the context of Peter’s assertion, and to provide good cause and just reason as to why it is so intensely needful. In conclusion, we must point out the only way in which this biblical holiness can be reached. In the introduction we have already, looked at this subject from a doctrinal position. It is time now to present “to be holy” in a more plain and practical point of view.

What Does it Mean “To Be Holy as He is Holy”? 

It is a hard question to answer. Not because there is a shortage of Scriptures on the subject. My concern would be that I would say what must be said, and not what simply what can be said. My heart is not to harm, hurt, or confuse but rather to teach truth, and teach it with love. My heart is to share that much needed Word from the Lord that sadly is being left on the pages of this great and wise book.  Truth – Wisdom – Hope – and our Future left unnoticed, intentionally ignored, deceptively deconstructed, and quite honestly, just not preferred by the men and women who lead, teach, influence, and communicate the principles and precepts of our great Christian faith. 

(I) Holiness is the habit or practice of being of one mind with God and His will – according His mind as described in Scripture. It is the daily practice and habit of agreeing in God’s judgment,—hating what He hates,—loving what He loves,—and measuring and processing everything in this world by the standard of His Word – not the narrative of men. He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.

(II) One who is seen as holy will work intently to avoid every known sin, and to keep every known calling and commandment. They will have a visible love for the ways of God and an obvious bias of their mind toward Him. There is a healthy desire to do His will, a greater concern of displeasing Him rather than of displeasing the world. One who is holy will feel what Paul felt when he said, “I delight in the Law of God after the inward man” (Romans 7:22), and what David felt when He said, “I esteem all Your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every way that is false.” (Psalm 119:128.)

(III) One who is considered holy will strive to be like Jesus. They will not only live a life of faith in Him, and look to Him for not only daily peace and strength, but will also work to have the mind that was in Him; “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Roman 8:29.) It will be his goal to be patient with others, and to forgive others, even as Christ forgave us. To be unselfish, even as Christ pleased not Himself, to walk in love, even as Christ loved us, to be lowly-minded and humble, even as Christ made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself. One who is holy will remember that Christ was a faithful witness for the truth,—that He came not to do His own will, that it was His meat and drink to do His Father’s will, that He would continually deny Himself in order to minister to others, that He was meek and patient under unwarranted insults, that He thought more of godly poor men than of kings, that He was full of love and compassion to sinners, that He was bold and uncompromising in denouncing sin, that He did not seek the praise of men, when He might have had it, that He went about doing good, that He was separate from worldly people, that He continued instant in prayer, that He would not let even His closest relatives stand in His way when God’s work was to be done. These are the things a holy man or holy woman will try to remember. By these virtues he or she will endeavor to shape his course and path in life. He or she will take to heart the saying of John, “He that says he abides in Christ, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6); and the saying of Peter, that “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21.) Happy is he who has learned to make Christ his “all,” both for salvation and example! We could save a lot of time, and prevent a lot of sin, if we would regularly ask ourselves the question, “What would Christ have been, if He were in my place?”

(IV) One who is thought of as holy will follow after meekness, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, government of his tongue. He will put up with a lot. Resist and abstain from a lot. Joyfully overlook a lot, and be cautiously slow to talk of themselves and their own rights and expectations. There is a bright example of this in the behavior of David when Shimei cursed him, and of Moses when Aaron and Miriam spoke against him. (2 Samuel 16:10; Numbers 12:3.)

(V) To be holy means to practice self-restraint and self-denial. Give sincere effort and intent towards resisting and managing the desires and appetites of our flesh, to put down ungodly affections and lusts, to stop internal inclinations towards the philosophies, values, and mind-set of culture and secular ideology, so that we do not have opportunity to get started in that direction and hurting the ones we love. Here is the Word from the Lord Jesus to the Apostles, “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36); and that of the Apostle Paul, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:27). In other words – reel it in, have a little discipline, and then, when and where it is appropriate – keep your negative thoughts to yourself – keep your unruly mouth shut – keep your eyes on Jesus and your faith and affection towards Him.

(VI) To be holy means to faithfully follow after the love of Christ and genuine brotherly kindness.  Be intentional and consistent to follow the golden rule of doing to others as you would have them do to you. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34–35.

Be full of affection and care towards your brothers, towards their property, their character and reputation, their feelings, and most certainly their souls. “He that loves  another,” says Paul, “has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8) One who seeks to be holy will hate all lying, slandering, backstabbing, cheating, dishonesty, and unfair and unethical business dealing, even in the smallest and simple things. 

(VII) To be holy means to follow after the true spirit of mercy and generosity towards others. Do not waste an entire day doing nothing good – every day do something good for God. One who is holy will not be simply satisfied with doing no harm—they will try to do good. They will work at to being useful or helpful each day and to their generation, to work the problem of spiritual wants and misery around them, as much as possible. An example was Dorcas, “full of good works and alms and deeds, which she did; sewing clothing, collecting and distributing food, organizing service and support of widows, orphans, homeless, and the sick and afflicted. (Acts 9:36) She did not simply talk about it – she was all about it. This is the heart of the Apostle Paul – “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (II Corinthians 12:15).