A Call To Holy Living
1 Peter 1:1-116, 1 Peter 2
Pastor N. Carlton Mullings
In the church even in the early church there were Christians who were not living a holy life. Peter writes to the church to remind us what God expects of us.
Christians are called the redeemed of God to be like God, to please God and to be what God wants us to be. When we become Christians we make a change. When we choose God we turn our backs to the things of the world and to things which are contrary to the will of God .
You cannot be a Christian without repentance, without a change in direction, focus, lifestyle & mindset. We turn from the old ways and character and turn to Christ and his way of thinking.
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:3-4 KJV
Christians must be different, we must change. We cannot serve two masters, if we seek to do so then we will be loyal to one and despise the other, otherwise there will be a state of confusion.
As a Christian we must reject that which is contrary to God’s way and will. God has called us to a life of holiness because he is holy and righteous.
In the highlighted passage Peter reminds us what is expected of us as those who have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. The dominant the e in the text is holiness.
“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.””
1 Peter 1:14, 16 NIV
Holiness has to do with abstaining from sin and being like God in everything that we do. There are 4 things involved in this call to holiness:
We are called to holiness of MIND🧠
As a mind thinks in his heart so is he, if the mind is set on something contrary to Gods way, it is going to produce as a fruit that which is contrary .
When we Barbour these things in our mind we are compelled and propelled to bring the into action.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”
Philippians 2:5
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
We are called to holiness of the the TONGUE 👅
James tells us how dangerous the tongue is, as small as it is it yield deadly power. More persons have been slain by the tongue than those killed by gunmen.
Many of us cannot control our tongues.
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James 3:5-9, 11-12 NIV
We are called to holiness of LIVING 🌴🌾🌱🌻
We cannot seek to please the world and be a Christian. We have to live a life directed by God.
Many of us fall prey to going the devil’s way and excuse ourselves into doing wrong.
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were.
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”
The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-20 NIV
We are called to holiness in LOVE ❤️😍😘
Many of us misuse the word love, we do not love as we are called to love, if we are doing so there is no room for hatred.
Many of us ate even the success of our loved ones and brothers and sisters whether in our immediate family or in the church. Jealousy of one another is not love!
When it comes to holiness of love there is no malice. Where there is holiness the barriers are gone.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-5, 7-8, 13 NIV
Holiness of living requires the proper mindset, that we control our tongues, that we put away filthy living and worldly standards and embrace life in Christ and that we express holiness in love with one another.
When Christ comes will you be one of the holy ones that will meet him in the air ?