“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
— 1 Peter 1:15–16
There are few commands in Scripture as sweeping and weighty as this: “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” These words, echoing from the pages of Leviticus and resounding through Peter’s epistle, pierce through the noise of cultural Christianity and call us back to the very heart of God’s purpose for His people.
Holiness.
It is a word that in our day has grown unfamiliar, even unwelcome. In a world drunk on autonomy and self-expression, the demand to conform to the character of a holy God sounds oppressive. Even within the church, holiness is often reduced to mere rule-keeping or quietly sidelined in favor of a gospel stripped of its sanctifying power.
But here in 1 Peter 1:15–16, we are confronted with the inescapable reality: the God who has called us is holy, and those whom He calls, He commands to reflect His holiness. This is not optional. It is not peripheral. It is essential to the Christian life.
Let us step into this sacred text and consider what it means to serve a holy God and to live as His holy people.
“He Which Hath Called You Is Holy” – The Foundation of Holiness
Peter begins not with a command but with a declaration: “He which hath called you is holy.”
Holiness belongs to God in His very essence. It is not an attribute among many but the sum of all His perfections. To say God is holy is to say He is set apart, utterly distinct, morally pure, and infinitely glorious.
The seraphim before His throne cry day and night: “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). This thrice-repeated holiness underscores its centrality to who God is.
God’s holiness means:
- He is untouched by sin (Habakkuk 1:13).
- He is righteous in all His ways (Psalm 145:17).
- He is transcendent, wholly other than His creation.
As Reformed believers, we confess that God’s holiness is not merely theoretical but relational. His holiness sets the standard for His people. The call to holiness is rooted in His own nature: “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
We are to reflect His character because we belong to Him. He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The holy God has claimed a holy people.
“So Be Ye Holy” – The Call to Sanctification
The imperative follows: “so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”
“Conversation” here means conduct, manner of life. Holiness is not restricted to the sanctuary or the prayer closet. It touches every aspect of our lives: our words, our thoughts, our relationships, our work, our leisure.
The call to holiness is comprehensive. It is not a veneer of outward morality but a deep transformation of heart and life.
1. Positional and Progressive Holiness
As Reformed Baptists, we recognize the distinction between positional sanctification and progressive sanctification:
- Positional: At conversion, we are set apart in Christ, declared holy in Him (Hebrews 10:10).
- Progressive: Throughout life, the Spirit conforms us more and more to Christ’s likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
This means holiness is both a status and a pursuit. We are holy, and we are becoming holy.
2. Holiness is Not Legalism
Holiness is often caricatured as joyless rule-keeping. But true holiness flows from love for God and delight in His commands.
Legalism seeks to earn God’s favor. Holiness springs from knowing we already have His favor in Christ.
As John Owen said: “Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing, and living out of the gospel in our souls.”
“In All Manner of Conversation” – The Scope of Holiness
Peter’s words sweep broadly: “in all manner of conversation.”
This leaves no compartment of life untouched. The Christian does not have sacred and secular spheres. All of life is lived coram Deo—before the face of God.
- In the Home: Are we patient, self-sacrificing, leading our families in the fear of the Lord?
- In the Workplace: Do we work with integrity, resisting gossip and dishonesty?
- In Private: Are our thoughts and imaginations pure, even when no one sees but God?
- In Public: Do our lives bear witness to Christ in a world watching for hypocrisy?
Holiness is not measured by our church attendance or ministry involvement alone. It is proven in how we live when no one but God is looking.
“Because It Is Written” – The Authority of the Call
Peter roots his exhortation in Scripture: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
This quotation from Leviticus (11:44; 19:2; 20:7) reminds us that holiness has always been God’s will for His people. Israel was to be distinct from the nations—not because of their superiority, but because of God’s covenant grace.
Likewise, the church is called to be set apart—not in cultural isolationism but in moral and spiritual distinctiveness. As Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
The Word of God is both the standard and the means of our sanctification. Without it, we will drift into the patterns of this world.
God’s Holiness: The Motivation and Model
Notice the motivation embedded in the command: “for I am holy.”
Our pursuit of holiness is not grounded in fear alone but in love for the One who is infinitely holy and yet draws near to sinners.
This is the wonder of the gospel: the holy God, who could have justly condemned us, instead sent His Son to redeem us and make us holy.
- Christ’s blood cleanses us from every defilement (1 John 1:7).
- The Spirit indwells us, enabling what we could never do in our flesh (Romans 8:13).
- The Father disciplines us as beloved children, training us in righteousness (Hebrews 12:10).
Holiness is not about trying harder in our own strength. It is about abiding in Christ, walking by the Spirit, and trusting God to do His sanctifying work.
Practical Pursuit of Holiness
1. Cultivate a Vision of God’s Holiness
Holiness begins with seeing God as He is. Isaiah was undone in the presence of the thrice-holy God (Isaiah 6). We too must tremble at His majesty.
2. Kill Sin Daily
John Owen warned: “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” Holiness requires vigilance, confession, and mortification of sin.
3. Embrace the Means of Grace
Word, prayer, sacraments, fellowship—these are God’s appointed tools to shape holy lives. Neglect them, and sanctification will stagnate.
4. Depend on the Spirit
Holiness is Spirit-wrought. It is His fruit (Galatians 5:22–23). Cry out for His help, for apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).
A Word of Comfort and Warning
Dear reader, do you long to be holy? That longing itself is evidence of God’s Spirit at work in you. Press on, not in despair but in hope. God promises: “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
But if there is no concern for holiness, no evidence of a changed life, let these words awaken you. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Flee to Christ, the Holy One, for cleansing and transformation.
The call to holiness is not an optional extra for the spiritually elite. It is the inevitable fruit of belonging to a holy God.
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
This is not a call to joyless legalism but to glorious Christlikeness. It is not a summons to self-reliance but to Spirit-empowered transformation.
As we behold the holiness of God, may we be a people set apart—pure in heart, zealous for good works, shining as lights in a dark world.
For the Holy One who called us is faithful. He will do it.
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