Conduct Before God, Part One: Holiness
Read closely 1 Peter 1:13-16 and refresh yourself on what we learned before in 1st Peter 1:1-12.
Believe it or not, the Lord cares about what we do—our conduct before Him, others, and in the church. As we continue in 1st Peter, we will learn just how much He cares. We are not constrained, but liberated, to conduct ourselves in a way pleasing to the Lord.
Because we are believers in a world of unbelievers, it is important to remember that the way we conduct ourselves should be different. We are walking witnesses of God’s grace, goodness, and character. Additionally, we are citizens of heaven more than the United States. Our allegiance to the King of kings is more than just lip service.
Today, we are going to spend a few minutes on only one aspect of our conduct and that conduct before God Himself. We are to be holy.
So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you. Be like obedient children, as you put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 (The Voice)
Holiness
Let me be honest with you, the first time I read this Scripture, I was a new Christian. I was both scared and frustrated. Scared because I knew there was no way I could be perfect and holy, and frustrated that God would call me to this.
As I matured my whole perspective changed. This new perspective is what we’re going to look at now. There’s a big difference between my holiness and God’s.
God’s Holiness
Would you believe me if I told you that the angels cry, “Holy! Holy! Holy is the Lord.” night and day?
Well, they do and it is not to remind God of who He is, but to remind everyone in His presence. How do I know this? I discovered in Isaiah, Chapter 6, a window into heaven. The prophet sees the Lord sitting on a grand throne with His train, or cloak, filling the temple. Heavenly creatures are waiting on Him and they sing, like a choir with one voice, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly Armies. The earth is filled with HIs glorious presence.”
But, you see, the prophet was overwhelmed at this sight – this vision into heaven. He immediately realized that he was unworthy – a human, in the presence of a holy God.
A miracle!
Isaiah understood right away he was not good enough in speech or conduct. Expecting to immediately destored because he saw God with his own eyes, Isaiah cried for mercy.
He was sinful and guilty – living among people just like himself.
Burning embers from the temple’s altar (a representation of Christ’s atoning sacrifice) were placed on his lips. The prophet was forgiven, and his guilt turned away.
When you’re praying or reading the Bible, do you ever feel unworthy and in awe of God?
Our Holiness
We, as born again believers are able to approach God, but we need Him to make us holy —not in the same manner as God’s holiness but in a manner God prepares for us. God is holy because He is God, period. We are holy—made right in His eyes and set aside for God’s purpose because He makes it so.
This is the kind of holiness we are called to.
Your minds must be prepared to act, you need to control yourself and look to Him. Be obedient and faithful. It goes without saying, it is impossible to be holy if you’re separated from the Holy One.
“You are to be holy, for I am holy.” is not a command, but an invitation.
God, in His infinite love and mercy, makes us holy enough to come to Him and prepares us to fellowship with Him. The third Person of the Trinity, the indwelling Holy Spirit, moves into our yielded souls making us His worthy masterpieces.
Holiness is a gift, a place, and yes, a miracle.
How?
We might wonder, how does this happen. How does the Holy Spirit make us holy? Notice the progression of these Scripture verses for keys to answer your question:
According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and in sprinkling with His blood: may grace and peace be multiplied to you… Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time… So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and hone at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:2-3; 5 and 7 (NIV)
Seriously, the Holy Spirit’s role in our life is paramount to our being a Christian. We might think of Him as the manifecstaion of His gifts of His fruit. But there’s more to what the Holy Spirit does for and in us. He not only caused us to be born again, He moves in our soul to sanctify us -to make us holy. This process moves at God’s pace, making us acceptable in His eyes, not on our time table.
Because of Father God’s great mercy and Christ’s resurrection, the Holy Spirit breathes life in our dead souls so we are given newness of life, but that’s not all. We are set apart for God alone for His good purposes. Furthermore, we are sanctified, cleansed, guarded, and tested to make sure we remain holy. If you’re not convinced, re-read the above passage one more time.
What Does All this Mean?
Before we can gain a clear understanding of spiritual things, it’s important to dig a little deeper into what certain words mean.
Sanctify: To be set apart for a sacred purpose, consecrated. To be free from sin. To be sanctified is holiness of life and character and the quality of being holy.
Consecrated: Devoted only to God, for life and worship.
Character: Specifically, this term deals with the attributes or features that make up and distinguish us as an individual. Here is the complexity of our mental and ethical traits. These traits me us who we as a person. We are marked by our notable and conspicuous traits. This includes our reputation, firmness and our moral courage.
The Holy Spirit is active, personal, and real. He moves according to God’s will in our life. We are devoted to God, set apart, and transformed in our character. The progressive move of the Spirit is for our good.
On our part, we need to complete yield to Him and forsake any desire to do anything that draws us away from God. Sin separates us from God and affects the process. How can we be holy if we’re not with the Holy One? It is true that we are not holy, like God is holy, but the closer we come to God, the holier and more acceptable He makes us.
“To be holy is to be morally blameless. It is to be separated from sin and, therefore, consecrated to God. The word signifies ‘separation to God, and the conduct befitting those so separated.”
Jerry Bridges.
What is your take away so far? Does this answer any of your questions concerning the concept of the Holy Spirit move in our being Holy before God. Write you comments below.
What about Approaching God?
Once we understand this move of the Holy Spirit, we will never want to approach God without thinking twice. The truth is God watches over us—knows our hearts and minds so we cannot come to Him like we can anyone else. The atoning blood of Jesus is like those burning embers on Isaiah’s lips. Jesus redeems whom He reconciles, and whom He reconciles He also makes holy in His sight.
We can approach Him without fear because we are standing righ in His sight, holy.
Forgive me, but I must remind you that your time with the Lord is non-negotiable. Enter i daily fellowship with Father God if you want to hear His voice. In the quietness of His presence we are being made holy and acceptable. In the words whispered in the soul we are transformed.
If you can’t find significant time alone with God then I suggest you carve out at least 15 minutes or 30. If you are unable to get into your Bible immediately then I suggest you read (morning and night) the Daily Light on the Daily Path. Make sure you do so prayerfully write down (in a notebook or journal) what God is speaking, instructing and teaching you. His Word never returns to Him void.
The more time you spend with God, the closer you will be to Him to live the “with-God life.
It is a given, we live in the world, but not of it. We belong to the Lord, holy and wholly His. As obedient children, you are not conformed or even loyal to anyone or anything else except God.
“He called them that they might be holy, and holiness is the beauty produced by His workmanship in them.”
Thomas Watson.
It’s all about an Examined and Sanctified Life
Don’t be content with an unexamined faith. Set your mind to think about things from God’s perspective. It’s not easy, but it is not impossible. The more time, in fellowship, we spend with them then the more we know Him, His ways, and His mind.
Granted, you will make mistakes and be corrected. You might even take a wrong turn, but God will not let you get lost. Furthermore, you’re not perfect and may sin. But God’s got your back. The truth is He will not let you fall, even if you stumble a little.
Steady your mind and be honest with yourself—be honest with God.
Showing Yourself Holy
The Lord calls us to be holy. It took time and maturity before I understood that this call was not a commandment, but an invitation. It’s not an external calling, but internal. The indwelling Holy Spirit is in you and it makes a difference. You don’t think the same as others, choose the same things, nor live the same way as the world.
True devotion to God is expressed in living holy.
“The more we appropriate God into our lives, the more progress we make on the road of Christian godliness and holiness.”
Madam Guyon
If I haven’t been clear enough, here’s a snapshot definition of the difference between our holiness and God’s:
- God’s Holiness: Exalted, worthy of complete devotion, perfect in goodness and righteousness.
- Our holiness: One devoted entirely to God – Separate and set apart for God.
In Conclusion
We’ve spent a good amount of time on God’s calling us to holiness. God calls us to be holy, but He does not leave the process to us. He works in us, through the Holy Spirit, to make us holy and acceptable to Him.
Our yielded hearts rejoice:
What you behold beholds you, so let draw near to God in spirit, truth, and holiness.
What is your take away? Please write your comments below.
Yours, in Christ
