YOU SHALL BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY

YOU SHALL BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY
1 Peter 1:13–16

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
— 1 Peter 1:13–16

Leviticus 11:44–45

“For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

God is calling us to a life of difference — a life of holiness.

Last Sunday,
We talked about God setting apart a servant for His people and commanded us to listen to Him through His servants. He reminded the Israelites of where He had brought them from — that it was His hand and power that delivered them. Through His servant Moses, God reminded them of His holiness and called them to know Him differently.

Many of us know God as the One who saves, but we rarely desire to know God as holy. Our relationship with Him must be different.

God reminded the Israelites:
“You are no longer slaves. I will walk with you and hear you. There is nothing I will hide from you as long as you keep my commandments.”
God is not calling us to negotiation — He gives us one condition: “I am holy, and you must relate with Me from the point of holiness.”

In 1 Peter, Peter is speaking to former Gentiles — people who were once uncircumcised, labeled, hated, and ashamed. But in chapter 1, God makes them right and clean through the blood of Jesus.

Peter writes to people who once lived in sin, but who have now received the grace of God. God has done a new thing in them and now calls them to resemble Him. He says, “I circumcised your hearts so that you can hear My voice, obey Me, and stand out in your life and faith. You shall be holy because I am holy.”

God says:
Resemble Me. I have circumcised your hearts.
God calls you to be like Him — not like the pastor or any other spiritual authority.

Analogy: Just as a pastor’s son resembles him, we — as children of God — must resemble our Father. God says, “You are Mine. Be like Me.” Let us aspire to be holy as He is holy.

How do we know that we are holy?

1. We are distinct from the rest
   The working of the Lord in us causes us to be different — in how we talk, reason, relate, and live with one another.

2. We are to mirror God, who is holy
   We belong to Him, and from within us should flow what resembles the Lord. Let us see ourselves as His people.

3. We become instruments of God
   Wherever the Lord places you, you become a divine instrument for a divine assignment.
   As a wife in your home, mirror God in patience and humility. Accept to become an instrument that brings God’s grace into your household.

Marks of Holiness

1. Honor God
   Reverence and worship Him — for He cannot be compared.

2. Demonstrate the love of God
   May we carry and show God’s love wherever we go.
   Often we categorize people and relate only from familiarity, but God calls us to show love that cuts across all boundaries.

3. Grow in grace
   Holiness is a journey — let us become disciples of Jesus Christ.
   At times we fall short of God’s glory, but when we sin, we must return and seek repentance.

Allow the Holy Spirit to attend to you and give you the wisdom to speak and act regardless of the circumstance.

Allow the grace of God to fill your life, for many have gone through difficult situations—some even losing money after being deceived.

Kikuyu Common Phrase: “Nīathīī nacio no ndanandinia guoko” — He/She may have stolen from me, but they didn’t go as far as cutting off my arm.

Rely on the Holy Spirit to become your teacher. Growing in grace means allowing God to teach us humility before Him and others — and being willing to admit when we are wrong. Repentance brings blessings.

Why did God love David?
Because he was a man after God’s own heart.
In your marriage or any relationship, admit when you are wrong — and in doing so, receive peace from God.

May God help us as a church.

Have you heard people say, “I do not care”?
At that point, we fall from God’s grace.
You must care — every time — so that the name of God is glorified.

I care so much because of you.
May we know the love of God, and may the blessings of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit keep you in perfect faith — not only here on earth, but also in eternity.

May God keep you, guide you, fight for you, and protect you — so that evil will never prevail over you.