1 Peter 1:16

1 Peter 1:16 ‘because it is written, “You shall be holy, for. am holy”'

‘because it is written' -‘the verb is in the perfect tense in Greek, thus indicating past action with existing results. Expanded, the phrase means, It was written and now remains as. record.' (Woods p. 43) 1. This truth stands as valid. It is not changed by time or culture. God has always required holiness of those professing to be His people. 2. The statement is found in Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7; Leviticus 26:3. Notice the word ‘because': Why should we do something? Peter's response, ‘Because God said so.'

‘You shall be holy' -Seeing that God demanded holiness of Israel in the Old Testament (Exodus 2:5; Leviticus 20:26). This verse infers that Christians are the Israel of God today (1 Peter 2:9-10). ‘God is the same in both testaments, and the revelation in them is consistent and unified from God as its source, God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 13:6)'. (Hamilton p. 44) Therefore we must reject any teaching which implies or argues that morality purity is something which Christians need not concern themselves.

POINT TO NOTE: Someone might object, ‘But how can. be holy like God is holy?' 1. The verse implies that one can be honest and sincere. Therefore, we must reject the idea that no one is serving God from pure motives. 2. The verse demands that man can practice true love, true forgiveness, that people can develop and have pure minds (1 Peter 4:8), etc….3. The level of purity God expects of us is the level described in the following passages (Matthew 5:44; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 5:1; Colossians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:3). 4. Again, holiness isn't something that is forced upon us, rather, it is something we must choose. 5. Since we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), the command to act and think in. godly manner should be something within the reach of all. It also should be something of which all could see the value in and learn to love and appreciate (1 John 5:3; Psalms 19:7 ff). It also should be. way of life that ‘fits' (Matthew 11:28).