Be Holy

1Peter 1:15-16 But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy. 

‘So be you holy in all manner of conversation’ paganism scarcely produced a god whose example was not the most abominable. Their greatest gods were paragons of impurity, of sexual excess and perversion. Here Christianity has an infinite advantage over heathenism. God is holy and He demands all His followers to be like Him (1:15-16; Heb. 12:14). All impure conversations must be avoided at all cost (1Cor. 15:33; Matt. 12:36).

‘Be you holy; for I am holy.’ This verse is quoted from Leviticus 11:44. If men are not holy, they are not saved; if they are saved, they are holy. In fact, every born again person is holy according to 1John 2:29; 3:5-10; 5:1-4, 18; 2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:24; etc. No man will have any part in the first resurrection [rapture] without holiness of life: “Blessed AND HOLY is he that has a part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4-6; 22:11). The following Scripture also commands holiness: “That we . . . might serve him without fear, IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:74-75); “Even so now yield your members’ servants TO RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO HOLINESS . . . you have your fruit UNTO HOLINESS, and the end everlasting life” (Rom. 6:16-23); “For if the first fruit BE HOLY, the lump is ALSO HOLY: and if the root BE HOLY, SO ARE THE BRANCHES” (Rom. 11:16); “Present YOUR BODIES a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12:1); “You are the temple of God . . . the temple of God IS HOLY, which temple you are” (1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20); “Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God” (2Cor. 7:1); “He has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME before Him in love” (Eph. 1:4); “And that you put on the new man, which after God is created IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS” (Eph. 4:24) “That it [the body of Christ] should BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH” (Eph. 5:25-27); “To present you HOLY AND UNBLAMEABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE in his sight” (Col. 1:20-23; 3:12); “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but UNTO HOLINESS” (1Thess. 4:3-7); “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all THE HOLY BRETHREN” (1Thess. 5:27); “Who has saved us, and called us with an HOLY CALLING” (2Tim. 1:9); “That they be in behaviour AS BECOMETH HOLINESS.. . Teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” (Titus 2:3, 11-14); “Wherefore, HOLY BRETHREN, partakers of the heavenly calling. . . Follow peace with all men, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God” (Heb. 3:1; 12:10, 14).

Modern religionists can argue all that they want to that no man can be holy and live free from sin, but it is certainly clear that no man who does not live this way will ever see God in peace. If men cannot live this way, then there cannot be any such thing as Christians and saved men either now or in eternity. Men do not have to belong to any particular group who are classed as holiness on Earth, but it is certain that without being holy in God they are lost, so let us all become holy in Christ. The new birth means more than a mere profession of faith that Jesus is the Son of God or that one is saved because of water baptism, attendance of a religious nature, partaking of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, and a lot of other substitutes that some men are trusting in to save their souls. One must become honest and face facts and be saved the Bible way or be lost. The responsibility of conforming to truth is yours. You will be saved or lost as you accept the message of God and obey the gospel.  Give your life to God and do not be satisfied with anything short of becoming a new creature in Christ and then you can experience eternal life.