“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 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 1:14-16)

We are always being encouraged by the writers of God’s Word through, or by, the Power of the Holy Spirit (who is God) to act out, or to be, the new person that He has made us in His Son, Jesus Christ.

God knows that we have been made new creatures in Christ Jesus:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

And He also knows that we yet battle with our old nature, or the old man.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:17)

“But ye have not so learned Christ;” (Ephesians 4:20)

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:” (Ephesians 4:21)

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” (Ephesians 4:22)

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” (Ephesians 4:23)

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)

And to support the above verses, read the following:

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” (Romans 8:12)

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13)

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

More simply put, God wants His Children to look like their Father, and not like children of the devil. When the Scripture speaks, as it does in verse 16 of our text, it speaks of something that has been said by Almighty God Himself and recorded by man. And we know that if God said it, then that settles it!

Just as God said “…Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3); even so, when He said “Be ye holy; for I am holy”; we became holy. Both are written, or recorded, so that we can know and understand what God has already done (accomplished) without our help.

But God wants us to put His finished work on display through our daily lives here on earth. And He wants us to represent Him in all that we say and in all that we do – in all manner of conversation.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)