“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

This is a true statement: Jesus Christ died so that we can have eternal life. But after receiving Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we are called to live a set-apart life, a holy life. And the Word of God is our Instruction Manual on how to live that life.

2 Timothy 3:16 says:

“(All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

As we stay in the Word of God, the Lord will wash us and continuously cleanse us through the Word. This process is known as Sanctification.

The problem with us is that we think we can get “saved” and live like we want to live; or that we can get “saved” and hang on to some of our old ways. The Psalmist said in Psalms 1:2:

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

“Meditate” in Hebrew means by implication to ponder. A Scripture we need to daily meditate on is 2 Corinthians 5:17:

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

At times, especially when I’m talking to people who knew the old me, I have to remind myself that I am a new creature, because I will catch myself talking the way I used to talk. Not that I would necessarily talk about anything ungodly; but that old slang would show up. Some people might not find anything wrong with that; but as my wife so plainly put it, holiness has a standard.

Peter instructs us in 1 Peter 1:16 (which he quotes from Leviticus 11:44):

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

We are called to live a holy life, because the One who called us is holy. We all love to be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people; but we’re not too quick to be called “holy,” because that calls for a set-apart lifestyle. But Hebrews 12:14 informs us to

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”