P’s & Q’s A Call to Holy Living

Separate 1 Peter 1: Corinthians 6:14-18

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

1 Peter 1: Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober- minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

What is Holiness? Separate – something used for a specific purpose only, not profane or common. Unique – different from all other things like it, in a league of its own.

Stark Contrast Holiness means we be salt and light in the world. – Salt makes things tasty and provides flavor, as well as preserving meat so it doesn’t rot. – Light reveals what is truly there, the things we would not have noticed, a different perspective, to shed light on a situation. Being different means that we bring a unique godly perspective to a world void of God’s perspective.

Accountable As we live out holiness, it requires our minds to will and obey the Spirit’s prompting. Holiness is not about comparable behaviors. We can’t compare our holiness to others, only to Christ. Holiness calls us to a high standard that is observable by God, other believers, and those in the world.

My Life What is one area, action or thought process that God wants to change in you today? Write it down and pray about it. Find Scriptures on how to be holy in it. Will you be obedient to the Spirit and endure the pain of change so that you can be more pleasing to God?