As obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14–16.
The statement that ends 1 Peter 1:14-16 is a quote from Leviticus 11 about clean and unclean animals based around ritual purity. This doesn't seem very applicable to our lives today, but in the spirit of the claim, it is the very vitality of our lives as it says, "since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" Peter is making a statement, "for it is written."
The Lord has spoken and written it down for all history to know what has been declared by the God of the universe. As believers, we are commanded to be holy. Now, what does it mean to be holy? It means, in its most fundamental way, that we can understand that we, as believers, are to be different and set apart as God is different and set apart.
God is not defiled or sinful or a part of the fallen ways. So, God is telling us to be a part of his realm, not our realm of relativity. His realm is of all the fullness of goodness. His very nature is holy. This is why it is essential to understand God's holiness.
It isn't setting out a standard impossible for those "born again" (1 Pet. 1:3) because those born again to a living hope can withstand the sinful nature that so easily entangles us. We cannot touch the "dead animal" using the words of Leviticus. Do not touch what is dead because it will produce more death. Now, these are actual dead animals. Leviticus 19 takes this similar phrase, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy," and takes it to idolatry and family.
Before all of the congregation or all the people of Israel Moses was to tell them to be holy, "Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God” (Le 19:3–4).
So, revere our parents. Keep holy days holy (as in all the days of your life). Do not make idols. Commands. Great, I am supposed to keep all these commands. No, you are called to turn to the Lord "to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" 1 Pe 1:3.
We are supposed to see that touching the one that died and resurrected makes us alive with him. Paradoxical. I can't touch the dead, but touching the resurrected from the dead one gives me the ability to die to sin and live to Christ.
By worshiping the very image of God, Jesus Christ, I will be given the power not to worship this age's images (idols). By giving up my earthly mother and father's standards and adopting the holy father's, I revere the most incredible father of all, Yahweh God.
I am accepted as a child, born again to a living hope. I can now see that holiness isn't difficult; it is simple. When I have my life leave my relativity and my selfishness, all the sinful nature seems to die with the sins it used to make me commit in my previous life.
Now, I stand holy with my holy father, holy Lord, and holy spirit. I am now a child of God and very much like my father, holy – other, not of this world, dead to death, alive to God, undefiled from the ways of worldly lusts. So, let us be holy for he is holy, after all, it is written.
Brady Roser is lead pastor at The Bridge Church in Carson City.