Apostle Peter emphasizes living a holy life because our God is Holy:
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.
Leviticus 11:44-45
44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
Peter urges Christians to have a girded mind. A girded mind is one that is strong, composed, cool, and ready for action. He advocates for living a righteous life. Holiness is not optional; it is a command and a reflection of our relationship with God. Choosing to live a holy life starts with recognizing God’s Standard of Holiness. Holiness is God’s defining attribute. We are called to embody purity, truth, and love. We are expected to study God’s word to understand his standards of holiness, imitate his character, and consistently live by it.
But let’s not forget that Holiness is not about striving in our strength but allowing God’s spirit to work within us; for without the spirit’s power, our efforts towards holiness will fall short. God’s grace for Holiness, talked about in Titus 2:11-12 teaches that the Grace of God offers salvation to all people. Grace does not negate the need for discipline, instead, enables us to pursue holiness with the confidence that God is working in and through us.
