A Call to Holy Living

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)

I wanted to expound a bit on this passage of scripture. The book of 1 Peter was written by the Apostle Peter to Christians around Rome. This is important to understand when considering the message of the letter. If it were written to unbelievers it would take on an entirely different meaning.

Peter instructs to be God’s obedient children. Being careful not to slip back into your old lifestyle. Clearly it is evident that when an individual surrenders to Jesus, repenting of their sin they are responsible to life different from before their decision to follow Jesus. This message has been overlooked by many that preach the Gospel today.

The message of salvation is delivered without following up with repentance and transformation. Believer’s did not know how to live any better prior to believing in Jesus. Now they need to understand they are called to be holy in everything they do even to be holy as God is holy.

In the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus shares character traits that he desires all that follow him to apply to their lives. Jesus told Peter, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” If you love Jesus and have decided to follow Him you must follow his commandments. In his teaching, he broke them down fairly simplistic, “Love God and Love others.”

Living life in this manner removes many obstacles. Loving others constitutes respecting them and their opinions even if they are wrong. Defending your faith does not entail arguing and becoming angry when others oppose you or live different than you. Loving them involves sharing the Gospel of Jesus. How can we love someone and not share the gift of eternal life?

The end of this passage compels the believer to live holy. This is living Xtreme. We are only holy because of Jesus’ redeeming blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Once we are followers of Jesus we are responsible to live holy. The Holy Spirit will bear witness to our spirit as to our heading towards sin. The believer then makes the decision to sin or flee.

Who and where we associate has a profound influence on remaining holy. Jesus did keep company with sinners and we cannot witness to sinners unless we go to them. However, we are to remain separate from the world. “Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.” Jesus was in the company of sinners but did not act as the sinner. If you are going to struggle by visiting your old hangouts then don’t go there.

Be Xtreme as God is Xtreme! Live the life that he has called all believers to live.