“Be Holy, for I am Holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). This is a call that rings upon every page of Scripture. It stretches from the foundation of the world to the end of time. From a people enslaved in Egypt to the redeemed of all ages. Its foundation is eternal, because it stands within the very nature of our Holy God. So, let’s consider the holiness of God our Savior and see what we can learn from Him.
The call to holiness is an undeniable command, but as His people, we must understand it to be an invitation and a privilege that we dare not take for granted (Matt. 11:28-30). It is a call to be “conformed to the image of [the Son of God]” (Rom. 8:29), which means that we have the ability to be like Him and take on the characteristics of our God. Yet, there must be an understanding of the great challenge that comes with the privilege. We all have sinned (Rom. 3:23), and we all sin from time to time (1 John 1:8-9). Yet, we are called to be more like Him Who had no sin? That is quite the challenge (1 Pet. 2:21; Rev. 14:3-4)! Yet, when we strive to be Holy as Christ is holy, we reap the great blessings that our God has promised to those who “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7; Psalm 1:1-3).
Therefore, let’s consider reasons to be holy as Christ is holy. First, Christ’s Holiness resides in the fact that He is Jehovah (John 1:1; Isa. 6:1-4; Hab. 1:13), and if Christ is Holy, then EVERYTHING and EVERYONE associated with Him must maintain Holiness (Psalm 15:1). Additionally, Christ’s holiness was demonstrated in a physical body. In Hebrews 12:14-18, we learn that Christ “shared in the same” flesh and blood, and “in all things, He had to be made like” us. In the words of Hebrews 4:15, “We do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” These are encouraging passages because they tell us that His holiness was manifested in a physical body, and you and I are able to live up to the challenge of holiness, because He is our example.