An Invitation to All Manner of Holy Living

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16

All Manner Of…• Phrase peculiar to KJV

– 31 times in the Old Testament– 10 times in the New Testament

• Greek (pas) “all, any, every, the whole”

• Actual Greek word is very common and appears 1075 times in the New Testament

• Inclusive – i.e. the call to holiness involves every aspect of the Christian’s life

All Manner of… (New Testament Usage)• “...evil” (Matt. 5:11)• “...sickness and all

manner of disease” (Matt. 10:1)

• “...sin and blasphemy” (Matt. 12:31)

• “...herbs” (Lk. 11:42)

• “...fourfooted beasts” (Acts 10:12)

• “...concupiscence” (Rom. 7:8)

• “...conversation” (1 Pet. 1:15)

• “...vessels of ivory; ...vessels of precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble” (Rev. 18:12)

• “...precious stones” (Rev. 21:19)

1 Peter 1:13-16Therefore gird up the loins of

your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

The Basis for the Invitation to HOliness• Peter’s quote, “Be holy, for I am

holy” taken from Leviticus• The phrase bookends a portion of

scripture listing laws prescribed by God to maintain the purity of His people.(Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:1-2; 20:7)

Leviticus 11:44-45“For I am the LORD your God.

You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Leviticus 19:1-2And the LORD spoke to Moses,

saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”

Leviticus 20:7“Consecrate yourselves therefore,

and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.”

The Basis for the Invitation to HOliness• Peter’s quote, “Be holy, for I am holy”

taken from Leviticus• The phrase bookends a portion of

scripture listing laws prescribed by God to maintain the purity of His people.(Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:1-2; 20:7)

• God’s invitation or call to man to be holy is based in His own Character!(James 1:13; Isaiah 40:25-26; Psalm 78:41)

James 1:13Let no one say when he is tempted,

“I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

God is perfect in His holiness. To the point where He can not be tempted by evil. (Evil has no place with God, and should not with His people!)

Isaiah 40:25-26“To whom then will you liken Me,

Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

Psalm 78:41Yes, again and again they tempted

God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.

The phrase “Holy One of Israel” appears a total of 31 times in the KJV of the Old Testament.

An Important Consideration...

• As God is perfect in His holiness, it is His prerogative to define what Holiness is!

• Men have no authority to define Holiness“I don’t see anything wrong with it”“It seems to me...”“My God wants me to be happy”

• God’s Word is the final arbiter as to what constitutes a Holy life(Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12; Romans

10:1-3)

Jeremiah 10:23O LORD, I know the way of man is

not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Proverbs 14:12There is a way that seems right

to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Romans 10:1-3Brethren, my heart's desire and

prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

(cf. Nadab & Abihu, Leviticus 10:3)

Leviticus 10:3And Moses said to Aaron, “This is

what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’” So Aaron held his peace.

Sin disregards the holiness of God!

The Holiness of Man• Holiness is perfected in God, but not

man• For us to be holy, we must put forth

strenuous effort!(Ephesians 4:22-24)

Ephesians 4:22-24That you put off, concerning your

former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The Holiness of Man• Holiness is perfected in God, but not

man• For us to be holy, we must put forth

strenuous effort!(Ephesians 4:22-24)

• If we really apply ourselves, it is possible to attain a high degree of holiness(2 Corinthians 7:1)

2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, having these promises,

beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Holiness of Man• Holiness is perfected in God, but not man• For us to be holy, we must put forth

strenuous effort!(Ephesians 4:22-24)

• If we really apply ourselves, it is possible to attain a high degree of holiness(2 Corinthians 7:1)

• Holiness is something that is required of us by God(Hebrews 12:14)

Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with all people, and

holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Holiness in Our Relationships

•With our Brethren (1:22-25; 3:8-15)•With those in the World (2:11-12; 4:3-

5)•With the Governing Authority (2:13-

14)•With our Spouses (3:1-7)

Remember the principle: It is God who defines what is appropriate, or holy in these relationships. What does the Word say?...

Invitation to Holiness in our Relationship to the Brethren• The basis of that holy relationship is

Love– Sincere (without hypocrisy) brotherly

love– Fervent love (agape) that is pure (clean)(1 Peter 1:22-25)

1 Peter 1:22-25Since you have purified your souls in

obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Invitation to Holiness in our Relationship to the Brethren• The basis of that holy relationship is

Love– Sincere (without hypocrisy) brotherly love– Fervent love (agape) that is pure (clean)(1 Peter 1:22-25)

• Love leads to compassion, tenderheartedness, courtesy, blessing, doing good, peace seeking.– Note also to all – “doing good” “sanctify

the Lord God in your hearts”(1 Peter 3:8-15)

1 Peter 3:8-15Finally, all of you be of one mind,

having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it...

1 Peter 3:8-15, cont...... 12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the

righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Invitation to Holiness Towards

Those in the World• The emphasis here is influence– Requires a godly life (abstinence)– The world will look for hypocrisy in our

profession(1 Peter 2:11-12)

1 Peter 2:11-12Beloved, I beg you as sojourners

and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Invitation to Holiness Towards

Those in the World• The emphasis here is influence– Requires a godly life (abstinence)– The world will look for hypocrisy in our

profession(1 Peter 2:11-12)

• Some will “think it strange”– But, you can’t influence another to

righteousness unless you yourself are righteous!

(1 Peter 4:3-5)

1 Peter 4:3-5For we have spent enough of our

past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Invitation to Holiness Toward

The Governing Authorities• Obedience to the ordinances

established by the government is obedience to God!– King... Or to Governors– Evildoers/Punishment;

Good-doers/Praise(1 Peter 2:13-14)

1 Peter 2:13-14Therefore submit yourselves to

every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

(cf. Romans 13:1-3)

Romans 13:1-3Let every soul be subject to the

governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Invitation to Holiness Toward

Our Husbands or Wives• For the wife, submission and

chastity– Convert without a word– A beautiful (gentle and quiet) spirit(1 Peter 3:1-6)

1 Peter 3:1-6Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own

husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Invitation to Holiness Toward

Our Husbands or Wives• For the wife, submission and

chastity– Convert without a word– A beautiful (gentle and quiet) spirit(1 Peter 3:1-6)

• For the husband, extending understanding and honor– The position of headship makes

necessary the practice of love(1 Peter 3:7)

1 Peter 3:7Husbands, likewise, dwell with

them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

cf. Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”

ConclusionTherefore, having these promises,

beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1Consider this your invitation to begin living a manner of life characterized

by holiness.

“Because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”