08/19/2026
Thoughts from the pastor:
I’ve been teaching for the past few weeks on sanctification at church, and I wanted to share just a bit of Sunday morning’s lesson.
I Peter 1:15-16
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
This passage is a call to holiness or holy living. I have been draw to a couple of the meanings of the word “as” in verse 15. My understanding is that this phrase can be interpreted as “Because (as) He which hath called you is holy…” or as “Like (as) He which hath called you is holy…” Both interpretations result in a call to holiness.
There is no argument against the belief that God is holy.
- Hannah, in her song of praise to God in I Samuel 2 stated that “There is none holy as the LORD…”
- Isaiah 40:25 “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”
- Isaiah and John got a peak into Heaven where the angels (Isaiah 6) and the beasts (Revelation 4) were found to be singing “Holy, holy, holy.”
How holy is God? The references to God being holy are referring to God’s:
- Absolute morale purity
- Perfection
- Complete separation from sin
I see this passage as stating that since God is holy, we are to be holy like He is. We need to have Him instill in us His morals. We need His grace to make us perfect. We need to be separated from sin.
Lastly, the passage tells us to be holy in all manner of conversation. This goes far beyond the words that one speaks with another. Some definitions I have found for the Greek word interpreted to “conversation” here include “way of life” and “habit of behavior.” Our conversation includes our:
- Behavior
- Lifestyle
- Daily conduct
- Attitude
- Treatment of fellow man
- Words
- Thoughts
- Will
- Desires
As I look inwardly in trying to apply the Word of God to me, I see so much of a need in me of God’s Holiness. I see how badly I need every part of my life to be sanctified. I want to be set apart unto God for His use and to His purpose. My desire is for myself, my family, and my church to be wholly holy.
Finally, I want to give you something that Oswald Chambers is quoted as saying. He said, “Sanctification isn’t my idea of what I want God to do for me. It’s God’s idea of what He wants to do for me.”
God bless you all!
