How can we hope to be Holy?

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (NIV)

This passage really shows how God calls us to holiness and how each member of the Trinity has a vital role in that calling.  First off, we have been chosen by God the Father.  In His great love for us, before the foundation of the world, His heart was for us…to choose us and to have relationship with us.  Our status, worth, and destiny are not at all determined by what people say about us, nor by our social status, wealth, talents, gifts, or education.  We are not part of God’s family by accident…He knew us while we were still in our mother’s womb.  Because of this calling, we are bound up with the Father and the Father requires holiness.

Verse 16  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  (Leviticus 11:45 and 19:2)

Regardless of the challenges we face, we are bound together with God the Father, who has called us to Him

Second, we are able to have this relationship with the Father because of the “sanctifying work of the Spirit”.  The Spirit works in harmony with the Father and Son to set His servants apart…to sanctify us and make us worthy of the high calling He has placed upon us.  Paul makes the same basic point in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 where he says they were chosen “as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” The Spirit is the agent that changes our ways, our perspectives, our language, our outlook, our habits, etc.

Finally, the Spirit sets us apart and sanctifies us so that we will be able to obey Christ, through the sprinkling of His blood…His cleansing power. 

We have to exercise obedience when we accept Christ, but obedience does not stop there.  We are called to a life of obedience and servant-hood…a life-long way of living…until that day we are perfected when we see Him face to face.

A life of holiness always involves daily repentance and cleansing…Jesus’ blood provides the means of cleansing. 

We have been chosen by God to belong to Him.  He requires holiness: the Spirit has sanctified us and set us apart as holy…as God’s special possessions (1 Pet 2:9).  This all came into motion when we chose to accept Christ as our Lord…to enter into a blood covenant with him…a covenant marked by obedience and daily renewal and cleansing by His love and power as we submit to Him (1 Pet 1:1-2)

Father, help me to remember I belong to you…your Spirit sets me apart…your Son’s sacrifice makes it possible…as I surrender all in obedience and out of a desire for relationship and salvation.