Embracing Holiness

This past Sunday we started a new sermon series on the topic of “holiness”. In this series we are walking through the book of 1 Peter. Peter wrote this letter to be shared with multiple churches in the region which is now modern-day Turkey. Many people live mundane, repetitive, status quo lives where their Monday through Friday routine is very predictable. It is not a bad life, but it is not a great life. Many of us have wondered, “is this all there is?” Scripture tells us that God’s plan is for people live lives filled with adventure and blessings; not boredom.  

In this week’s sermon, we saw how Peter reminds us that we have been saved through the grace of God in Jesus. However, many people live lives that look nearly identical to what life was like before believing in Jesus.  That is not what God intended for us. Instead, God calls us to be holy.  

First Peter 1:15 says, “as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct”. Holiness is often misunderstood as a straight-laced, well behaved, and boring lifestyle that is unattainable. Some people recoil at the thought of living a holy life, thinking it will mean never having fun. Other people misunderstand holiness as only being possible after death. Holiness is about the adventure of saying “yes” to God and experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit. Holiness is not something which is only possible after death, otherwise God would not call us to be holy. Holiness is attainable because it is God who does the work in us as we come into agreement with Him. God wants us to be holy here and now in this life.  

When we accept God’s call to holiness, we experience fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives. We find ourselves becoming more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled over time. A life of holiness is totally different than the status quo life so many people experience. It is far better. It is much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Holiness is a gift God offers to us. May we each accept that gift.