There Is a Way Out

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1st Peter 1:13-16 NLT

When we start talking about love in Scripture, we are quick to point out there are 3 distinctly different types of love: eros (physical), phileo (or Philo – friend) and agape - the love that is revealed through Jesus Christ. Agape is the love that is there no matter what you do for me (eros) or who you are to me (phileo). It’s what we should aspire to – how we should do it – It is Godly.

However, more often than not, I hear many cite Peter’s response to Christ in John 21:15-17, [Christ asks if Peter loves (agape) Him and Peter replies he does love (phileo) Him] and then they use that as an excuse for their lack of love (agape) one for another. I only mention it because it seems apparent that we, as human beings, are always looking for the reserve, the safety net, the “good enough” clause - in other words - a way out.

“You must be holy because I am holy.” I immediately thought of Peter’s response regarding love, and wondered if holy really meant holy – Godly holy – on His level holy. I don’t like to think that I was looking for a way out; however, looking for a way to lower the bar is still looking for a way out…

Hagios is the Greek word used in our text today. But now you must be hagios in everything you do, just as God who chose you is hagios. For the Scriptures say, “You must be hagios because I am hagios.”  This quality of holy, according to Strong’s, “as attributed to God, is often presented in a way which involves Divine demands upon the conduct of believers.”

Being a saint is not an attainment, it is a condition – a state of being - which God in grace calls us to be. 1st Timothy 1:9 reads, "For God saved us and called us to live a holy (hagios) life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus."  We, as believers, are called to sanctify ourselves – to set ourselves apart – removing OURSELVES from all corruption, forsaking sin, and living a holy manner of life.

I found it interesting and very convicting to learn that the exact same word that we are to be - hagios – is the exact same Greek word used for the Holy One, the Holy Spirit, the Holy place, the Holy of Holies… No distinction, no clauses. No way out, as we know it…

So how do we do it?  WE don’t! We can't, except by the grace of God, 1st Corinthians 10:13 NLT assures us, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

He WILL show us a way out… His Word, not mine.

Prayer:

Father,
            We want to be holy as You are holy. Help us to realize that the only way out is by following You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen