You Shall Be Holy (Part Two)

“but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’ ” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NAS)

Ok, we continue our study on the apostle Peter’s inspired use of an Old Testament quote found in the book of Leviticus. As we mentioned last week, there are about five different times in Leviticus that the LORD, through Moses, states that as He is holy, so are the people to be holy. We offered Leviticus 11:44-45 as an example of the passage that most closely reflects the word for word utterance from the mouth of Peter. Take a moment and reread that passage at your convenience and know with confidence that just as the Israelites were delivered from bondage and the dominion of the Egyptians, so God has delivered us from bondage to Satan and his dominion. We’ve been delivered into His protective, holy presence in heaven, acceptable to stand before Him, blameless and without reproach, part of the promised inheritance which will properly motivate us to employ practicing holiness.

You Shall Be Holy (Part One)

“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’ ” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NAS)

We’re return to the apostle Peter’s first epistle to take a look at His initial inspired use of an Old Testament quote. It is one that reaffirms in the New Covenant the principle that as God’s people, we are to be holy as He is holy. Now, there are many in the religious marketplace who would say it is controversial to take this as a plain, straight forward statement given Peter from the throne in heaven, with that exact expectation from the Lord. We’ll discuss that further as we move through our study on this principle found in Peter’s quote. First some background.

Chosen To Excel In Proclaiming His Excellencies (Pt 4)

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, a royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9 (NAS)

Today we will close out our series of studies on the Old Testament allusions and quotes cited by the apostle Peter related to our chosen text of 1 Peter 2:9.

Chosen To Excel In Proclaiming His Excellencies (Pt 3)

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, a royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9 (NAS)

We continue the study of our text from the inspired pen of the apostle Peter, tilling the rich content of our chosen verse for the Old Testament quotes that are there for our benefit. We are in our third installment on this series dealing with the church being God’s “holy nation”. 

Chosen To Excel In Proclaiming His Excellencies (Pt 2)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9 (NAS)

Last week we began our inquiry into our chosen text (no pun intended!) from the pen of Peter looking specifically into the inspired citations of Old Testament passages that are packed into this one verse. As we mentioned last week, these attributes are designed to equip and motivate us to excel in proclaiming His excellencies to a world lost in darkness. This purpose, the Lord determined, is done best by communicating who He has made us, the church, to be in Christ.

Chosen To Excel In Proclaiming His Excellencies (Pt 1)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9 (NAS)

Peter, in his first inspired letter, demonstrates a pattern he utilizes as he is preparing to make an allusion or reference to an Old Testament passage. He inserts one of two words prior to his reference, using either ‘but’, or ‘for’ in the immediate context. Take a look and see for yourself. Check out 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1:24-25, 2:6-8, 2:9-10, 2:21-22, 3:10-12, 3;14, 4:17-18, and 5:5.

He Is The God Of The Living

“But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living. ” Matthew 22:31-32

Last week we looked at the  law of Levirate marriage (Deut. 25:5-11) and the customs associated with it.  The issue was raised in the context of  a question posed by the Sadducees designed to trap Jesus.  (Matt. 22:24-28)

Raise Up An Offspring

On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Him and questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES, HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP AN OFFSPRING TO HIS BROTHER.’ ” Matthew 22:23-24 (NAS)

As one reads through the Gospel accounts, an attentive eye will note that Satan wasn’t the only one who attempted to trap Jesus with quoted Scripture. The Sadducees, Pharisees and Herodians had all taken their shots at it with the Master.

Thrown Down By Pride, Lifted Up In Humility

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” James 4:6 (NAS)

Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, told the assembled multitude “You are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:48) No amount of massaging that passage is going to get you around the thrust of Jesus’ statement.

You Have Heard What The Ancients Were Told

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ ” Matthew 5:33 (NAS)

In the fifth chapter of the gospel of Matthew, the Spirit moves the apostle to note the six times Jesus uses the phrase  “you have heard that the ancients were told”, or “you have heard that it was said” as He delivered the sermon on the mount. The topics involved were murder, adultery, divorce, vows, retaliation, and love of not only your neighbor, but your enemies.