In last week’s passage, Peter began the call to his readers to be holy. In this week’s passage, he brings that call to completion, and gives it the force of a command.

Take a look for yourself at this passage in 1 Peter 1:15-16.

This passage rings with the force of Old Testament authority. All throughout the Old Testament, God calls his people to “be holy.” Over and over, this theme is repeated in the pages of the Old Testament, and especially in the book of Leviticus. Peter’s call to holiness almost exactly mirrors the passage found in Leviticus 19:2, which is a portion of what is called the the “Holiness Code.”

Peter states very clearly that, as children of God, we are to emulate him. This is a theme that Peter will return to several times in his letter, and has already been seen in verse 2. Peter will refer to the concept of holiness many more times, especially in 2:4-10. His point is that we are to live as people wholly dedicated to God and his work on the earth.

Peter stresses the point that we are to be holy in all that we do. This phrase is used by Peter several more times throughout his two letters. And it is only used five other times in the rest of the New Testament. Translated “in all you do,” it could be more accurately rendered “in all your way of life.”

It is clear. In every aspect of our lives, we are to pursue the holiness, just like that of the Father. As he stated in the previous verses, the former way of life is futile.

We are called to something greater.

We are called to holiness.

Question: How do you maintain holiness in your life? Are there any disciplines that you have found to be especially helpful? You can leave a comment by clicking here.