Holiness

One of the great books of the NT which is largely underrated (I think) is 1 Peter. 

I really like its allusions to Leviticus and its appeal to Christians to take what they understand about the old covenant and apply it appropriately to the new.  It is the second half of chapter 1 that I want to reflect on.  Here Peter tells is readers to "Be holy, as the Lord, your God, is holy'.  And he quotes Leviticus 19.  Then he tells his readers what holiness looks like.

Firstly, holiness looks like hope.  Peter urges his readers to look forward to the time when the grace of Christ would be revealed.  This is a single and exclusive hope.  If we hope for anything else then we are hoping either in vain, or foolishly for things of no consequence.

Holiness also looks like faith.  Peter describes to his readers how God is faithful and just and then he urges his readers to trust their trustworthy father. 

Thirdly, holiness looks like love.  Peter urges his readers here to love each other.  And since they ave love one for another, to love one another, deeply, from the heart.  This sounds to me like the kind of love that cannot be commanded, but that which comes from a regenerate heart.

I am somewhat surprised here that what Peter considers to be the formula for holiness is faith, hope and love, what we often attribute to Paul, but which is, in fact, just New Testament theology. 

It also strikes me that here holiness is defined by action and thought.  It is an action of the mind and the heart working together in the world. 

If we have not love then we are not prioritising holiness.  If we are not prioritising holiness then we are disobeying God.  Holiness is serious business and we need to take it seriously.