Why holiness is beautiful

A few months ago, I met with a local pastor who had known my aunt about 20 years ago. When I mentioned the connection, he looked at me and said, 'Oh yeah. I can see the resemblance.'

We have been born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, says Peter at the start of his first epistle (paraphrased). Once we were not a people, but now we are God’s people - and as we grow, we too bear the family resemblance.

Maturing into holiness

'As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."' (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Once we lived in ignorance, and our desires were all over the place (the word 'evil' is added in the NIV to make the correct point that those desires were wrong). But just as a toddler might desire to eat a worm, being ignorant of the unpleasant consequences, so our desires were misplaced and undirected towards what is good. Now, however, we are those who are called and chosen by God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, and called to become holy. We have come to the knowledge of the truth of God in Jesus Christ – we are no longer ignorant. You have been given the privilege and honour of growing to resemble your Father.

Peter is quoting from Leviticus 19:2 in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament). Leviticus starts with the people of God unable to enter God’s tent of dwelling (the tabernacle), but through sacrifices and priests the tabernacle becomes a meeting place between the LORD and His children. Atonement removes the uncleanness of the people and they start to become holy. We bask in the light of the holy God and we start to shine with holiness. This holiness is beautiful!

A beautiful vision of holiness

While we are not under the Levitical law, we can read Leviticus 19 and marvel at the vision of holiness we are given. It includes dignifying generosity to the poor, and lips that do not slander. Holiness is sexual purity and it is respect for the elderly. Holiness includes love of neighbour and love of the resident foreigner. In 1 Peter, 'be holy in all you do' will extend to workplace and marriage, living in the world and worshipping as the church. In every part of life, you are a child called to resemble your Father.

How can we grow into this holiness? In the past our desires were wrong. But Peter will tell us to be like newborn babies – desiring (same word) pure spiritual milk so that we can grow up in our salvation, having tasted that the Lord is good (2:2-3).

Young children often say that, when they grow up, they want to do what their parents do. Our Father is good and, as we taste His goodness, we will grow up and become good like Him. Our God is holy and as His Holy Spirit directs our desires towards Christ – desires that are manifest in obedience – we will become holy as He is holy. And one day even angels will look at us and say, 'Oh yeah. I can see the resemblance with the living God.'