Our holy calling

“… but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” (1 Peter 1:15).

With great power comes great responsibility. So said Peter Parker’s uncle in the Spiderman movie.

It has been 35 years since the Lord Jesus Christ saved me. And it has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the child of the true and living God. However, Scripture reminds us that privileges and responsibilities go together. In being blessed with salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to bear the fruits of salvation. 

Let us look at some of these fruits from the first two chapters of 1 Peter.

The fruit of holiness (Vv. 15-21)

In being blessed with salvation, we are called to bear the fruits of salvation

In Christ, we are made holy when we are saved. But we are also encouraged to pursue holiness with every waking moment. There are three things we should consider about holiness:

• The standard of holiness. In verse 15, we see that God’s holiness is the standard or pattern that we are called to. In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul describes our calling as holy. Yes, we are still in our flesh—fragile and vulnerable to sin. We can’t be perfect just yet. But, fellow Christians, that should deter us from pursuing our holy calling, trusting in the Lord to produce the fruit of purity.
• The extent of holiness. Our pursuit of God in holiness should permeate all areas of life, all manner of conduct.
• The reason for holiness. In verses 14 and 17, Peter refers to our relationship with God—like that of children with their father—as a basis to be holy. In verse 16, he calls on Scripture’s authority to stir us to holiness. In verse 17, he commands us to steer clear of sin by warning us about our Father’s loving discipline. And in verses 18-21, he prompts holiness by reminding us that we do not belong to ourselves, but to God, who bought us with a price.

The fruit of love (Vv. 22-23)

The command to love, as given here, is unfeigned—genuine, fervent, consistent, and sacrificial—in nature. It does not look at the merit of our brother, and it is pure in the sight of God. Such love is not merely to be taught or preached; it is to be practical. 

And as difficult as it seems, believers have such love. Romans 5:5 says that God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us. 

Consider the reasons Peter offers to evoke our love for one another. In verse 22, he says that, in believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, our life was set apart to a sincere love for the brethren. In verses 23-25, he undergirds this truth on the eternal nature of the word of God and the imperishable nature of our regeneration.

The fruit of worship (1 Peter 2:5)

In believing the gospel, our life was set apart to a sincere love for the brethren

We know—and have been taught a hundred times—that, as a child of God, our life should be full of worship. But what do we mean when we say this?

Consider some examples the Bible gives for worship: spiritual service to the faith of fellow believers (Philippians 2:17); material or financial support (Philippians 4:18); doing good to others (Hebrews 13:15-16); surrendering our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2); ministering the gospel to the Gentiles (Romans 15:16); and offering intercessory prayers for fellow saints (1 Timothy 2:1-3). 

The fruit of worship can take any of the forms mentioned above. A Bible teacher summarised the point beautifully when he said that “worship is the loving response of the redeemed unto the Lord at the remembrance of the work and person of God!” 

Called to be holy

Some of us are many years and decades into our Christian lives. Some of us are just starting our walk with the Lord. Either way, may we grow in faithfully carrying out our holy calling, remembering the blessedness of our great salvation. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have given the right to become Your children to all who have received the Lord Jesus, to those who have believed in His Name. What a privilege for depraved wretches like us. Thank you for this privilege. Thank you for reminding us of our responsibilities to You as Your children. Help us, O Lord, to desire to be holy just as you are, to love one another, and to worship You in spirit and truth. In the precious Name of our Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.