How Do I Be Holy?
Is it even possible to be holy? Don't I have to wait until Heaven? The Apostle Peter helps answer these questions.
One of the primary purposes of 1 Peter was to encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith while enduring persecution. Written by the apostle Peter, likely from Rome around AD 62–64, the letter addressed Christians scattered across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). These believers faced hostility for their faith in a pagan society, ranging from social ostracism to potential state-sponsored persecution under Emperor Nero.
Drawing on Old Testament themes, Peter ties the believers’ suffering to the example of Christ. Anticipating the further battles these believers would face, Peter says in 1 Peter 1:13-16:
13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
The King James Version provides perhaps the most vivid interpretation of verse 13 when it says, “gird up the loins of your mind,” for this imagery is that of a soldier or worker preparing for action. In verse 16, Peter quotes from Leviticus 11:44-45, where God says to his people:
44 “For I am the Lord your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. Do not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy.”
From the beginning of time, God wanted his people to understand he was a holy God, and they were to be a holy people. In fact, the entire purpose of the “clean” and “unclean” food laws in the Old Testament was so God’s people could have visual object lessons on holiness. God had a clear-cut standard for recognizing what was acceptable to him in food, and he also has clear-cut standards for recognizing what is holy.
In verse 15, the command “Be holy” carries three key grammatical insights that highlight its significance. First, it is written in the present tense, emphasizing an ongoing and continuous state of holiness. We are called to remain holy and not just occasionally act in holy ways. Second, it is in the passive voice, reminding us that holiness is not something we can achieve on our own but requires God’s transformative work in us. Finally, it is in the imperative mood, making it clear that this is not a suggestion but a direct command from God. We are to pursue holiness actively and consistently, relying on him to make us holy.
Holiness is a separation from that which is common and ordinary. But it is not just about being set apart; it is about being set apart for something. That “something” is a life that reflects God’s character and love.
Holiness is not removing ourselves from the world to live in isolation. Instead, it’s engaging with others in a way that demonstrates God's purity and love. This relational aspect of holiness enables us to love God and others fully. True holiness is transformative, shaping us into Christlike people who embody God’s purpose in every area of life.
The good news is that God doesn’t just call us to be holy. He empowers us to be holy. The same God who calls us to be holy also gives us the grace and power to live it out. As 2 Timothy 1:9 says, "[God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Ultimately, the goal of holiness is to become like Jesus. When we surrender our lives to him, his Spirit dwells in us, guiding us toward Christlikeness. This process involves continually conforming to his image, removing anything that hinders our pursuit of him. As Tara Beth Leech writes, “When we remain in Christ—that is, when we continue a life fully surrendered—we are transformed into the life of holiness. When we don’t remain in Christ—when we live a life in defiance to Jesus—our life will reflect the decay and brokenness of this world.”[1]
Philippians 1:6 assures us that the work God began in us will be completed. As we strive toward holiness, we grow in our ability to love God and others with a purity and depth that reflects the heart of Jesus. Holiness is not perfection but a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ.
God has called you to be holy, and he has empowered you to be holy.
[1] Tara Beth Leech, Live in the Light: Radiating the Hope of the Letters of John―A 6-Week Bible Study (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, n.d.), 57.
