Message Twelve

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

1st Peter 1:14

A teenager was taken from an orphanage into the heart and home of a Christian couple. Day after day he was amazed at their graciousness and godliness. They fell in love with him, and they took him to court where he legally and officially received the name of his foster father, Thompson. From that day on he was known as Andrew Thompson. One day as he was going to town, he met some of his old friends. Pulling a couple of bottles from their pockets, some dice and a deck of cards, they said, "Come with us like you used to. We're going to the old clubhouse to do a little drinking and gambling." "Nothing doing," said Andrew. "I have a new name, and I'm not going to bring any dirt on this name." I think the apostle had that in mind when he wrote in 1st Peter 1:14, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance." A Christian is to fashion himself after his heavenly Father.

Mark the command. It's written in 1st Peter 1:15, "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy." In the Bible the Lord is often called The Holy One because the sum of all moral excellency is found in Him. He is absolute Purity, and in Him is no shadow of sin. Because the Lord is holy, we should desire and determine to be conformed to Him. A young Jewess, who is now a Christian, asked the lady who led her to the Lord, "Do you know why I've been reading the gospels? It's because I'm puzzled. I want to know when the Christians began to be so different from Christ." I'll tell you when. It was when they slipped back to their old ways and ceased being holy. Now if you're a Christian, you're commanded to be holy. This isn't optional. It's something that's absolutely imperative. God commands it. In fact, He demands it.

Mark the characteristics of a holy life. What is the life like? What are the marks of a holy life? The answer is found in 1st Peter 1:15, "So be ye holy in all manner of conversation." The word "conversation" literally means "behavior." Today the word "conversation" means talk. But in the days of the Bible it meant "the manner of life," or "the behavior." So you're to be holy in your ways as well as your words, where you work as well as where you worship. A maid went to a gospel meeting where she professed to be set apart from sin to righteousness. When she got home, she said, "Oh, I got such a blessing tonight at the meeting." "Well," answered the lady of the house, "we'll see in the morning." Her work would be a sign of the reality of her worship. Her life would show if her lips were sincere. We need an experience that will do more than arouse the emotions. We want one that will produce holy behavior. "Oh," but you say, "what does the word 'holy' mean?" Literally it means "to set apart." It has in it the idea of separation. But there are two sides to separation: from that which is evil, unto that which is of God. To be holy is to live a life that's consecrated to Christ, a life that's separated from sin, a life that's Christlike in conversation and conduct. In China a woman went to a missionary and said, "Please, doctor, give me some of your medicine for cleansing mouths." "What do you mean?" asked the missionary. "Before my neighbor went to your mission," she said, "she'd swear if she were crossed in any way. Now there's never a bad word on her lips. I want my mouth to be clean like hers." That's the effect of a life that's holy in conversation and conduct.

Mark the conditions. Are you asking, "What must I do to be holy? How can I live a holy life?" First of all, you must be born again. Before you can be holy in practice, you must be holy in principle. Before you can have the Lord's style, you must have His Spirit. Benjamin West was a great painter. In speaking to his students about the masterful coloring of another artist, Gilbert Stuart, he'd say, "It's no use to steal his colors, but if you want to paint as he does, you must steal his eyes." Just so, if you'd be holy as God is holy, you must have His heart, His nature, His life. When you receive the Lord as your Savior, you're born again; and the very life of God, the very holiness of God, comes into your life. As you are wholly His, you'll be holy. For He who wants you to be holy, will make you holy. On being asked the secret of his success, William Booth answered, "God has all there is of me." Let Him have all there is of you, and say,
"Spirit of holiness, do Thou dwell in this soul of mine;
Possess my heart, and make me know a sanctity divine."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.