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No.3.
Chapter 1: (continued).
pp. 234 - 237
"But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,
because it is written. Be ye holy: for I am holy" (1: 15, 16).
Here is another injunction to take on a character that will prepare for unity and
harmony with God. In Lev. 11: 44 Israel were told to avoid certain beasts and birds for
food so that all Israel would be separate or sanctified from the other nations. Israel were
being prepared to be a kingdom of priests to disciple the world and because of this there
was to be an element of difference and distinction in that nation. Peter quotes the
conclusion of Lev. 11: 4:
"Be ye holy as I am holy."
The same principle was taught by our Lord to those He was to send into the world:
"I have given them Thy Word: and the world hath hated them, because they are not
of the world as I am not of the world, I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.
As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And
for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the Truth"
(John 17: 14-19).
Peter calls to his brethren to let their conversation (an inclusive word for life and
habits) be in harmony with their message to the world which was to be obviously distinct
and separate from the ways of the world. In the world but not of the world was the key
note.
"And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to
every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1: 17).
Fear here is indeed the emotion of terror such as the disciples experienced when they
thought they saw a spirit. The law is a terror to the criminal not the innocent. Even so
for believers in those days with supernatural gifts there was a greater responsibility on
them than on us in these days of grace. Ananias and Sapphira perished at the word of
Peter for thinking they could deceive the Holy Spirit. "And great fear came upon all the
church" (Acts 5: 11). Notice in I Pet. 1: 17 it is the work of men that will be judged for
reward, their salvation is assured. The word sojourning would remind them of their time
in the wilderness when God tested them to find out their response to His call.
"For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with
the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1: 18, 19).
The firstborn males of Israel were still typically redeemed when they were
12 years old by the payment of 5 shekels (Christ fulfilled the law in Matt. 2: 42). This