The Pursuit of Holiness

Part 1: Foundational

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Pursuing Holiness Is Not Passive, But Active (1 Peter 1:13)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

A. Set Your Hope Fully on Grace

Hope, in the biblical sense, is more than wishful thinking—it’s a passionate confidence in the future, rooted in what Christ has secured for us.

B. Prepare Your Mind for Action

The phrase “girding up the loins of your mind” implies readiness and intentionality.

Don’t coast spiritually. Engage your mind in remembering what God has done.

Holiness requires deliberate thinking; spiritual laziness is the enemy of growth.

C. Be Sober-Minded

To be sober-minded means to think clearly, free from distractions or distorted thinking.

Just as drunkenness clouds judgment, distractions numb our spiritual alertness.

Remove the things that muddy your thinking and block clarity.

D. The Mind Fuels the Heart

Biblical thinking leads to passionate hoping.

The mind is the kindling; the heart is the flame.

Romans 12:1–2 shows us how renewing the mind transforms the life.

II. Your New Identity Calls for New Conduct (1 Peter 1:14–16)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

A. A Change in Desires

Salvation reshapes what we value.

Before Christ, we were ignorant of God’s ways. Now, we should desire what He desires.

Value what is coming to you through Christ not what you once desired Ephesians 4:22

B. Holiness Reflects the Character of God

God’s holiness is His moral perfection and separation from all evil.

As His children, we are called to mirror His character.

C. Holiness Means Both Separation and Pursuit

Avoiding sin and pursuing godliness are two sides of the same coin.

It’s not just about what we turn from, but also what we run toward—God Himself.

D. Renewed Thinking Leads to Renewed Living

A mind that’s alert and focused leads to a heart that hopes—and that produces new conduct.

“Be holy, for I am holy” means living in close alignment with God’s character, not becoming divine but becoming devoted.

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

“Conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”

A. Reverent Fear as Motivation

God is our loving Father—but also our impartial Judge.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that believers will give account, not for condemnation, but for reward and faithfulness.

Our time on earth is our “exile.” We are strangers here, awaiting our true home.

B. Fear treating the Blood of Jesus and the fatherhood of of God as trash

We were not ransomed with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus.

Fear ever treating God the Father that way.

Don’t flirt with sin—flee from it.

Don’t be casual about holiness—strive for it. Hebrews 12:14

Fear becoming desensitized to sin.

Hebrews 12:14: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

IV. Holiness Produces the Fruit of Love for Others (1 Peter 1:20–25)

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

24 for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

A. Born Again to a Living Hope

Our hope in God is not abstract—it’s personal, grounded in the risen Christ.

B. Holiness Bears the Fruit of Love

Obedience to the truth purifies the soul.

A purified soul leads to sincere love—love that’s earnest, not fake or forced.

C. Love Flows from New Desires

Our old selfish nature cannot produce this kind of love.

This love grows from the imperishable seed of God’s Word.

Holiness is not optional—it’s our calling. It’s not a passive waiting game but an active, hopeful, reverent pursuit of God.

Think clearly.

Set your hope fully.

Have a new conduct

Live with reverent fear.

Love one another earnestly.

“The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.” (1 Peter 1:24–25)