God chose Moses, a murderer, David, an adulterer, Jonah, a disobedient prophet,  Peter, a denier, and Paul, a persecutor of Christians. Each one, though imperfect, was chosen by God and transformed into a powerhouse of faith and maturity.  Moses led a nation out of slavery; David was King over Israel. Jonah obeyed and Ninevah repented, and Peter and Paul carried the gospel to their worlds.  

We, too, are chosen by God.  We are called to be holy.  Holiness is counterintuitive to human nature. It’s not identified on a resume or gained with financial success or titles.  Holiness is being “set apart” unto God, loving Him more than anything else in this world.

Peter’s boisterous and reckless nature didn’t deter Jesus from loving him and choosing him as one of his inner circle of disciples.  For three years, Jesus continued to coach him into the Kingdom. From the call to follow Jesus through his entire life and even martyrdom, Peter helps us understand that we, too, can live a holy life.  In his letters, Peter teaches that God chooses us, gifts us with an eternal inheritance, gives us the Holy Spirit as our helper, and provides everything we need to be holy. 

GOD CHOSE YOU

It amazed Peter that Jesus chose HIM.  The first time Jesus climbed into his boat and the first miraculous big catch of fish, Peter left everything to follow.  After growing in discipleship for three years, just before Jesus was crucified, Peter denied knowing Him.  But Jesus pursued him.  Following Jesus’ resurrection, the angels in the tomb told the disciples to be sure Peter knew that Jesus had risen from the dead, “Tell the others, and Peter” (Mark 16:7).  God’s love never gives up, even when we fail. 

In 1 Peter, his opening verses show his gratitude in being chosen by God:  

God planned long ago to choose you and to make you his holy people, which is the Spirit’s work. God wanted you to obey him and to be made clean by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I pray that you will enjoy more and more of God’s grace and peace.  1 Peter 1: 1,2 ESV.

Paul, Peter’s contemporary, lends his voice to the truth that God chooses us to live a holy life.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4).

It’s a good thing God chose me before I was born because he surely would not have afterward.   Charles Spurgeon

GOD GIVES YOU AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  (1 Peter 1:3-5),

Our birth into God’s family brings the promise of inheritance.  Not only the inheritance in heaven of eternal life, but it also provides for the development of holiness on earth.  We are God’s people and under His care. 

With an inheritance from God, we are being built into a spiritual body as a chosen people, a holy nation, called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light (1 Peter 2:8,9).  

As pilgrims passing through this earth, we recognize the more splendid and eternal residence is in heaven.  Therefore, we live a holy life here as we grow to love God more and be like Jesus.  Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Peter 2:1

Ridding ourselves of the works of flesh takes practice.  When I first practice a new arpeggio up the keyboard, my fingers struggle to play it right or fast enough.  I practice slowly.  I play it over and over until I master it.  My fingers and muscles learn to stretch and become more agile.  Accuracy improves. You’ve heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” It is similar to holiness.   It takes time and practice.

Thankfully, God gave the Holy Spirit to help us. 

GOD GIVES YOU THE HOLY SPIRIT

God planned long ago to choose you and to make you his holy people, which is the Spirit’s work (1 Peter 1:1).

Consider Peter’s life in the Gospels as compared to his life in the book of Acts.  In the Gospels, he was arrogant, rebuking Jesus (Matthew 16:23).  He was fearful of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19),  his flesh was weak (Matthew 26:41), and he denied Jesus (Luke 22:54-62).  But in Acts, Peter is a new person. He’s bold ((Acts 9:32-35), unafraid (Acts 4:18-22),  healing the sick and raising the dead (Acts 9:36-42), and obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:9-15). Peter’s knowledge of Jesus, not only as the Messiah but as the resurrected Savior, renewed and repurposed him into the confident disciple that would change the world.  Look at some ways the Spirit worked through Peter.

 -His first sermon reached three thousand new converts (Acts 2:41).  

-On the way to church with John, a lame man asks for money.  He said, “Look at us.  Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of  Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” The lame man got up, pinched himself in wonder, and began jumping around in joyous praise! (Act 3:1-10).  Peter boldly preached to the amazed crowd and called them to know Jesus.  (Acts 3:11-16). 

–Peter’s fearless preaching about Jesus landed him in prison.    The magistrates told Peter and John they could no longer speak in the name of Jesus.  Peter and John refuse.  “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”   They let Peter and John go.  They couldn’t decide how to punish them because all the people were praising God (Acts 4:18-22).   

–The Holy Spirit gave divine knowledge to Peter as the church started.  Peter asked Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. . . you have not lied to men but to God. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last.  So great fear came upon all those who heard (Acts 5:1-11).  

–Peter’s rooftop revelation opened his understanding and sent him to the Gentiles (Acts 10:9-15).  Though not “kosher,” the vision dispelled the law of separation from the Gentiles (Acts 10:28).  In obedience, Peter went to Caesarea, to the home of a Gentile, Cornelius.  While Peter was preaching of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius’ entire household.  The Holy Spirit filled them, just as the 120 Jewish disciples did on the day of Pentecost.    

-When King Herod killed James, he also arrested Peter and secured him with four squads of soldiers.  Peter, bound with two chains between two soldiers and guards by the door.  Even though he wasn’t sure if he would die the next day, Peter slept. But an angel of the Lord woke him, and his chains fell off.  Peter followed the angel out of prison.  They passed the guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and it opened (Acts 12:8-11). Amazing!

The Spirit’s work in Peter’s life gave him extra Holy-Spirit-power.  Peter never again denied Jesus.   He never faltered, even in the heat of persecution and prison.  He was obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  His faith was unshakeable.  With that firm faith in the knowledge of Jesus, Peter boasts of God’s ability to give everything needed to live a holy life.  Everything!!

GOD PROVIDES EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).

God chooses us and empowers us to be holy.  The Holy Spirit gently nudges us to surrender as the work of holiness transforms our nature into the nature of Jesus.   

When I yield, I can do the things that honor God rather than please my human nature.  I can say “no” to temptation and say “yes” to self-control.  I can forgive, speak kindness, show mercy.   Not of my own power, but God’s divine power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is available to help in this pursuit of holiness.  But we must yield.

So prepare your minds for service. With complete self-control, put all your hope in the grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ comes.  In the past you did not have the understanding you have now, so you did the evil things you wanted to do. But now you are children of God, so you should obey him and not live the way you did before.  Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you.  In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV).

The promise of an eternal inheritance motivates obedience.  The presence of the Holy Spirit leads to righteousness.   

What God did for Peter, He will do for you and me, but we must answer the call to be holy.

Always live as God’s holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy (1 Peter 1:15 CEV)

Go with us to Part 3, GOD’S WORD IS ESSENTIAL TO HOLINESS 

The divinely inspired Word of God is a treasure to the believer on the journey of holiness.