What is the meaning of 1 Peter 1:16? For it is written Peter grounds his call in the written Word, reminding believers that the authority behind his exhortation is Scripture itself. • Jesus met every temptation with “It is written” (Matthew 4:4,7,10), modeling how believers should lean on God’s Word. • Paul treats the Old Testament the same way, declaring, “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). • When the psalmist says, “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting” (Psalm 119:89), he underlines why Peter can quote Leviticus without apology—God’s Word is timeless, never outdated. Because “it is written,” what follows is not a suggestion but a divine mandate. Be holy The command is brief, but its scope is sweeping. • Holiness means being set apart for God’s purposes; the Old Testament priests had sacred garments for sacred service (Exodus 28:2), and believers likewise wear Christ’s righteousness (Galatians 3:27). • Practical holiness touches every sphere of life: – Thoughts (Philippians 4:8) – Speech (Ephesians 4:29) – Conduct (1 Peter 1:15, the verse just before our text) • Peter echoes Leviticus 11:44-45, where God told Israel, “Consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy.” The New Covenant does not relax that standard; it empowers obedience through the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Holiness is not optional seasoning added to the Christian life; it is the main course. because I am holy The reason for the command is God’s own character. • Holiness is God’s defining attribute—angels cry “Holy, holy, holy” without ceasing (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). • God’s people must mirror His nature: “You shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). • The link between who God is and how we live shows up throughout Scripture: “Walk before Me and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1) and “As He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). • By rooting morality in God Himself, Peter rules out shifting cultural standards; holiness is anchored in the unchanging God (Malachi 3:6). We pursue holiness not to earn God’s favor, but because we already belong to Him. summary Peter’s simple citation—“for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”—packs lasting authority (“it is written”), an unavoidable command (“be holy”), and an unchanging foundation (“because I am holy”). Scripture, not opinion, sets the standard; believers, not just leaders, receive the call; God’s own character, not cultural trends, defines the goal. Holiness is the family resemblance of everyone who bears the Father’s name. |
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