Yesterday, I had a conversation with my oldest, Britton, and we were listening to a song on the way home on the radio and she asked if that was this Christian song.
Which is a great question. It allowed me to kind of think about it and how do I want to answer this question.
And I answered it by saying, let's not think about things in just Christian music or Christian books or Christian bookstore or Christian t-shirts or Christian clothing kind of idea.
But let's think about the lyrics and do the lyrics move you to think of God or not.
And in that case, I pushed my 8-year-old, soon to be 9-year-old, to think and use her brain a little bit and not just claim something to be Christian music or Christian TV or Christian movie or whatever.
And so my question this morning kind of got me thinking was, is that the idea of holiness that we should believe?
Where we have our Christian music that we listen to and we have our Christian school we go to and we have our Christian bookstore that we shop in.
And we have our Christian t-shirts that we wear.
And so we're set apart based on the definition of holiness.
If you don't know, that's what holiness means.
We're set apart and we kind of go down this road of this is where we're going to stay.
We're going to stay within the boundaries of the Christian title.
Is that the idea of holiness that we should believe?
I don't think so.
I don't think that that biblically that that lines up with how we should view holiness.
How we should pursue a specific way of living.
Imagine for a moment that we're up in an airplane really, really, really high.
And we look down and we're so high that a forest doesn't look like little individual trees or you can't see the definition of the trees.
It's just a green mass on the land below you.
Now, one can assume, well, that's a forest.
But you can also assume, well, it's green and kind of, well, that's a body of water.
That could be water from this height.
We're not really sure.
And just to claim that it's water or claim that it's something without really knowing what it is, without viewing it on a map and saying, well, that's Cherokee Forest.
That's the National Reserve or whatever.
We cheapen and make a quick assumption by saying, well, that's just water.
Yeah, it looks like water.
That's water.
And I think what we've done with holiness, if we believe that that's how we should pursue holiness is by separating ourselves completely,
then we cheapen that idea and make an assumption that that's what holiness is.
So this morning, I want to bring the plane in a little bit.
I want to look at the forest and I want to see the trees.
I want to see the animals crawling on the ground.
I want to see the different types of trees and see what this holiness really does look like for you and I.
Because when we read Scripture and we have familiar verses and we know just by being a Christian that, well, if God is holy, then we are to be holy.
You guys and all of us in this room would believe, yes.
But what does that mean?
How does that affect the way we live?
How does that affect how we walk out this life?
Or is it just a cheap assumption?
Yes.
I believe that we should be holy.
So that's my goal this morning, to bring that plane down a little bit for us so we can kind of see some details of the forest.
So in 1 Peter 1, we're going to read four verses starting in verse 13.
It says,
Therefore,
Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded sets your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.
Let's pray together.
Father, I ask for your grace this morning to speak to us clearly.
God, I ask that words that come from my mouth will be true words.
And that all of us in here, including me, would hear from you this morning.
God, I pray that you would help us in the hearing of your word, but also in the action to follow, in the obedience to follow whatever you have laid out for us to do.
Help us.
We cannot do it apart from you.
We beg and we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So, we're going to start from verse 16 and work our way back to verse 13.
That's the plan.
Verse 15 and 16 says,
But as he who called you is holy, you will also be holy in all your conduct.
Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.
So what does God being holy mean?
What does the holiness of God actually mean?
Well, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, the definition is to be set apart.
So how does God become set apart?
How do we set God apart?
Well, here's how.
God is utterly unique.
He is in a class all to himself.
There is no one like him.
No one compares.
He is unequaled.
He is without beginning and without end.
And he has no need for improvement.
He is perfect.
He always is and always will be and always was perfect God.
So, this is who God is.
God is the source of holiness.
God is the author of holiness.
He is holy, perfect, sinless God.
Now, let's think about this for a minute.
One of the Christian terms that we read and we throw out there is the glory of God.
What is the glory of God?
Well, the glory of God is that outward expression of God's holiness.
So, let me help you.
You could say that the sun, the light is the glory of God.
The light that we get from the sun is the glory of God.
The fire is the holiness.
It's the root of that source, of the source of light.
So, just kind of give you a little bit of perspective there.
So, this is who God is.
He is without comparison.
Perfect, holy, sinless.
The source.
He is the sun that our life should revolve around.
So, in verse 15 and 16 in 1 Peter, we have,
Be holy for I am holy.
Now, a little bit of context here for 1 Peter.
And we studied this a few summers ago or a couple years ago.
1 Peter, Peter writes this letter to the churches in Asia Minor,
which would be modern day Turkey.
Ephesus would have been in this area.
And he's writing to them and he's giving them kind of a warning,
giving a heads up that persecution is headed their way.
Peter is writing from Rome.
He's getting a lot of persecution in Rome
and he sees the Roman Empire moving that direction.
And so, he's writing this to the Christians there,
the churches in Asia Minor,
telling them there's persecution coming
and this is how you should stand firm in it.
This is how you should live because of what's coming your way.
And so, we read this.
And we read our text this morning
and we've got some practical things.
We've got God being holy.
So, I'm hoping to kind of pull all that in together for us,
even with the context of who Peter is writing to.
So, verse 15 and 16,
Be holy for I am holy.
Be holy because God is holy.
We as Christians are to be holy.
Everybody in here who is a Christian,
who has read the Bible,
would shake your head yes to that.
Yes.
So, how can we be holy?
How is it that we can live and be set apart
based on the definition of who God is?
Well, one way, and the main way,
is that we are imitators of God.
We imitate God.
Now, this shouldn't surprise any of you.
If you're a Christian,
your name claims that you're little Christ's.
You are little Christ's.
You're Christians.
We bear His name.
So, it should not surprise us that we are to be imitators.
But what it does mean here
is that our lives should revolve around God.
As the earth revolves around the sun,
our lives should revolve around God.
Meaning, that our lives are consumed with God.
Our lives are all about God.
Our lives are formed by God.
We are called by God,
and we are set apart by God.
We are to imitate God's holiness.
The question is, how?
How do we do that then?
Where is the practical?
So, let's bring this plane in a little bit more.
So, how?
Well, based on our text,
the first thing we need to do
is that we need to admit
God has called us out of darkness into light.
Look at verse 15.
It says,
But as He who called you is holy,
you will also be holy in all your conduct.
Now,
I chose this verb,
admit,
on purpose.
That we need to admit
that God has called us out of darkness.
We must admit
that it was God's act on our lives.
And nothing in us that caused God to call us,
or that even we called on Him.
Colossians 1,
13 and 14 says that
He has delivered us
from the domain of darkness
and transferred us
to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins.
So, if you caught it there,
He has, being God,
delivered us from the domain of darkness.
He has delivered us,
He's pulled us out,
and He has transferred us
to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
God's action on our lives.
Basic gospel truth,
but very important.
Romans 3,
Colossians 2,
Colossians 1,
what we just read,
tells us that we are dead
in our trespasses and sins.
For the wages of sin is death.
For all have sinned
and fallen short of the glory of God.
We have nothing in us
that has deserved or earned God's favor.
It is God's grace to us
to bestow on us.
God's favor to give us life
and to pull us from darkness into light.
So, when we admit this truth,
when we admit that God has called us
out of darkness into light,
then we accept that truth.
Then we acknowledge that truth.
And when we accept,
we are humbled.
We are moved to humility
because of that grace
and that mercy that He has shown us.
In James 4, verse 6,
it says,
God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.
Verse 10 of that same chapter
in James 4,
Humble yourself before the Lord
and He will exalt you.
Humility is important for the Christian.
We must acknowledge
the grace and the mercy
that we have been shown.
We live in light of that.
We love other people
in light of that.
We make decisions in light of that.
Not because we have earned it,
but because He has shown us
grace and favor.
In Isaiah chapter 6,
Isaiah writes and tells the story
of being in the throne room of God.
And Isaiah is face to face with God.
Face to face in the same room
with His holiness and His righteousness.
God perfect without comparison.
And what is Isaiah moved to?
Immediately to his knees to worship.
And he says,
woe is me,
for I am a sinner.
Humility will and can lead
to holiness for us
when we acknowledge and we admit
that God,
it is God on our lives
delivering us
and as Colossians said,
transferring us
from darkness into light.
So we've got to admit,
we've got to admit
that God has called us
out of darkness into light.
But we also have to admit
as Christians
that we are children of God.
As we bear His name,
little Christ,
we are children of God.
Look at verse 14 of 1 Peter.
It says,
as obedient children,
do not be conformed
to the passions
of your former ignorance.
Now,
to understand
that we are children of God
is important.
It's important because
it shows that God
has changed us
from the inside out.
Now,
I have four kids
and my four kids
are always going to be
my kids.
I can't change the fact.
Now,
legally,
sure,
we can make an argument.
But blood-wise,
they're always going to have
my blood in them.
They're always going to be
mine.
I can't do anything
about that.
But God,
God can change
a heart
and make it His.
God can change
a person
and transfer them
from darkness
into light
to make them
a child of wrath,
as Ephesians 2 says,
to a child
born
son or daughter
of the King.
Turn to Ephesians 2,
as I just kind of
mentioned.
Ephesians 2.
If you love the Gospel,
you believe the Gospel,
then you are familiar
with Ephesians 2,
I hope.
Ephesians 2.
Starting in verse 1,
it says,
And you were dead
in the trespasses
and sins
in which you once walked,
following the course
of this world,
following the prince
of the power of the air,
the spirit
that is now at work
in the sons of disobedience,
among whom
we all once lived
in the passions
of our flesh,
carrying out
the desires
of the body
and the mind,
and were by nature
children of wrath
like the rest
of mankind.
But God,
being rich in mercy
because of the great love
with which he loved us,
even when we were dead
in our trespasses,
made us alive
together with Christ.
By grace,
you have been saved.
And raised us up with him
and seated us with him
in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming age
he might show
the immeasurable riches
of his grace
and kindness toward us
in Christ Jesus.
So not only has he taken us
from darkness
into light,
we were dead
and now alive,
we were children of wrath
and now we're children
of the King.
This is important
because it is God
who has made that change
in us.
We can't make that change.
We can't do it.
Jesus says
in one of the Gospels,
and I apologize
because I could not find it
this morning,
but it's true,
I promise.
He talks about
how an earthly father,
when a son asks for bread,
will not give him a stone.
And he says,
how much greater
will your heavenly father
then provide for you?
I will provide for my kids
as much to the end
of my ability,
but how much greater
will that heavenly father,
our heavenly father,
as Christians,
children of God,
provide for us,
care for us,
love us,
nurture us.
This is who
our heavenly father is.
And we are children
children of this king.
So with a heart change
then,
we will not be conformed,
back to 1 Peter 1,
we will not be conformed
to the passions
of our former ignorance.
A new heart
means new passions
and new desires.
A new heart
means that those passions
and those desires
lead to holiness,
not to
fill in the blank,
sin.
A new heart
means that
our want-tos
change.
We want to
pursue holiness.
We want to
honor God.
We want to
love Jesus.
We want to
share the gospel.
We want to live
in such a way
this passion,
this desire,
has no limits
before Christ.
Why do you think
the commandment says
do not covenant
another man's wife?
There are no limits
to the passion
and the desires.
Somebody else's stuff.
There are no limits
to that.
It's whatever
fulfills that hunger
in us.
Well,
when our heart
is changed,
when we become
children of God,
those desires
change and those
passions are
fulfilled with
only one thing
and that is God.
That is His holiness
and that is Him
Himself.
When our hearts
are changed,
we will not
desire the gift.
We'll enjoy the gift,
but we won't
desire the gift.
We will desire
the giver of the gift
who is God.
We'll desire
what He gives us
and we'll look
for opportunities
and situations
and things we can do
with that item,
with that gift
that will bring honor
and glory to Him
and not
fulfillment
for us.
That's an example
of the change
in us.
A new heart
changes.
So our heart
has changed.
Our passion
has changed.
So our desires
and passions
now lead to
holiness.
Pursuing holiness.
So thirdly,
first,
admit God
has called us
out of darkness
into light.
Admit that as
Christians we are
children of God,
meaning that God
has changed us,
given us a new
heart,
now sons and
daughters of the
King.
Thirdly,
we place our hope
in our future.
We place our hope
in our future.
Verse 13,
the second part
of verse 13
says,
set your hope
fully on the
grace that will
be brought to you
at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.
Now,
this does not
mean or is
suggesting a
flight into
dreamland
thinking
of future,
hoping that
maybe that
thought of our
future glory
will dull
the life
here,
what we're going
through,
the persecution
or the struggle
or the whatever.
That's not what
he's suggesting
here.
As if it's some
sort of drug
that just kind of
numbs us and we
just kind of keep
going through and
just ho-hum.
That's not what
he's suggesting.
What he's suggesting
is that instead
of viewing the
present circumstance,
we view it in
light of what's
to come,
the promises
of God.
we view the
situation saying
we can endure
because of
the promise
of God
that we will
overcome,
the promise
of God
that we will
be perfected,
that though my
body breaks
and I'm sick
and I am
suffering and I
have cancer
or whatever,
my body will be
perfected eventually
and I'm okay
with this situation
now because
hopefully in those
situations I can
bring glory to God
and I can pursue
holiness with a
new heart.
So,
we endure
because of what
God will do,
has done even.
The church in
Asia Minor,
remember Peter is
writing to them,
warning them of
what's to come.
Guys,
it's coming your
way.
Gather up,
get together,
understand,
realize,
look at chapter
1,
verse 3,
it says,
blessed be the
God and Father
of the Lord
Jesus Christ,
according to
His great mercy,
He has caused
us to be born
again to what?
To a living
hope.
Third sentence,
second sentence,
whatever it is,
He's already
saying look ahead
to what's to
come.
Look ahead to
your future
hope.
And hope in
that because of
what's to come.
Their persecution,
heavy persecution.
Kids,
vegetables,
don't usually
go together.
But you tell a
child,
you say,
eat your
vegetables and
you can have
cake.
What are they
going to do?
They're going to
eat their
vegetables.
You put that
cake in front of
them,
those vegetables
are gone.
Likewise,
for us,
we endure,
we go through
struggles,
we suffer here
on earth,
we have
physical ailments,
we live in
such a way,
we pursue
holiness,
even in
those situations,
looking ahead
to what's to
come.
We're going to
be perfected.
God is going
to receive glory
through the way
that I live
this out.
Our desert,
I know
illustrations fall
short,
but our
desert is to
come.
Fourthly,
this is where
we'll spend a
little bit more
time.
So not only
do we admit
that God has
called us
out of darkness
into light,
not only do we
admit that as
Christians we are
children of God,
meaning we have a
new heart,
that God has
changed our
heart from the
inside out,
we cannot do
it.
Not only do we
place our hope
in our future,
but fourthly and
finally,
we prepare our
minds for
action.
Verse 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.
Preparing your
minds for
action.
If you have
an ESV
Bible and
you're reading
in it,
there's a
footnote
that says
in the
Greek,
it's actually
gird up the
loins of
your mind.
Now this
picture that
Peter is
painting for
us is
back in
this time,
they would
wear long
dress-like
tunics.
And if
they're just
talking in
the marketplace,
if they're
just slowly
meandering,
if they're
just hanging
out at home,
it's all the
way down to
their ankles
or close to
that.
But when
they're working,
when they're
getting ready to
run or going
into war or
whatever,
they pull that
up and they
tuck it into
their belt.
And that's
called girding
their loins.
It's getting
ready,
freeing up
their legs
so that
they can
be men
or women
of action,
men of
action,
so that
they can
run and
they can
fight and
they can
do these
things,
they can
work in
their
garden or
whatever,
freely.
This is the
idea,
preparing your
minds for
action and
being sober
minded.
It's an
act of
preparation
for active
work.
So,
I love
golf.
I love
playing
golf.
I'm not
good at
golf.
I enjoy
every bit
of it.
I enjoy
buying new
golf balls.
That's
silly,
I know.
I just
love playing.
I love
being outside
and walking.
I like
how manicured
it is and
just everything
about golf,
even if I
hit a bad
shot.
Now,
I am not
going to get
any better
if I just
play golf
three or
four times
a year.
I'm going
to probably
maybe get
worse or
just kind
of stay
right where
I am.
It's not
going to
happen.
You've
got to
put time
in.
You've
got to
practice.
You've
got to
make
commitments
to prepare
for times
and wanting
to get
better and
putting in
those hard
work.
All those
phrases that
you find on
milk commercials
and NFL
commercials,
all those,
put in the
hard work.
Likewise,
holiness
takes practice
and takes
preparation,
preparing our
minds.
Now see,
unlike golf,
where golf is
just my
ability,
there's no
supernatural power
out on the
golf course.
I mean,
maybe,
if I hit it
straight,
possibly.
But for the
most part,
it's just me
and the golf
ball and the
golf club.
But for us,
holiness,
it's God
in us that
can empower
us and
strengthen us
and push
us to do
what He has
commanded us
to do.
He can
accomplish
what He
commands
through us
and through
the Holy
Spirit.
So preparing
our minds,
girding up
our loins.
So,
the next
thing it
says in
this verse
is,
and being
sober-minded.
A definition
of this is
complete clarity
of mind
and it's
resulting in
good judgment.
So,
I know
all of us
in here have
made really
bad choices
at some
point in
our life.
We made
a bad
decision.
We
didn't have
good judgment.
We weren't
sober-minded
in that
moment.
Peter,
when writing
this,
knew that
this world,
the cares
of this
world,
the temptress
of stuff,
the difficulties
and the
persecutions,
speaking to
the church
in Asia
Minor,
but even
to us
today,
can
intoxicate
us as
much as
alcohol can.
When we're
intoxicated,
we are
controlled by
that substance.
We don't
have much of a
say.
It's controlling
us to a
specific point.
And the
desires of
this world,
the things
that we want,
the things
that we think
we need,
the boyfriend,
the girlfriend,
the husband,
the wife,
the car,
the house,
fill in the
blank,
the specific
grade that
you think
you need,
all of
this can
intoxicate
us,
can consume
us.
And so
Peter is
warning the
churches in
Asia Minor
and warning
us today,
be sober
minded,
be of good
judgment,
complete clarity
of mind,
knowing what
was headed
their way,
knowing what
we deal
with even
today.
Turn to
Philippians
chapter 4.
So we need
to have a
clear mind
so that we
can think
on godly
things,
that we can
think on
God and
His holiness
so that we
can pursue
Him and
Him alone.
In
Philippians
chapter 4,
Paul is
getting ready
to close
this letter
to the
church of
Philippi
and he
says,
finally
brothers,
whatever is
true,
whatever is
honorable,
whatever is
just,
whatever is
pure,
whatever is
lovely,
whatever is
commendable,
if there is
any excellence,
if there is
anything worthy
of praise,
think about
these things.
Here's the
kicker here,
is God
is these
things.
Who is
honorable?
Who is
just?
Who is
pure?
Who is
lovely?
Who is
commendable?
Who is
excellent?
Who is
worthy of
praise?
Think of
these things.
God
encompasses
all of
those
things.
He is
all of
those
things.
Now,
there's
other
things
that
from
God
we
can
think
on.
Think
on His
word.
Think
on our
brothers and
sisters in need.
Think
on our
brothers and
sisters who
are pursuing
holiness.
They are
from Him
and out
of His
work.
So,
in 1 Peter
in verse
13,
it says,
therefore,
preparing your
minds for
action.
Now,
what we
have here
is a
present tense.
Preparing
your minds.
It doesn't
say,
prepare your
minds.
It doesn't
say,
since you
have prepared
your minds.
It's just
preparing.
So,
this is a
continuous
action by
you and
by me.
Meaning,
that if you
are going to
the movie,
prepare your
minds for
what you
may see
or hear.
If you
are going
to class,
prepare your
minds for
the opportunity
to share
the gospel.
Remember the
definition of
sober-minded,
complete clarity
of mind and
its resulting
good judgment.
Sober-minded,
preparing our
minds for
action,
whenever,
wherever we
go,
preparing our
minds for
that action.
Your
holiness and
my holiness
depends on
it.
Now,
here's the
beauty of
the gospel.
Here's the
beauty of
the gospel.
God is
holy and
He is the
source of
holiness.
And in
Christ,
if you are
a Christian
in this
room,
if you have
confessed your
sins and you
believe that
Jesus died for
your sins and
you are a
Christian,
then in
Christ,
you are
holy before
God.
In Christ,
you stand as
if no sin
had ever been
committed.
You stand
set apart.
Right now,
here in
this room,
we get
done,
we pray,
we leave,
we drive
down the
road,
we make a
bad choice
on the
road,
we say
something we
shouldn't
have said,
we struggle,
we have
difficulties here
on earth,
because sin
still is in
us.
But here on
earth,
we have the
power of
Christ through
the Holy
Spirit in
us to
pursue holiness,
to strive to
be holy,
to prepare
our minds,
to be
sober-minded
with God
in us,
and we can
live in
His power.
So verse
13 starts
with
therefore.
Therefore,
preparing your
minds for
action.
Now,
this
therefore is
there for
a reason.
In light of
what I've
just said,
prepare
your minds
for action.
Well,
what has
He just
said?
Let's
start reading
in 1 Peter
chapter 1,
verse 3.
Blessed be
the God
and Father
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ.
According
to His
great mercy,
He has
caused us
to be
born again
to a
living hope
to the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ from
the dead,
to an
inheritance
that is
imperishable,
undefiled,
and unfading,
kept in
heaven for
you,
who by
God's
power are
being guarded
through faith
for a
salvation
ready to
be revealed
in the
last time.
In this
you rejoice,
though now
for a little
while,
if necessary,
you have
been grieved
by various
trials,
so that the
tested genuineness
of your
faith,
more precious
than gold
that perishes,
though it is
tested by fire,
may be found
to result in
praise and
glory and
honor at the
revelation of
Jesus Christ.
Though you have
not seen Him,
you love Him.
Though you do
not now see
Him,
you believe
in Him
and rejoice
with joy
that is
inexpressible
and filled
with glory,
obtaining the
outcome of
your faith,
the salvation
of your
souls.
This salvation
is through
who?
Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the
God and Father
of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
To His great
mercy,
He has
caused us
to be born
again to a
living hope.
It is God
in us,
through us,
that we are
able to pursue
holiness,
that we are
able to do
any of these
things,
that we are
able to repent
and confess
and believe.
It is by
God's power,
by this great
salvation that we
have,
that the Holy
Spirit in us,
Jesus in us,
that we can
admit that God
has called us
out of darkness.
We can admit it
that God has
called us out
of darkness
and into light.
that we were
enemies of God
and now we
are children
of God.
We have to
admit that we
are children
of God,
that He has
changed the
heart in us,
made us sons
and daughters
of the King
through Jesus
Christ.
We can place
our hope in
God and our
future and His
future plan,
not our own.
Some of you
are college
students in here
and you have
your ideas of
what you're
going to do
and where
you're going
to go.
You have no
idea where
you're going
to go.
You think
you know.
William,
you can relate
to this.
You think
you know
where you're
going.
You really
don't.
But God
does.
God knows
what you're
going to
encounter.
God knows
what struggles
you're going
to face.
God knows
what joys
you're going
to have.
God knows
what will
become of
you in
your life.
And that's
okay.
That's good.
We can
settle.
We can
be comforted
in that.
We can
place our
hope in
God.
And then
finally,
we can prepare
our minds
for action.
We can be
sober-minded.
We can make
right judgments.
We can be
in the right
place in
our minds
to make
good decisions,
to pursue
holiness,
not be
intoxicated
by this
world,
not be
wooed
by what
this world
has to
offer.
A lot
of this
stuff here
in this
world is
not bad.
God
created it.
But the
problem is
what intoxicated
us is when
we think
we need
that over
God.
When we
pursue
that.
over
God.
That's not
holiness.
That's sin.
Little change.
Change in
our thinking.
Our want
to's change.
Our desires
and passions
change because
God has
acted in
us.
So I
pray for
all of us
in here that
we would
pursue holiness
so that when
we read
Leviticus
through our
Bible reading
plan or
we read
numbers or
we read
another hard
book that
gives us
a bunch
of laws
shows what
he required
of Israel
we read
it and
say yes
God has
made us
holy as
he is
setting
Israel
apart in
the Old
Testament.
He has
set us
apart and
we celebrate
in that and
we pursue
holiness.
We desire
holiness.
We acknowledge
and admit that
we are his
children and
he has
called us
from darkness
and delight.
Let's pray
together.
Let's pray
together.