Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
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Wholly Holy
1 Peter 1:13-16   (NAS)

Introduction
Can you say Wholly Holy, and make it sound like to different words? I don't know if that is possible. Our text today makes an emphasis on being completely or wholly, holy. We are to have the: Mind set, Mettle, and Motivation for holiness.
 

A.    This Mind Set Is a . . Functioning Mind Set. v 13 a
                Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober {in spirit,}. . . "

Illustrations The words "gird up"
At the next wedding you attend watch the bridesmaids try to run after the bouquet while wearing their long formal dresses. It doesn't work too well. If there are going to move fast they have to gird up their dress.

        1.    Gird your Mind to Hear No Evil.
        2.    Gird your Mind to See No Evil.
        3.    Gird your Mind to Speak No Evil.

B.    This Mind Set Is a . . Fixed Mind Set. v 13 b
            ". . . fix your hope completely . . . "

A.    This Mind Set Is a . . Focused Mind Set. v 13 c
        ". . . on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Illustration
Many people say they do not fear death, but the process of dying. It's not the destination, but the trip that they dread.

John Newton, a one-time slave trader, was converted and became a great preacher and hymn writer in the Church of England. Two years before his death, in 1807, he was so weak that he could hardly stand in his pulpit; someone had to support him as he preached.

Shortly before he died, when he was confined to his room and unable to move, he told a friend, "I am like a person going on a journey in a stagecoach, who expects its arrival every hour and is frequently looking out of the window for it -- I am packed and sealed, and ready for the post."

You may have heard of Newton; he wrote some words which are sung around the world: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound." -- Billy Graham, Facing Death and the Life After, p. 241.

Application

Do you deliberately gird up mind for the things of God? Do you desire to be Holy?
 

mettle (met"/l) n. 1. Courage and fortitude; spirit. 2. Inherent quality of character and temperament. --idiom. on (one's) mettle. Prepared to accept a challenge and do one's best.

A.    The Mettle of . . Devotion. v 14 a
                "As obedient children, do not be conformed . . . "

        1.    Devotion of . . Obedience.
        2.    Devotion of . . Nonconformity.

Illustration
Have you noticed how the movies and TV use words today they would not use 20 years ago? This is representative of how society in general has lowered the standard for morality. Let me illustrate by standing on this step, and saying well this isn't really so bad. It will be alright to stand here. Then I move down to the next step and then the next.

Then I look back, and say look where we used to stand. Today too few stand for anything. If we do we are call intolerant. It is my opinion we ought to stand anyway.

Illustration
In his book Real Salvation, R. A. Torrey tells that when he was studying theology in the university, D. L. Moody came to town for meetings. Torrey and a few of his friends went to hear him and concluded that although he was uneducated, he knew some things they didn't.

Wanting to learn the secret of his success, they said to the evangelist, "We wish you would tell us how to do it." They meant, of course, how do you preach and get such good results? Moody responded by inviting them to come back the next evening, promising to answer their question then. Before the service the following night, they met with the evangelist again. After giving them a few words of Scripture, he said, "You go at it! The best way to learn to do it is to do it!"

B.    The Mettle of . . Discernment. v 14 b
        ". . . to the former lusts {which were yours} in your ignorance, "

        1.    Discernment concerning the . . Present.     "Former lust"
        2.    Discernment concerning the . . Past.         "Ignorance"

Illustration
When John A. Broadus was the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, he went to a country church to preach one Sunday. A man approached him after the service and said, "Brother, God kin git along without all your learnin'." Broadus replied, "Yes sir, God can. And he can also get along without your ignorance."

Application

Christians must have a display of holiness to reflect and informed lifestyle.
 
 

A.    Motivation from what is . . Witnessed of God. v 15
            1.    We are to have an . . Imitated Holiness.  "But like the Holy One . . . "
            2.    We are to have an . . Illustrated Holiness. "In all your behavior"

Illustration
Holy is the way God is. To be holy he does not conform to a standard. He is that standard. He is absolutely holy with an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is. Because he is holy, all his attributes are holy; that is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy. A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

B.    Motivation from what is . . Written of God. v 16.
 

Illustration
How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing ... it is irresistible. If even 10 percent of the world's population had it, would not the whole world be converted and happy before a year's end? C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
 

Application

Our Motivation for Holyness is the desire to be like God;  we are to be godly men and women.
 
 

CONCLUSION

1. The Mind Set of Holiness. v 13

The Mettle of Holiness. v 14-15

3. The Motivation of Holiness. v 16