The Lust of Ignorance and The Life of Holiness

By John Piper

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'" - 1 Peter 1:14-16

For twelve verses Peter gave no commands and no admonitions and no exhortations. He just celebrated and blessed the God who elects and regenerates and refines and preserves. Then in verse 13 we saw last week the first commandment of the Christian life: "Hope fully in the grace of God." Keep yourself mentally fit and morally sober to fight the fight of hope.

So hope is first. Today we see the second command: be holy (vv. 15,16). Now we have two commands: Be hopeful in the grace of God; and be holy like the holiness of God. You can see that both of these commands call for a thoroughgoing orientation of life on God.

Be a hope-filled person, and let the hope that you are filled with be hope in God.

Be a holy person, and let the holiness that you have be like the holiness of God.

So when you are hoping, you are God-centered, and when you are holy, you are God-centered. The grace of God is the source of your hope and the holiness of God is the standard of your holiness... (read more)

By John Piper. ©Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org