A Life of Holiness & Exile - Sermon Blog
We're halfway through our Staff Picks series, and this week, our student pastor, Glenndon, led us to a powerful chapter: 1 Peter 1. We're focusing on 1 Peter 1:13–25 because it gets right to the heart of a concept many of us misunderstand: holiness. 🤯
For many, "holy" conjures images of endless rules and a list of "don'ts." But Peter offers a different, more liberating view. Holiness isn't a restriction; it's a new identity. It's not about perfect rule-keeping; it's about belonging—being set apart for God in our minds, desires, and daily lives.
Chosen Exiles in a Confusing World
Peter wrote this letter to early Christians scattered across Asia Minor—people who were cultural exiles. They weren't executed, but they were marginalized and misunderstood for their faith. Sound familiar? Today, you might not face a coliseum, but living for Jesus can still make you feel like an outsider at work, online, or even among family.
The incredible reframe here is that you're not just "out of place"; you're chosen and set apart. Holiness means you don't need to blend in—you're called to shine. ✨
"Prepare your minds for action and be sober-minded; set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." — 1 Peter 1:13–16
1. A Hope-Filled Mind Creates a Holy Life
Transformation always begins in the same place: your mind.
"Prepare your minds" = get ready on the inside before you act on the outside.
"Be sober-minded" = stay clear-headed and focused, avoiding intoxication from fear, pride, pleasure, anxiety, or endless doom-scrolling.
"Set your hope fully" = fix your focus completely on Jesus and the future grace He is bringing.
Holiness starts here: what you feed your mind will form your life. While culture tries to shape you through pressure, God forms you through grace. This is why we take Romans 12:2 and 1 Peter 1:13 together: don't be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
Questions for Reflection this Week:
What am I feeding my mind (news, podcasts, voices) versus what is feeding my faith?
Where do fear and anxiety currently control my thoughts, and what truth from God’s Word will I place in front of them?
2. Freedom Fuels Holiness
Holiness isn't something you achieve by muscling your way into being "better." It's living from a rescue that has already happened.
"You were ransomed… not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ." — 1 Peter 1:18–19
Peter reaches back to the story of the Exodus: God freed His people with the blood of a lamb and then led them through the wilderness as exiles. In the same way, Jesus’s blood frees us from sin and the world's grip, and then He teaches us how to live differently in a culture that doesn't understand.
Don't treat grace like a permission slip to cling to old patterns. Grace doesn’t just cover our sin; it empowers us to live new lives. You were bought at a high price—so live like it.
Putting It into Practice:
Name one "former passion" (v. 14) the Holy Spirit is prompting you to lay down.
Replace it with a godly practice (such as time in the Word, prayer, confession, community, or serving). This is the "throw off and put on" principle in action.
3. Holiness Looks Like Brotherly Love
Holiness isn't only about what you stop doing; it's about who you are becoming and, most importantly, how you treat people.
"Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart." — 1 Peter 1:22
Real holiness reveals itself as:
Sincere: not a churchy performance.
Earnest: stretched and sacrificial love.
Pure-hearted: free from gossip, bitterness, or keeping score.
If we look polished on the outside but remain impatient, petty, or bitter on the inside, that's not holiness—that's hypocrisy. Holy people love like Jesus loved them.
The Word That Outlasts the World
Peter concludes by reminding us that everything in this world—the flashy, the trending, the powerful—fades away. But God’s Word remains forever (vv. 24–25). If you want stability and staying power in a chaotic world, root your life in the truth that won't wither.
How to Live Set Apart this Week:
Block Time with Scripture: Start with 1 Peter 1. Read it, highlight it, and ask, "What will I obey today?"
Limit the Noise: Delete one app or set a time limit on social media. Swap 15 minutes of scrolling for 15 minutes in the Word.
Name Your Hope: Pray, "Jesus, I set my hope fully on You today."
Practice Family Love: Choose one concrete act—send an encouraging text, forgive someone, bring a meal, or make that phone call you’ve been putting off.
Stay with the Flock: Holiness grows best in community—your small group, a serve team, or a prayer night.
The Bottom Line
Holiness isn't about being perfect, it's about being His.
You are a chosen exile, called to a hope-filled mind, a life shaped by freedom, and a love that mirrors Jesus. Don’t blend in. Stand out for His glory and the good of others.
"Be holy, for I am holy." And by His grace, you absolutely can.
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