Jan. 25, 2026

“BE HOPEFUL”

“HOW TO GET A GRIP ON HOLINESS”

1 PETER 1:13-16

What is your image of holiness?

The hope we have in Christ is the foundation to humility because Christ is the key.

Holiness is the very heart of humility.

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

*Two Stages To Understand Biblical Holiness:

1.  Answer The Call To Action- 1 Peter 1:13

“Therefore” vs.13 is a call to action.

• “Gird up the loins of your mind…” vs.13 (Pull your thought together)

“Loins of your mind” vs.13- Peter is saying get your mind ready to think, have a disciplined mind.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

Outlook determines outcome.

Ephesians 4:23 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Jesus says I am truth accept it or reject it.

God has given us a mind and a free will. It is our choice to use it.

Philippians 4:8

You don’t learn the Bible by wishful thinking- don’t just “try” you have to “train.” To try- is to attempt to do the right thing by exerting effort in the moment. To train- is to commit to developing strategic habits that equip you to do the right thing in the moment.

• “Be sober” vs.13- self control.

A person drunk on things are out of control.

1 Peter 4:7 

1 Peter 5:8

• “And rest in your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” vs.13

Titus 2:13 “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

When the outlook is gloomy, try the up-look!

Hope- place our trust in the object of our hope-Jesus!

Hope is to trust, to count on, to believe in.

Our purpose for living is what determines our hope. If I just had _____________ I would be happy and fulfilled.

“At the revelation of Jesus Christ” vs.13-to the end.

“… the grace that is to be brought to you…” vs.13- when Jesus comes again, the grace is the object of our hope.

Ephesians 2:8-9- God’s grace saves us, God does not owe us anything, it is a gift.

1 Peter 1:2- We need God’s grace to sustain us.

The object of our hope is the grace God will give us not what we will give Him.

2.  The Issue Of Holiness- 1 Peter 1:14-16

• Holiness Is First Of All A Relationship As Obedient Children- 1 Peter 1:14.

1 Peter 1:14 “As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.”

• It Is A Way Of Life- 1 Peter 1:15- It’s not what you do or don’t do.

1 Peter 1:15 “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”

“Conduct”- more than just words but your life reflected by your words.

Not just what you say, but what you are:

1 Peter 1:18 “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers.”

1 Peter 2:12 “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

1 Peter 3:1-2 “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.”

1 Peter 3:16 “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”

• Holiness Is Rooted In God- 1 Peter 1:16

1 Peter 1:16 “because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Leviticus 11:44-45

Our life needs to be holy because God is holy.

Holiness- to be holy is to be like God, to have the same nature as God.

2 Peter 1:2-4

We call the Bible the Holy Bible because it belongs to God.

Holy-saint

It is not anything we do or wear, it comes from God.

Holiness is what God did inside you if you really know Him as your Savior.

This is God’s nature that becomes your nature as you allow God to work in your life.

Who is in control of your life?