It is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." So be holy also in all your behavior (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Peter was quoting a prophecy, "you SHALL BE holy," that is fulfilled by
our new birth. He is essentially saying "since you are already holy,
live like it." God's children are all called "saints" which literally
means "holy people." It is a lot easier to make a million when you are
already a millionaire. Likewise it is a lot easier to "be holy in all
your behavior" when you know you are already a holy person. You live
from abundance rather than scratch for sustenance & acceptance.
We are "holy and dearly loved" (Colossians 3:12).
"Your
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God. God's temple is holy, and you are that temple" (1
Corinthians 3:17, 6:19-20). You are holy!
Live holy but
don't live to become holy. Live holy because He has made you holy,
because you are grateful for the gift of His Life, because that is who you are..
Yes, an identity of saint absolutely helps one's behaviors. Faith about a new identity, not performance, is the root issue.
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