CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE *HOLY . The apostle Peter quotes the ancient charge of God to the Israelites, his chosen people. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Pet. 1:15-16; cf. Lev.11:44-45)
Similarly, Peter’s contemporary, Paul, in a letter to his beloved Timothy that speaks also to us, says “Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.” (1 Tim. 6:20-21) He has previously set the tone for this counsel by stating, “I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.” (1 Tim. 1:18-19)
Timothy was called to be holy, set aside for the purposes of God. Paul has spoken of the early prophecies over his life in this respect, and throughout his letter has given him practical instruction on living in holiness. And he stresses the singular value of such a calling as of utmost importance: ‘Guard what has been entrusted to your care.’ This is a sacred duty. A **popular dictionary defines “sacred” as primarily “dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity.” This definition from a
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