Living Set Apart: Embracing God's Holiness Today

As we continue exploring First Peter in our “Faith Under Fire” series, the focus today is on what it means to live “set apart”—to be holy as God is holy. Holiness is often misunderstood as a demand for moral perfection, an impossible standard that can leave us feeling defeated. But a deeper look at Scripture reveals that holiness is first and foremost about “otherness”—being distinct, unique, and set apart because God Himself is distinct. God’s call to holiness is not a crushing checklist of rules, but an invitation to reflect His character in a world that desperately needs to see something different.

Tracing the story of holiness through the Bible, we see that God’s presence made spaces holy, from the burning bush to the temple. In the Old Testament, Israel was called holy not because of their perfection, but because God set them apart from other nations. Their distinct practices—food laws, Sabbath, worship—were signposts of their unique identity. Over time, the prophets began to see that God’s holiness was not meant to be contained, but to flow outward, bringing life and transformation. Isaiah’s vision of the coal purifying his lips, Ezekiel’s vision of the river flowing from the temple, and ultimately, Jesus’ ministry all point to a holiness that extends, purifies, and brings life.

Jesus, the embodiment of God’s holiness, entered into the messiness of the world, touching the unclean and making them whole. After His resurrection, the Holy Spirit empowered His followers to become living stones, built together into a new temple—not a building, but a community where God’s presence dwells. This means that holiness is no longer about geography or ritual, but about identity and lifestyle. The church is called to be a community that is radically different from the world around it—not in isolation, but in the midst of it.

In Peter’s day, this meant rejecting the idolatry, sexual immorality, and status-driven culture of the Roman world. Today, it means living generously in a culture of greed, offering hospitality in a world of isolation, blessing in a climate of outrage, and respect in a society of division. Holiness is not about hiding from the world, but about living differently within it—so that others might see our good works and glorify God. The call is to be God’s alternative community, marked by love, joy, peace, kindness, and self-control, offering a glimpse of God’s kingdom here and now.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Holiness is primarily about being “set apart” or “other,” not about achieving moral perfection. God’s distinctiveness is the foundation of our calling to be different, and our moral purity flows from our identity as His people, not the other way around. This reframes holiness as an invitation to reflect God’s unique character, rather than a burden to bear. [39:11]
• 2. Throughout Scripture, God’s holiness moves from being geographically contained to being expansive and transformative. The shift from the temple to the people of God as the new temple means that God’s presence is now found in the community of believers, wherever they are. Our lives are meant to “leak” holiness into the world, bringing life and hope to those around us. [47:13]
• 3. The church is called to be a radically different kind of community, not defined by the world’s divisions of status, power, or identity. In a society that gathers around sameness or exclusion, the church is to be a place where all are welcome, united by Christ and built together as living stones. This unity in diversity is a powerful witness to God’s reconciling love. [58:16]
• 4. Holiness is not about withdrawal or creating a “holy huddle,” but about engaging the world with a distinct way of life. Jesus prayed not for our removal from the world, but for our protection as we live within it. Our calling is to be present in our workplaces, schools, families, and neighborhoods, living out God’s alternative values in the midst of everyday life. [64:40]
• 5. In practical terms, being set apart today means choosing generosity over greed, hospitality over isolation, blessing over outrage, and respect over contempt. It means seeing every person as made in the image of God, worthy of honor and love, even when we disagree. This kind of “otherness” is what draws people to God and makes the church a beacon of hope in a divided world. [61:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:45] - Series Introduction & Humor
• [34:24] - Approach to Studying First Peter
• [35:38] - The Challenge of “Be Holy as I Am Holy”
• [36:13] - What Does Holiness Mean?
• [38:00] - Holiness: Moral Perfection vs. Otherness
• [39:11] - Holiness in the Old Testament
• [40:20] - Israel’s Set-Apart Identity
• [41:38] - Holiness and Sacred Space
• [42:52] - Clean and Unclean: Levitical Laws
• [45:17] - Isaiah’s Vision: Holiness Extends
• [47:13] - Holiness Flows Outward: Ezekiel and Jesus
• [49:00] - Peter’s Call to Holiness
• [49:38] - Living Stones and the New Temple
• [52:05] - Distinctiveness in Roman Society
• [56:24] - The Alternative Community
• [58:16] - Holiness in Today’s World
• [60:07] - Generosity, Hospitality, and Respect
• [64:40] - Holiness: In the World, Not of It
• [65:55] - Closing Song and Reflection

Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:13–2:12 (ESV) — > Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ... (Read through 2:12)

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV) — > You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

John 17:14–18 (ESV) — > I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Observation Questions

1. In 1 Peter 1:15–16, what reason does Peter give for why believers should be holy? ([36:13])
2. According to Leviticus 20:26, what is the basis for Israel’s holiness? Is it their moral perfection or something else? ([40:20])
3. In the sermon, what examples are given of how God’s holiness was shown in the Old Testament (like the burning bush, the temple, or the coal in Isaiah’s vision)? ([42:15])
4. What does Jesus pray for his followers in John 17:15–18 regarding their relationship to the world? ([01:04:40])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says holiness is more about “otherness” or being “set apart” than about moral perfection. How does this understanding change the way someone might approach the call to be holy? ([39:11])
2. Why do you think God wanted Israel—and now the church—to be distinct from the surrounding culture? What purpose does this serve? ([40:20])
3. The sermon describes how God’s holiness moves from being contained in a place (like the temple) to being present in his people. What does it mean for the church to be “living stones” and a “new temple”? ([49:38])
4. In Peter’s context, what were some of the cultural norms that Christians were called to reject, and what would that have cost them socially? ([52:05])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges the idea that holiness is a “crushing checklist” and instead invites us to reflect God’s character. Are there areas in your life where you feel burdened by trying to be “good enough”? How might seeing holiness as “otherness” bring freedom or a new perspective? ([39:11])
2. The Old Testament laws made Israel stand out in their world. Today, what are some specific ways Christians can be “set apart” in our culture without withdrawing from it? ([01:04:40])
3. The sermon lists generosity, hospitality, blessing, and respect as practical ways to live set apart. Which of these comes most naturally to you, and which is most challenging? What is one step you could take this week to grow in the area that’s hardest for you? ([01:01:23])
4. The idea of being a “radically different community” means welcoming people who are different from us. Is there a person or group you find it hard to welcome or respect? What would it look like to honor the image of God in them? ([58:16])
5. The sermon says, “Holiness isn’t hiding from the world. It’s living differently within it.” Where do you feel tempted to withdraw or “hide” from the world, and what would it look like to engage with a distinct, Christlike presence instead? ([01:04:40])
6. Think about your workplace, school, or neighborhood. What is “normal” there that you feel called to be different from as a follower of Jesus? How can you practically “leak” holiness into that environment this week? ([47:13])
7. The sermon mentions that our unity in diversity is a powerful witness. Are there divisions (political, cultural, generational, etc.) in your life or church that need to be bridged? What is one action you could take to help build unity? ([58:16])