I am holy and without blame before him in love.

Ephesians 1:4

NASB	NLT	VOICE
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before HIm. In love	4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.	4 God chose us to be in relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him.

This union is not based on anything we can do, but on God’s powerful choice. God’s decision to choose us was made before creation itself. To be holy refers to being set apart for God’s purposes. To be blameless suggests that we live in moral integrity. The love God has for us is the foundation of who he is in our relationship, and it also reflects the role we should take as believers. 

We need to start looking at the world from an eternal perspective. To know that God’s plan for us was created before the world even started. God knew who we were when we were being formed in our mother’s womb. God knew who we were on the day we were born. God knows who we are today. The plan that he created us to follow has not changed. Our view of what that plan can look like often changes. The world as we know it is an ever-evolving, fast-paced world, but the Word of God remains the same today as it did yesterday and as it will in the future. We need to look to it, or back to it, to help us understand our path for life and seek His wisdom to understand how that plan will be fulfilled. It will not be easy. It may cost us certain lifestyle choices and relationships. However, God doesn’t blame us for what we did. Now we are working towards repentance and realigning ourselves back to the path that he created for us. 

1 Peter 1:16

NASB	NLT	VOICE
16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”	16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”	16 For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”

Holiness, in the biblical context, refers to being set apart for God’s purpose, reflecting His character and moral purity. In the ancient Near Eastern context, holiness was about connecting with the ritualistic purity and separating oneself from the profane. For the Israelites, it evolved staying obedient to the Law – moral, ceremonial, and the dietary regulations. In the New Testament, holiness includes the transition of the believer’s life through the Holy Spirit, aligning ourself with the character of Christ.. God’s holiness is a central attribute describing His absolute moral perfection and otherness. The call for us to be holy like God shows the relationship we should have, where we reflect God to the world. This holiness of God serves as our motivation and our model for Christian living, showing the transformative power of the gospel to conform believers to Christ’s image. 

Holiness should permeate every part of our lives. Our thoughts and attitudes, our actions and relationships – everything we say and do should lead us to stand out as a follower of Christ. It can be confusing on what this looks like because a decent minority of Christians do not properly represent who God is. People will use and abuse scripture to judge, bully, and condemn others. People will treat each other in a way that benefits themselves over how they want to be treated. If you want to truly start looking like Jesus, lead with love, care, and compassion. Seek to meet the needs of our neighbors. Speak up for the marginalized when injustices occurred. Be intentional and when you doubt about it, ask the Holy Spirit for the strength and wisdom to guide you. 

I am God’s workmanship, created to do good works. 

Ephesians 2:10

NASB	NLT	VOICE
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.	10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.	10 For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago.

The Greek word for “workmanship” is poiema, which suggests a work of art or masterpiece. This implies that believers are intentionally and intricately designed by God. This creation is not just physical, but spiritual – showing this rebirth and renewal. The purpose of being a new creation is to engage in the good works. The cultural context of the early church involved a strong focus on community and service – core facets to Jesus’ teachings, loving one’s neighbor, and serving others. 

Understanding that we are created in Jesus for a specific purpose – to do good works. We are created to spread the Gospel and to care for each other as God cares for us. God gives different talents, gifts, and resources in order to care for each other. Some people are better communicators and listeners, so they can help with listening to problems and working towards guiding people on the proper path of life. Some people are good at knitting and therefore will prepare clothes for the homeless and needy. Some people are good cooks. Some people are financially blessed. You name, we have a calling that God placed within us to care for our neighbor, our world, and ourselves. 

I am a part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people.

1 Peter 2:9

NASB	NLT	VOICE
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for god’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.	9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.	9 But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.

The term “chosen” signifies God’s initiative in salvation and his powerful love for us. Believers have direct access to God and are called to serve Him in all parts of our lives. The priesthood of all believers is a key New Testament teaching, showing that we all have access to God. The collective identity of believers is unique, separated from the world. It shows ownership and protection, unified under our loving creator. Believers are called to share the virtues of God; anything from his might works to his characteristics. 

Our primary mission, should we choose to accept it, is to share the good news of God. Not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. We must live lives that reflect His transformative power. I’m reminded of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13. (I always butcher the quote passage, but I love my paraphrases of it) Paul talks about how we can walk around and make all kinds of noise, but we if we don’t do it in love – it’s meaningly. We can go out and say we live lives that are Christlike, but until we can actually put money where our mouths are – it’s pointless. It’s easy to talk about Christ, it’s harder to showcase what that will look like. It could be with our words. It could be with your actions. It could be with something in-between. Whatever we do, let it come from the heart and let it glorify God. 

Reflection Questions

1. What does being “set apart” mean for you?
2. Which of your talents might you use to serve others?
3. Think back to a time where you might have “sounded” Christian, but didn’t act like it. How did that go?

Call to Action

Ask God, “Where do You want me to reflect Your character today?” Then – do it. Let your holiness be visible enough through compassion and courage.

Next part: Who Am I Again? #3