“I am holy you must be holy” comes from the Bible, primarily referencing God’s command in Leviticus and its restatement in the New Testament. It’s a foundational principle that calls for followers to live a life of holiness, or moral and spiritual separation, because God is holy. This command is found in Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, and 20:7, and is quoted in 1 Peter 1:15-16 to encourage believers to live a life consistent with their identity in Christ.
Key biblical references
- Leviticus 11:44: States, “You shall be holy, for I am holy”.
- Leviticus 19:2: God speaks to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy'”.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16: The Apostle Peter quotes Leviticus, urging believers, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy'”.
Meaning of the command
- God’s holiness: The command is based on God’s own nature. Because God is holy, those who belong to him are also called to be holy.
- Holiness as separation: In a biblical context, being holy means being set apart or consecrated for a particular purpose. It implies a separation from sin and the ways of the world to live according to God’s will.
- A call to all believers: This commandment was given to the entire community of Israel and is extended to all followers of Christ, not just a select few.
- A model for all conduct: The call to be holy is not limited to a single aspect of life but is to be reflected in “all your conduct” or “all your way of life,” as stated in 1 Peter.