Set Apart
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
God has set His chosen people apart as a holy nation for His glory. As believers in Christ, we are called to live differently from the world and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Leviticus 20:7-8
“Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
God commands us to consecrate ourselves and be holy because He is holy. This means we should live according to His word and seek to obey His commandments.
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
As believers in Christ, we should offer our lives as living sacrifices that are pleasing to God by living according to His will rather than conforming to the ways of the world.
Exodus 19:5-6
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Just like God called Israel to be set apart as His treasured possession and a kingdom of priests through their obedience and covenant keeping, He has also called us to be set apart for His purposes through our obedience to His word.
2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
God wants us to live differently from the world by separating ourselves from anything that is unholy or unclean. By doing this, we show our commitment to God and His ways.
Isaiah 43:1
“But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
God has called us by name and redeemed us through the blood of Christ. As His children, we are called to live a life set apart for Him.
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
As believers in Christ Jesus we were created for good works that glorify God. By living this way we reveal God’s unique purpose for our lives.
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
In everything that we say or do as believers we should seek to glorify Christ because He has set us apart unto Himself.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
In Jeremiah’s case God had special plans for him even before he was born and set him apart as a prophet to the nations. In the same way God has a unique individual plan for each of our lives.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
God has called us as believers to live holy and pure lives that reflect His goodness and grace.
2 Timothy 2:21
“Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
God has set us apart as His chosen vessel or instrument for any good work that He himself has prepared for us.
Isaiah 52:11
“Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD’s house.”
Isaiah makes it clear here what the desire of God is for those that carry His name. To be holy in all we do in every action and thought.
James 1:27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Our religion should demonstrate not just love towards others but with right living before God so as not to indulge in worldly pollutions.
Psalm 4:3
“Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;”
This statement is at once both assuring but also challenging; we are requested to continually remind ourselves that as children of God we have been set apart by Him unto Himself.
Galatians 5:16
“I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.”
We must deliberately choose to walk and live in the Spirit in order to keep ourselves away from fulfilling our own selfish desires of the flesh.
Revelation 18:4
“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins so that you will not receive any of her plagues.”
We need to heed this call to live a life set apart from all sin because these holds promise for a blessed and protected life.
1 Peter 1:15-16
“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.”
Peter draws our attention to this life-changing reality we have access to as believers where we are able and encouraged through Holy Spirit’s help to conform endlessly into the holiness that is synonymous with God.
Isaiah 6:8
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah had been set apart by God for His purposes and responded to His divine call with obedience without hesitation.
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.”
As believers in Christ we are set apart by God’s life within us instead of focusing on earthly desires that blind us from recognizing Gods ordinances.
Hebrews 13:12-13
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp; bearing the disgrace he bore.”
Jesus suffered greatly in order to make us holy through His sacrificial death on the cross and we are called to embrace this holiness, even if it means suffering for the sake of Christ.
1 Peter 3:15
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
We are set apart to share our faith by virtue of our unique relationship with Christ.
Romans 1:1
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—”
Like Paul was called as an apostle and set apart for spreading the Gospel, each one of us is uniquely called and set apart by God for a specific purpose in spreading His message of grace.
Colossians 1:13-14
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Christ’s death and resurrection has brought us into a new life where we are no longer under dominion over sin thereby separated unto Himself.
Ephesians 4:20-24
“That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus…put on the new self.”
True knowledge is not just about knowing facts but also applying them by putting off our old ways learning righteousness which portrays character fitting for living life completely unto God.
John 17:16-17
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
Christ’s prayer was specifically for our sanctification through His Truth into new vessels set apart unto Him. As believers, we are called to live distinct and holy lives, dedicated to serving God.