Daily Dose: I Peter 1:16 “Be Ye Holy”: God’s End-Time Call to the Remnant People

"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

I Peter 1:16

The command found in 1 Peter 1:16 (KJV)—“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”—stands as one of the clearest and most urgent calls to God’s people in these last days. From a Seventh-day Adventist perspective, this command is not just a moral guideline but a prophetic summons tied directly to the closing scenes of earth’s history. In the great controversy between Christ and Satan, holiness is the distinguishing mark of those who remain loyal to God amid widespread apostasy and deception. The call to holiness is inseparably connected to preparation for the second coming of Christ and identifies those who stand faithful to God’s law in a world increasingly characterized by rebellion, confusion, and spiritual compromise.

Biblical holiness means separation from sin, complete surrender to God, and the reflection of His character in daily life. God’s holiness represents moral purity, perfect righteousness, and full harmony with His law. When God commands His people to be holy as He is holy, He is inviting them into restored fellowship and calling them to reflect His character in thought, word, and action. Holiness is not produced by human effort alone but through obedience empowered by grace and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It is the fruit of abiding in Christ and allowing His righteousness to transform the life.

Seventh-day Adventist prophecy identifies God’s remnant people by their obedience and faithfulness. Revelation 14:12 declares, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” The remnant are characterized by loyalty to God’s law, including the Sabbath, faith in Christ, and moral purity. Holiness becomes a visible contrast to global lawlessness and a testimony against spiritual Babylon. The final generation is called to live out the holiness described in 1 Peter 1:16 as evidence of allegiance to God’s authority during the final crisis over worship and obedience.

Prophecy teaches that Christ will return for a prepared people. Ephesians 5:27 describes a church that is holy and without blemish. Preparation includes repentance, confession of sin, surrender of the will, and separation from sinful practices through the power of Christ’s righteousness. Holiness is not sinless perfection achieved by human strength but a life of continual dependence upon Jesus and consistent obedience motivated by love. Those who neglect spiritual preparation will be vulnerable to deception when counterfeit revivals and false miracles arise in the last days.

Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24 that false Christs and false prophets would arise with great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the very elect. Holiness provides protection against such deception by anchoring believers in God’s Word, aligning their lives with His commandments, and cultivating spiritual discernment. A holy life demonstrates submission to divine authority and serves as a safeguard against compromise and confusion. Without holiness, knowledge alone becomes insufficient, and faith becomes vulnerable to emotionalism and false doctrine.