Answer: God wants us to participate in the divine
nature, (verse 4).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were
taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old
self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made
new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness."
Ephesians 5:3: "But among you there
must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of
impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy
people."
1 Thessalonians 3:13: "May He
strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in
the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with
all His holy ones."
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8: "For God did
not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore,
he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, Who
gives you His Holy Spirit."
2 Timothy 2:20-21: "In a large
house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of
wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble
[disgraceful, shameful, base, mean, not noble]. If a man
cleanses himself from the latter [ignoble purposes], he will be an
instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and
prepared to do any good work."
Hebrews 12:10-11: "Our fathers
disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God
disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His
holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but
painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness
and peace for those who have been trained by it."
Hebrews 12:14: "Make every effort
to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no
one will see the Lord."
1 Peter 1:13-16: "Therefore,
prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope
fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is
revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil
desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 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.'"
2 Peter 3:10-12: "But the day of
the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a
roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and
everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be
destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You
ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day
of God and speed its coming."
1 John 3:2-3: "Dear friends, now we
are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made
known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for
we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in him
purifies himself, just as He is pure."
