1 Peter 1:13–2:1

Bible Studies for Life
Assistant Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Ready for Action
1 Peter 1:13–2:1

Be Holy! (1:13–16)
In spite of the trials Peter’s readers were experiencing, he called them to a life of holiness. Suffering does not eliminate the need for holiness in the Christian’s life. Holiness begins with a readiness for action and being sober-minded as believers hope for the future grace to be unveiled at Christ’s coming.

 Remembering that Christ will come again is critical for the Christian faith. It reminds believers that they live not for the present but with a hope fully set upon Christ’s coming. It prods them to be vigilant and steady in their daily lives in order to be proven faithful at the end (cf Matt. 25:1–46). Holiness begins with deliberate planning.
But the need for holiness in Christian faith is not simply the glorious past. It also is defined by the past. Holiness is marked by a separation from the life prior to salvation; Peter described this as “the passions of your former ignorance.” Whether these “passions” are positive or negative, they are no longer standards for the believer’s life. The Christian life is first and foremost determined by God’s holiness. Because God is holy, He also calls His children to be holy.

As a child looks upon his or her parent as the model for emulation in mind-set and action, the Christian looks to the holy God who is Father to all. If God is the standard for holiness, then it is impossible to maintain a life that complies with the norms of the secular world. Believers no longer live to amass riches for their own comfort while neglecting the poor (cf Prov. 14:21). The worldly passion for self-glory, ambition and power is laid aside for humble service to others (cf Mark 10:35–45). The liberty to do what one pleases with his or her body sexually is relinquished in view of the Holy Spirit’s presence in him or her (cf 1 Cor. 6:12–20).

All these former passions pale in the presence of a holy God. God has saved believers from lives of sin so that they might live holy lives. Thus holiness chiefly comes from God and not the believer’s effort.

Be Reverent! (1:17–21)
In view of this parent-child relationship believers have with God, Peter exhorted them to live in reverence of Him in spite of their suffering. Christians revere or fear God because He is not only Father but also an “impartial judge.” God is neither blind nor apathetic; He is the all-seeing God who perceives each person’s inner motives (cf 1 Sam. 16:7) and able to discern the wheat from weeds (cf Matt. 13:24–30). And believers “fear” God, not as dread before an oppressor but, as respect of a holy God who perceives their intentions and actions with fairness and clarity. And it is this same God who redeems them from “futile” lives with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, more precious than any earthly treasures. The gospel message of Jesus’ death and resurrection was planned at the beginning of time. And this good news was revealed to benefit believers so that they might place their faith and hope in God alone. The magnitude of God’s grace revealed in the gospel should lead believers to live in honor of Him.

Be Obedient! (1:22–2:1)
Peter turned his attention to how believers should behave within the faith community. Superficial pleasantry would no longer suffice in communal ethics since God had loved them so richly. Their love for one another must be “earnestly from a pure heart.” Because salvation comes to believers from an eternal God and by His enduring word, their communal relations must be marked by the same imperishable quality. Love among Christians must not be hypocritical; they must relinquish all malice and envy. They are obliged to speak with truth and grace rather than slander. Christian love surpasses any notion of love in the world since it is based on God’s self-sacrificing love as demonstrated on the cross. Believers love one another, not for convenience or advantage but, in conformity to Jesus’ love for them (cf John 13:1–20).