By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
BE HOLY
1 Peter 1:13–25
Obedient (13–16)
The inheritance promised to Jesus followers should motivate them to set their hope entirely on their future reward and to live in the fear of God who redeemed them by the blood of His own Son. The word “therefore” reaches back to 1 Peter 13:1–12. In the following verses believers are exhorted to live a godly life. But all of these exhortations are grounded in God’s saving work explained in the opening verses. God’s commands are always rooted in His grace.
Jesus followers are to set their hope fully on the grace to be experienced when Christ returns by preparing their minds for action and by being sober. Hope, trusting God for the future — neither of these things will become a reality in your life without disciplined thinking. Thinking in a new way requires effort, concentration and intentionality. We also are to think soberly. Believers must live in such a way that does not become dull to the reality of God and anesthetized by the attractions of the world.
While living on earth, Christians have to fight the desires of sin, so we are called to be obedient children separated from evil in all we do. We are to be holy (Lev. 18:2–4), for that accords with the character of God who is holy and has called believers to Himself. For believers holiness refers to our purity and our purpose. God has saved us from our sin for Himself. To be holy is to separate ourselves from what is evil. The command to holiness embraces all of life.
Reverent (17–21)
Jesus followers should live with a reverent fear because God judges everyone according to his deeds. God is not only the Father of His people but also their Judge. Fear is not a paralyzing terror but a fear of God’s discipline and fatherly displeasure. It is a reverence and awe that should characterize the lives of believers during their exile on this earth.
Verses 18–19 provide the reason we should fear the Lord. Believers were ransomed by Christ’s precious blood. The term “ransom” recalls Israel’s deliverance from Egypt which in turn points to the greater deliverance accomplished by Jesus. As Christians we have been delivered from a life of futility and meaninglessness to one of great significance. No one ever meets Jesus and stays the same. Christ’s sacrifice breaks the inevitability and power of “generational sin,” the idea that the sins of parents and grandparents are often repeated in later generations.
We have not been set free by perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ. The shedding of blood signifies death, the giving up of one’s life. Think about this life-changing reality: Christ poured out His life to death for sinners. Jesus Christ, the sinless One, died in our place to satisfy God’s righteous wrath against our sin.
Compassionate (22–25)
Peter’s call for his readers to love one another is rooted in their conversion, which occurred when they were obedient to the gospel. We are commanded to love one another from a pure heart. We cannot do that in our own strength. Honestly, we would not want to do so. Our ability to love is rooted in salvation and our activity of love is revealed in sacrifice. God saves us, purifies us and begins transforming us. Christ in us empowers us to love one another earnestly from a pure heart. The word “earnestly” means to stretch out, to go as far as you can and keep on going, to love without limit. Having been born again “through the living and abiding Word of God,” we are enabled by God to love one another fervently (v. 23).
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