Called to be Holy

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1 Peter 1:15-16

15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

As God’s children we are to be holy as He is holy. Here Peter quotes from Leviticus 11:44; but I think we should also consider God’s original plan for man. In His creation He created man and woman in His own image (Gen. 1:27). Hence, we were created with the desire and capacity to be holy, because that is one of the characteristics of God.

Don’t Be Conformed to the Former Lusts

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1 Peter 1:14

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

As Christians we must be obedient to God. That is our calling and it should be our desire—to please Him in everything. Before we were believers we followed our own desires (our lusts). That is all we knew. We had no other direction in life. The world, and our flesh, is all we knew. God and Jesus were alien to us.

Keeping Our Mind On Heavenly Things

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1 Peter 1:13

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

A better translation of the first line may be, “Gird up the loins of your mind,” which meant in those days to gather up one’s robes in order to run without hinderances, here applying to one’s thoughts, to keep our thoughts uncluttered or unhindered by the world. To “keep sober in spirit” means to be self-controlled and clear-minded, not given over to worldly and impure thoughts.

As for our hope, I think a better translation here is, “hope to the end, or “to keep your hope on.” The word “completely” I think is confusing. Hence, we are to fix our hope on the grace that will be brought to us when we see Jesus. The idea here is that we are to look more to the future, looking for His coming. Instead of always getting bogged down with all our earthly things, we ought to be keeping our mind on heavenly things.

What the Prophets Discovered

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1 Peter 1:12

12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.

In their search they concluded that their words were written not for their own benefit but for those far in the future—for us. And they were announced to us through those who preached the gospel by the Holy Spirit. This wonderful gospel of grace certainly has had the attention of the angels. 

The Prophet’s Predictions of Christ

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1 Peter 1:10-11

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

The Old Testament Prophets prophesied of the coming Christ and of His grace, yet they had no clear understanding of it—because it was so far in their future. So, they made careful study and inquiries of their own prophetic words in order to understand the Spirit of Christ within them, speaking to them about how He would suffer and then also be glorified (look at Isaiah 52:14-15; 53:1-7; 61:1-3).

Salvation Based on Faith

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1 Peter 1:8-9

8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Peter correctly expresses every dedicated Christian’s attitude: though we can’t see Jesus we love Him, believe in Him and rejoice in Him—because of the salvation we have that is based on our faith.

Trials Will Test Your Faith

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1 Peter 1:7

7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Their trials will be used to test their faith to see if it is genuine; and if it is, it is something that will bring them much praise and glory and honor when He rewards them (1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 3:13-14).

Protected Even in Trials

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1 Peter 1:6

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

Peter tells them that they should be glad in their sure salvation and in the protection God will give them, even in the trials they are having to endure. But they are to know that the trials will only last for a little while (Some of these trials were from their persecution that came during the reign of Nero, who blamed the burning of Rome on Christians.).

We are Protected by the Power of God

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1 Peter 1:5

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Not only is our inheritance protected and preserved eternally; we are protected by the power of God until we are glorified and arrive in heaven. We may die before our glorification (a temporary setback), but when He comes we will be resurrected and glorified (1Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:15-17).

Our Great Inheritance

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1 Peter 1:4

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

In our living hope we have confidence in God that we will receive a great inheritance in heaven, which is imperishable (will not decay; it will last forever) and undefiled (will not be corrupted by evil) and will not fade away (like flowers that wither).

This inheritance is everything that belongs to our new life of glory—all the things that make us like Christ. We have some of those things now, like all the fruits of the Spirit. In heaven those things will be much more pronounced and free of corruption. We will also have a body that is perfect and will not age. And we will have great companionship with God and Christ and all the saints. And our rewards, of course, will be delightful.