1 Peter 1:13-16 A New Life of Holiness “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought

1 Peter 1:13-16

A New Life of Holiness

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

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Review of Mosaic Law:

"The Word of God condemns unsparingly all attempts to put THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER 'UNDER THE LAW.' The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul gave to the church the book of Galatians for the very purpose of dealing with this HERESY. Read this epistle over and over, noting carefully the precise error with which the writer deals. It is not a total rejection of the gospel of God's grace and a turning back to total legalism. It is rather THE ERROR of saying that the Christian life, having begun by simple faith in Christ, MUST thereafter CONTINUE UNDER THE LAW OR SOME PART OF IT (Gal. 3.2-3)." (Alva J. McClain)

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The Nature of the Mosaic Law:

o The Mosaic Law is a single unit made up of 613 commandments. Perfection in every detail is required. Failure at any point brings cursing from God.

o James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

o Deut. 27:1-10 o Deut. 27:11-26 describes a ceremony of ratification of the Mosaic

Covenant. o Paul quotes Deut. 27:26 in Gal. 3:10. Deut. 27:26 “‘Cursed is he

who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

o Ex. 19:1-8 “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” See also Ex. 24:1-8.

o Deut. 28 Promises of Blessings (14 verses) and Curses (54 verses)o Leviticus and Deuteronomy describe in detail the Law

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The Timing when the Nation of Israel was under the Mosaic Law (aka Dispensation of Law):

oGal. 3:19 “It was added… until the seed would come…” oGal. 4:1-7oRom 10:4 “Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to everyone that believes”oCol. 2:14 “… took it out of the way nailing it to His cross”oGal. 3:22-25 describes the time during which the Jews were under the LawoRom. 6:14 “you are not under Law but under Grace”oRom. 7:1-6 “now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound”

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The Purposes of the Mosaic Law (Merryman):

oTo conclude all members of the human race under sin, Rom. 3:19oTo stop every mouth, i.e., to make every person aware of his/her guilt before God, Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:22; 1 Tim. 1:8-11oTo make apparent the exceeding sinfulness of sin, Gal. 3:19-21; Rom. 3:20; 5:20; 7:7-13;oTo serve as a tutor (pedagogue) to lead us to Christ (Messiah) for salvation, Gal. 3:23-25)

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The Church is Under Grace and Christ is the Life of the Church Age saint:

oJohn 10:10oGal. 2:19-21oGal. 4:19oGal. 5:1-2oGal. 5:13-26oRom. 5:20-6:14o2 Cor. 3:18oCol. 1:27-29oCol. 3:1-4

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Peter agrees with this understanding of the Christian life (i.e., the Church is under Grace):o1 Peter 1:2, 3, 8, 13, 21, 23, 25; 2:2-5, 7a, 10b; 4:11; 5:10, 12bo2 Peter 1:2-4; 3:18a

o1 Peter 1:2 “… sanctifying work of the Spirit… May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”o1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”o1 Peter 1:8 “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.”

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Peter agrees with this understanding of the Christian life (i.e., the Church is under Grace):o1 Peter 2:2-5 “Like newborn babies, long for the pure mild of the word, so that by it you may brow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,, you also, as living stones are built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”o1 Peter 2:7a “This precious value [of Christ], then, is for you who believe…”o1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”o1 Peter 1:14b “the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

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Peter agrees with this understanding of the Christian life (i.e., the Church is under Grace):o1 Peter 5:10 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”o1 Peter 5:12b “… I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”o2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, seeing that His divine power hath granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”o2 Peter 3:18a “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

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Verse 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.

“Therefore” [Διο] – “wherefore, on account of”oTo what is this conjunction referring? oBecause of our great salvation and inheritance in Christ and position in Christ, and the glories of the future Kingdom, Peter launches into a practical section. oThis is similar to other epistles (i.e., Romans, Ephesians, Colossians) where Paul bases the practical section upon the doctrinal section.

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“prepare” [αναζωσαμενοι] – aorist middle participleolit. “to gird up; metaphorically, be prepared.” (Thayer) oOnly used here in NT.o“a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fastened them with a leather belt.” (Thayer; Vincent & Robertson agree)

“minds”– [της διανοιας] - “The faculty of thought: understanding, especially the moral understanding.” (Vincent)

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“for action” [τας οσφυας] –“Old word for the part of the body where the girdle (zone) was worn.” (Robertson)oLuke 12:34-35; Eph. 6:14oIn LXX Ex. 12:11oLit., prepare the loins of your mindoIs this indicating we prepare ourselves for action as many commentators indicate? Don’t think so. So what is it saying?oPer context, while the Lord focuses our faith on Christ Himself by trials, appropriate the great salvation previously discussed in verses 2-12. See Verse 8 also.oThis is like saying “abide above” or “rest in your position in Christ” or “be occupied with Christ.”

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“keep sober in spirit” [νηφοντες] – present active participleoνηφω – “to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit” (Thayer)oConstable: “Sober of spirit describes a Christian who is in full control of his speech and conduct in contrast to one who allows his flesh (i.e., his sinful human nature) to govern him.”o1 Thess. 5:6-8; 1 Peter 4:7oDue to context and “therefore”: Because of the trials that may come our way from the Father to focus our faith on Him, keep resting in your position in Christ.

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“fix your hope” [ελπισατε] – aorist active imperativeoελπιζω – “hopefully to trust in” (Thayer)

“completely” [τελειως] – adverboτελειως – perfectly, completely

“the grace” [την … χαριν] – oη χαρις – “gift”oWuest says this grace is referring to the inheritance of verses 4-5.

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“to be brought” [φερομενην] – present passive participleoφερω – to bear, to bring, to carryo “The words ‘that is to be brought’ are from an article and a

present participle in the Greek text. It is true that our reception of this grace is yet future. But the picture in the word used is off this grace being brought to us right now. That is, it is already on the way.” (Wuest)

“the revelation” [αποκαλυψει] oη αποκαλυψις – “manifestation, appearance” (Thayer)oTo what does “at the Coming? revelation of Jesus Christ” refer here in this Verse: Rapture or 2nd Coming?

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oThe Millennial Kingdom reference in 1 Peter 1:11 is a strong indication that Peter has is anticipating the 2nd Coming. Even Paul in Eph. 1:10 keeps the Millennial Kingdom in view as the climax of this earth (post-fall) and all the dispensations.oUsed in 1 Peter 1:5, 7, 14; 4:13; 5:1oLuke 17:30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” o Romans 8:18-19 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present

time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.”

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o 2 Thess. 1:6-10 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”

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oBased on “hope”, “grace”, “revelation” and 1 Peter 5:10: 1 Peter 1:13 refers to Rapture along with John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 1:6-11, Col. 3:4, Tit. 2:11-14, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Cor. 1:7-8; He. 9:28; 1 John 3:2 (not complete Rapture list).o1 Peter 1:5, 7; 4:13 and 5:10 refer to 2nd ComingoJohn Darby: “Peter, however, always occupied with the ways of God respecting this world, only looks at the share that believers will have in this salvation, this heavenly glory, when it shall be manifested; when God will, by this glory, establish His authority in blessing on the earth…Christ is glorified personally, has conquered all His enemies, has accomplished redemption. He only waits for one thing, namely, that God should make His enemies His footstool.”

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

“As” [ως] – adverbo“as, like, even as, etc.” (Thayer)

“obedient” [υπακοης] – oη υπακοη – “obedience, compliance, submission” (Thayer)oLit., of obedience

“children” [τεκνα] -oτο τεκνον - childo“A better translation of "obedient children" might be ‘children whose spirit is obedience.’” (Constable)

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“do … be conformed” [συσχηματιζομενοι] – present middle participleoσυσχηματιζω – “to conform one’s self (i.e. one’s mind and character) to another’s pattern, (fashion one’s self according to)” (Thayer)o“As σχημα is the outward, changeable fashion, as contrasted with what is intrinsic, the word really carries a warning against conformity to something changeful, and therefore illusory.” (Vincent; Wuest agrees)oUsed only here and in Romans 12:2oRomans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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“to the … lusts” [ταις … επιθυμιαις] –oη επιθυμια – “desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust” (Thayer)

“former” [προτερον] – oπροτερον – former, prior, before

“your ignorance” [τη αγνοια]oη αγνοια – “lack of knowledge, ignorance” (Thayer)o“Ignorance is an idiom for any life that does not know the true God. It may be a life of religion, as in Acts 17:30, or a life of sin, as in Ephesians 4:17-19.” (McCalley)oSee 1 Peter 4:1-3; 2 Peter 1:4

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Verse 15:but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior

“but” [αλλα]

“like” [κατα] – “according to”o1 Pet. 2:21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”

“the Holy One” [τον … ἅγιον] –oἅγιος – “holy; set apart”

“who called” [καλεσαντα] – Aorist Active Participleoκαλεω – “to call”oUsed in 1 Peter 2:9, 21; 3:6, 9; 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3

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“be” [γενηθητε] – aorist passive imperativeoγινομαι – “to become; be made”o“‘Be’ is from Ginomai which is not the verb of being, but of ‘becoming.’ It is ingressive aorist here, signifying entrance into a new state. Those who at one time were wholly controlled by their evil cravings, had through salvation entered into a new state of being, that of inward holiness, by virtue of the residence in them of the Holy Spirit, and now they were to see to it that that inward holiness found outward expression in their lives.” (Wuest)

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“holy” [ἅγιοι] – ANMPoἅγιος – “holy; set apart”o1 Pet. 2:9 “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

“your behavior” [αναστροφη] oαναστροφη – “manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment” (Thayer)o1 Peter 1:18; 2:12; 3:1-16; 2 Peter 2:7

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Verse 16:because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’

“because” [διοτι] – “for; on this account that, because” (Thayer)

“it is written” [γεγραπται] – perfect passive indicativeoγραφω – “to write”

“You shall be” [γενεσθε] – present passive imperativeoγινομαι – “to become; be made”

“holy” [ἅγιοι] – ἅγιος – “holy; set apart”

“I” [εγω] –

“am” [ειμι] – “to be”

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Verse 16:because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’

oLev. 11:44-45 “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.”oLev. 19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”oLev. 20:7 “You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.”oMatt. 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Verse 16:because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’“Christian progress is not a question of attaining to some abstract standard, or of pressing through to some far-off goal. It is wholly a question of seeing God’s standard in God’s Word. You advance spiritually by finding out what you really are (in Christ), not by trying to become what you hope to be. That goal you will never reach, however earnestly you may strive. It is when you see you are dead unto sin that you die to it (daily); it is when you see you are risen that you arise; it is when you see you are a ‘new creation’ in Him that you (progressively) grow. Seeing the accomplished fact in the Word determines the pathway to the realizing of that fact. The end is reached by seeing, not by desiring or working. The only possibility of spiritual progress lies in our discovering the truth as God sees it; the truth concerning Christ, the truth concerning ourselves in Christ.” -W.N.

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1 Peter 1:13-16 A New Life of Holiness “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought