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Note:  This article is a study through this passage of scripture using the SIDL model.  If you are unfamiliar with this, please read this summary, or this more in-depth walk through to understand what's being done here.

 

1st Peter 1:13-25  The Student 1st Peter 1:13-25  The Interpreter The source of Christian ethics. 1st Peter 1:13-25  The Disciple 1st Peter 1:13-25  The Lover

1st Peter 1:13-25  The Student

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"Therefore" is the first word in the sentence that begins this section. Up to this point Peter has been celebrating the amazing salvation that has been given to these marginalized Christians in Asia Minor. But now, having reminded them of this salvation, he turns to the daily implications of that salvation. It's as if he's saying, "Because this salvation is true, now you get to live differently." For Peter, theology is the source of ethics; that is to say, what we believe about God is the root of how we live and treat people.  As we move through the passage, Peter begins to challenge his audience to live differently in a variety of ways.

 

The first change has to do with the mind, with thoughts. (1:13) "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." The phrase "prepare your minds for action" is literally "gird up the loins of your mind." The idea behind this comes from the clothing of the time. Men generally wore long robes to the ankle, but when action was needed these robes would get in the way. When time came for heavy work, or running, men would take off any heavy outer robe, and then hitch their long inner shirt up over their belt, freeing their legs. In this state they could easily run or work without being weighed down by their clothes. In this metaphor Peter is telling his church to free their minds from unnecessary encumberances.

 

Then he instructs them to "be self-controlled." Their minds are free of things that distract, and now they are to keep it that way. They are to not let other things control them, other passions or substances or circumstances. They need to be able to focus their minds wholly on the prize. "Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." "Don't get caught up in all the distractions," Peter says. Keep your focus on Jesus, on His return, and on the grace He is giving you.

 

This is important because in their situation there were lots of things to distract their focus. The difficulties of their station, of being a Christian in a hostile culture, of being unfairly marginalized were more than enough to make them feel slighted. Their focus cold easily have been on their treatment, on the unfiarness of their circumstances or on how to get ahead. And yet Peter focuses them back on what's most important.

 

The second change has to do with behavior. What's inside comes out. Because of this great salvation that's beeen given to them, Peter challenges his readers to live holy lives. (1:14-16) "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.'" Peter seems to be saying that paying attention to the salvation God has given, keeping hope fully pegged on Jesus, leads to a life of holiness. Here's an interesting note: these are already converted people. Peter is not giving them instructions for how to become Christians. They are already believers, they have already been given the inheritance that will never spoil or fade. (1:3-6) That means that their obedience is not what is gaining them salvation. They are already a part of God's new family. But now, as a part of the family, Peter is exhorting them to take on the family resemblance. They are now to imitate their Father.

 

The third change is about how followers of Jesus live in this world. (1:17-21) Verse 17 says, "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." Here's an important perspective check. This Father is not some absent abstraction. He is watching. He knows and can judge the results of each person's life--and will do so impartially. This ought to impact the way these people live. Peter tells them to live with "reverent fear." The tone of this phrase could also be translated as "appropriate respect" or even "worshipful awareness." This isn't encouraging living in terror of God. Peter is telling the Christians in Asia Minor to live their days in awareness of God's presence. Perhaps they are making decisions out of fear for what the people around them might do or say. Instead of basing those decisions on what others think, they can now feel the freedom to make those decisions based on what God alone things. After all, He is the only impartial judge who sees truly.

 

And there's another reason for this perspective. This salvation cost a great deal, the "precious blood of Christ." (1:19) Peter points out that this wasn't an impersonal transaction, but a very personal one made "for your sake." Considering this ought to bring about a level of respect and gratitude. It also ought to remind the followers of Jesus that their time here is temporary. And so, even though they are living in the midst of a hostile culture, they are to live as strangers, with respect of God, of what God has done, and of what God is asking of them. Their eyes are ultimately to be on their Father alone.

 

The final change that all this brings about impacts the quality of their community. All this has specific ramifications for how they are to relate to each other. (1:22-25) "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for yor brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."

 

This truth that Peter has been preaching leads people toward love. This isn't just recommending friendliness or civil relations. Peter says to "love one another deeply, from the heart." "Deeply" here implies depth of effort, commitment and duration. It means "doing a thing not lightly and perfunctorily, but...with straining."^[1]   This is a kind of committed love that takes intention, effort and persistance.

 

This may sound like a tall order, and it is. Thinking differently, choosing to live holy lives out of respect for God and an awareness of His presence, and loving others deeply represents a whole new kind of life. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. And so Peter closes this section reminding his audience of the source of their ability to follow through on all of this.

 

(1:23-25) "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' And this is the word that was preached to you."

 

These Christians are not to do all this on their own. In fact they are not able to. Like all other humans, they will wither and fall. But they have something that will carry them through. They have been born again through the "enduring word of God." This is what was preached to them that brought about their conversion. This is what they share with each other as they continue to grow in their faith. This is what will hold them strong through the difficulties of their circumstances.

 

 

 

1st Peter 1:13-25  The Interpreter

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The source of Christian ethics.

In this section Peter begins to lay out a number of practical instructions for how he wants his readers to live. This begins to move us from theology to ethics. But it is very important to note how he does it. This reveals the foundation, in Peter's mind, of these ethical choices.

 

This whole section begins (1:13) with "therefore" predicating the whole discussion of these ethical choices on what came before. So what came before? (1:3-12) A celebration of God's grace and mercy and the salvation that has been made available through them. "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade..."

 

This is the foundation of any discussion of Christian ethics. Without God's grace, without salvation, ethics are fruitless. There are schools of thought that base ethics on some universal standard of the common good, or on a rational discussion of what is compassionate. But for Christians, ethics are simply the practical application of grace and mercy, lived out in action.

 

Christian ethics are not based on general concensus, or some vague idea of the "common good." Christian ethics are rooted in God's holiness and an expression of God's purpose to restore humanity to wholeness. They are never a dispassionate action undertaken simply because it is "the right thing to do." They grow from God's love for people. Without a clear understanding of God's holiness, and what God has done on behalf of humanity, it is nearly impossible to work up any passion about right behavior, and certainly impossible to find any agreement on what right behavior looks like.

 

Peter also points to the child of God's desire to imitate his Father as a motivation for ethics. (1:17) Later he suggests that gratitude to God for the great cost paid on our behalf becomes the motivation for ethical behavior. (1:18-20) But these motivations come as a result of knowing and accepting one's salvation, and growing in an understanding of God's character.

 

 

1st Peter 1:13-25  The Disciple

Note: The Disciple role looks at the passage for what it says about how to live, and can only be done with a personal application. As I look at this passage, some of what I reflect on may be subjectively directed at me--since I'm looking at the issue of how to live my life. Hopefully much of this is transferrable to you, but please remember that this is an example of one follower of Jesus applying this passage to his own life. --Marc Schelske

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Am I living with my mind "prepared for action?" In this comment Peter was encouraging these Christians to set aside the things that encumber their minds, and keep them from being able to focus on God. Do I have certain recurring thought patterns that undermine my hope? Do I get overwhelmed by my circumstances and allow that to distract me? If so, how does this limit my ability to connect with God?

 

Am I living self-controlled?? Do I struggle with addiction or compulsive behavior? Do I allow my feelings--anger, jealousy, defensiveness, etc.--to control my behavior and relationships? If so, how does this limit my ability to connect with God?

 

Where is my hope set? Is the hope in my life set on my abilities, my financial security, my material thing or my relationships? Am I optimistic when I have these things, but pessimistic when I don't? Can I choose instead to set my hope on Jesus---who He is and what He's done for me?

 

Am I setting out to be holy? Do I care about living the way God wants me to? Do I actually make decisions based on what would please God? Do I set out to imitate my Father in Heaven in the way I live, respectfully aware of the fact that He is present in my life and sees truly the intentions of my heart?

 

Do I deeply love my spiritual family? How do I engage other Christians? Do I seek to foster authentic relationships where real love is expressed? Am I a part of building a welcoming and loving atmosphere in my church?

 

 

1st Peter 1:13-25  The Lover

Note: The Lover role looks at the passage for what God is saying to the reader directly, and like the Disciple role, can only be done from a personal perspective. In this role, the reader is listening and responding to what God is saying about Himself, about the reader and about the relationshi between them. As such, I will just reflect on my own experience in this area. Remember that this is only the example of one follower of Jesus trying to her God's voice in the passage. --Marc Schelske

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Dear Father, I know that I need to submit my mind to You. I need to have my mind "prepared for action," and all too often it's caught up in other things--things that feel urgent and important, but which really are just a distraction. Help me to strip away the things that stand in the way of Your best for me. I want to be holy--help me to want it more. I give You access to work in my life and my full cooperation.

 

I know that You are present in my day and that everything I do takes place in Your shadow. I want to live with that awareness present in the forefront of my mind, rather than as an afterthought. Let Your presence guide and structure everything in my life: my thoughts, my actions, my relationships, my sense of self and my perspective on others. Help me to live with deep love for You and everthing You have made.

 

I ask for You to work in me, and I give myself over to Your influence as best as I am able. Have access and have my cooperation. In Jesus' name I ask these things. Amen.