- Maintain Holy life in the polluted world: (1:13-21)
The imminent return of Christ should motivate us to live for Him. That’s why Peter gives five pointed exhortations:
a) Prepare your minds for action: Obedience is a conscious act of the will. Christians in conflict need a tough-minded holiness that is ready for action.
b) Be self-controlled: It means to be free from every form of mental and spiritual “drunkenness” or excess. Rather than being controlled by outside circumstances, believers should be directed from within.
c) Set your hope fully: (1:13): Holy living demands determination. A believers hope must be put on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
d) Do not be conformed to the world: (1:14): Peter is asking the believers to mould their characters and their lives. Their life style should not reflect their past ignorant life.
e) Be holy: (1:16): After people commit their lives to Christ, they still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father: Holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for His special use and set apart from sin and its influence. We are to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different are God’s qualities in our lives. Our focus and priorities must be His. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways. We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin.
Therefore the high cost of salvation which has taken the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, calls all believers to live in reverent fear before God. Holy living is motivated by a God-fearing faith. Reverent fear is not the fear of a slave for a ruthless master, but the healthy respect of a believer for the all-powerful God. Because God is the judge of all the earth, we dare not ignore Him or treat Him casually. We should not assume that our privileged status as God’s children gives us freedom to do whatever we want. We should not be spoiled children, but grateful children who love to show respect for our heavenly Father.
A slave was redeemed when someone paid money to buy his or her freedom. God redeemed us from the tyranny of sin, not with money, but with precious blood of His own Son (Rom.6:6,7). We cannot escape from sin on our own, but only by the help of the Lord. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29).
This payment for sin was planned before the Creation of the world and revealed for people’s sake through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It was not an afterthought. From the present age to the coming age It is only through Christ, whom the Father resurrected and glorified in His Ascension (Jn. 17:5) that people may come to know and trust in God. As a result of God’s eternal plan and priceless payment for sin, faith and hope can be placed in Him.
- Live in fellowship like a family: (1:22- 2:3):
The response of holy living that should result from the new birth is now applied to three areas. Obedience to the truth purifies and produces
a) Sincere love for the brethren: (1:22): Sincere love involves selfless giving. A self centred person cannot truly love God. God has manifested His greatest love on the cross of Calvary by shedding His precious blood as a propitiation for our sins. We can love others by following Christ’s example. When we have been purified by obeying the truth, God’s love has been poured into us through the Holy Spirit (Rom.5:5).
Here Peter uses both Agape love of God and the (Philadelphia love) brotherly love for one another. Because of the Agape love, we express our sincere brotherly love for others. Again we must share both kinds of love with others. Brotherly love because we are brothers and sisters in Christ and Agape love because we belong to God and so we must overlook differences in the church. We must forgive others because God forgave us. We are to be kind to others because God has shown His kindness and compassion. Everyone must be willing to undergo this experience.