1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Peter begins verse thirteen with the word ‘therefore’ calling each of his readers to apply the truth of the last ten verses. Those verses reminded us what God did for us, namely everything for our salvation. We are saved, not by our works (see Ephesians 2:8-9) but one-hundred percent by what He did for us! So what do we do? Do we respond by remaining quiet (see 1 Corinthians 3:15), or do we choose to follow Jesus? The choice is ours.
Peter tells us that we are to prepare our minds for action. The Greek literally says, “gird up the loins of your mind.” Similar phrases are used throughout the Bible (see 2 Kings 4:29; 9:1; Job 38:3; 40:7; Jeremiah 1:17; Ephesians 6:14). During Biblical times clothing was generally loose, the phrase essentially means, “pull up the corners of your robes and place them in or through your belt and go!”[1] In other words get ready to move, it’s time for action!
Depending on your occupation, project you’re working on, or other potential interest, the word ‘preparation’ may have different connotations. For example, a runner might prepare for a long race through endurance running, a person might prepare their house for guests by vacuuming, a teacher might prepare for a class by writing a curriculum, one can prepare for a potential disaster, etc. As Christians we need to train and be prepared too.
Peter says we need to prepare the mind. It was Paul who reminded us that the helmet of salvation protects the head (see Ephesians 6:17). Why is our brain so important? Obviously physical protection of the brain is important, but Paul is undoubtedly referring to the need for us to use the Bible to learn and understand what is good and pleasing to God, to filter out those things that are not beneficial, as well as be selective regarding what come in. So how do we prepare the mind? To begin, we need to be willing to be used by God and spend the time necessary to train and prepare. The amount of time dedicated to prepare can indicate our commitment level.
Peter continues in verse thirteen with some pointers on how to prepare our minds. First, he said we should be “sober minded.” This instruction goes way beyond our modern use of the word. True, we need to be free from chemical or alcohol influence, but we must also never lose control of our thoughts. In other words, don’t let corruption in! Paul in his letter to the church in Rome said this, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2) Paul first calls our attention that being a living sacrifice is similar to how worship in the Old Testament was related to offering sacrifices, and now we present our sacrifices by daily rejecting the world’s influence and willingly follow and obey Jesus. Obedience is our key act of worship today. Next, Paul tells us to not let the world mold us and shape our thinking. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We need to know the Word of God so that we can discern and know the will of God. We begin to prepare our minds by taking time to learn and then grow in the Word (see also Matthew 16:26; 18:7; John 15:18-19; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:20; Titus 2:11-12; James 4:4).
Peter tells us the next thing in preparing our minds is to set our hope fully on the gracious salvation that will be ours when Jesus is revealed (see also Psalms 33:18; 39:7). As pointed out earlier, the word ‘hope’ in the Greek is unlike the English word and it implies that there is no doubt. We are to set our hope fully (meaning absolute trust) on God’s grace (see Ephesians 2:1-10), not conditionally or partially, fully (see Ephesians 1:17; Colossians 2:13-14; John 1:29). The grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ means we are to live in the hope of His return. The word ‘revelation’ in the Greek is the word ‘apokalypsis’ meaning to unveil. Note the Book of Revelation begins with the words; “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:1-3) The entire book is about the unveiling of Jesus (note the word “Revelation” is singular, not plural). The term is also used by Paul in Romans 8:23 and Philippians 3:20-21.
1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
Peter next calls us ‘obedient children’ implying all believers should obey God (compare to the “sons of disobedience” in Ephesians 2:2; Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 12:1-2). As obedient children we are to no longer conform to the passions, lusts and desires of our former ignorance (before being saved). Our perspective and priorities in life should be different now (see Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-24). We are a new creation, regeneration has definitely occurred (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:1-10).
1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Peter then reminds us that we are to be holy in all our conduct. We are righteous and holy through what Jesus did for us, but we are to be holy in everything we do as well, our behavior should reflect our holiness. Sadly, in this life we believers cannot be without sin. Paul explains this in his Romans 7:13-25 dialog where he claims that he does the things he doesn’t want to do and doesn’t do the things he should do and concludes that he is a ‘wretched man!’ He points out that we would be truly wretched and unsalvageable if it weren’t for Jesus. This dialog explains that we will still struggle with sin, temptations and lusts (remember this ongoing battle plays a major role in our sanctification, see verse two). The apostle John wrote in his first epistle that we should walk in the Light and understand that if we say we have no sin we are only deceiving ourselves, but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and willing to forgive our sins (see 1 John 1:5-10). Our goal is to always reflect His holiness in all we do (see Ephesians 2:10).
So what does it mean to be holy? Peter tells us that it begins by being sober-minded, to always set our hope in Him, to live in the hope of His return, and to obey God. Essentially to live our lives using a different moral compass than the world’s. Much of the problems we see today began as Christians and churches have eroded God’s Word by allowing worldly wisdom and values in our hearts and minds and then ultimately replaces God’s truth. The Bible tells us we are to stand firm, meaning don’t slide backwards away from God by letting ideas like homosexuality, abortion, and evolution to be acceptable.
1:16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter is quoting the Old Testament (read Leviticus 11:43-46; 19:5; 20:7; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6-8). We are to be holy for God is holy. Our relationship with God makes us different (holy means separated, different or peculiar; unique and dedicated for God to use). Believers are to bear His image (see Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18), therefore as an image of God everything we do and say reflects Him.
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[1] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2004). 1 Peter (p. 64). Chicago: Moody Publishers.