1 Peter Chapter 1 Part Two

1 Peter Chapter 1 Part Two

Called to Be Holy

Verses 13-25: The products of salvation: hope, holiness, reverence and love.

1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

Seven Commands for Christians

gird up the... 1. Gird up the loins of your mind (1Pet. 1:13). This means to brace up and take courage in face of the trials that one is called to go through. The ancient practice of gathering up one’s robes when needing to move in a hurry; here, it is metaphorical applied to one’s thought process. The meaning is to pull in all the loose ends of one’s thinking, by rejecting the hindrances of the world and focusing on the future grace of God (Eph. 6:14; Col. 3:2).

be sober, and... 2. Be sober (1Pet. 1:13). Greek: nepho, to live soberly and righteously (cp. Tit. 2:11-12). Spiritual sober-mindedness includes the ideas of steadfastness, self-control, clarity of mind, and moral decisiveness. The sober Christian is correctly in charge of his priorities and not intoxicated with the various allurements of the world.

and hope to... 3. Hope to the end for the grace and salvation that are to be brought at the coming of Christ (1Pet. 1:13; Rom. 8:24-25). This further confirms the fact that all of grace and salvation is not received at the remission of sins. In light of their great salvation, Christians, especially those undergoing suffering, should unreservedly live for the future, anticipating the consummation of their salvation at the appearing of Christ in the clouds (see verse 7). The 3rd New Testament prophecy in 1 Peter (1Pet. 1:13, unfulfilled). Next, 1Pet. 1:24.

to be brought... 4. Do not pattern after your former life of sin (1Pet. 1:14; Eph. 2:1-3). You are new creatures and you must live new lives (2Cor. 5:17-18).

grace that is... Christ’s future ministry of glorifying Christians and giving them eternal life in His presence will be the final culminating of the grace initiated at salvation (Eph. 2:7).

5. Be holy in all your manner of life (1Pet. 1:15). You are to pattern after God in all things (1Pet. 1:16).

the revelation of... The Greek word for “revelation” is the same word that is translated “appearing” (verse 7), meaning the whole sequence of end-time events centered around the Christ's appearance in the clouds. The second coming of Christ, at which time the full blessings of grace and of eternal redemption will begin to be realized by all men on earth.

6. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear (1Pet. 1:17; 1Cor. 10:12-13).

The exhortation to set one’s hope involves an inward resolution “Gird up the loins of your mind”. The imagery is that of personal discipline and outward conduct. “Be sober (Greek nephontes): Be free of every sort of mental and spiritual intoxication. “The revelation of Jesus Christ” is the Second Advent when Jesus returns to earth to set up His kingdom.

To gird up the loins of your mind, means they would not allow their mind to wander. God is saying through Peter; do not let your mind run astray. Keep your thoughts close on the things of God. "Sober", here, means to not be fickle. Be serious about the things of God.

7. See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently (1Pet. 1:22; John 13:34-35; 15:12-13). We must love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We must guard against worldly thoughts. We must walk in the grace the Lord has provided for us. We must be still walking the path of righteousness even up until the moment the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed to us.

The new birth’s holiness

The believers’ living hope based on their new birth should lead to a lifestyle of holiness. Those chosen for new birth are also called to be holy. Peter exhorted his readers to prepare to meet the challenge of obedience by adopting a new mind-set. The price paid for a believer’s redemption calls for reverence and obedience. Obedience involves purifying oneself and practicing holy living, while offering spiritual sacrifices as a royal priest.

The Preparation

Peter now gave five pointed exhortations: prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope.… do not conform to… evil desires… . be holy. Actually in the Greek the first, second, and fourth are participles, which are subordinate to two commands: “have hope” and “be holy.” The participles either support the commands (i.e., have hope, with a prepared mind and self-control; and be holy, not conforming to evil desires) or they take the role of commands, as in the NIV.

“Prepare your minds for action”

(1Pet. 1:13). Obedience is a conscious act of the will. Christians in conflict need a tough-minded holiness that is ready for action.

“Be self-controlled”

(1Pet. 1:13; cf. 1Pet. 4:7; 5:8; 1Thes. 5:6, 5:8). This word nēphontes, from the verb nēphō (“be sober”) is used only figuratively in the New Testament. 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.

“Set your hope fully”

(1Pet. 1:13). Holy living demands determination. A believer’s hope is to be set perfectly (teleiōs, completely or unchangeably), and without reserve on the grace (cf. 1Pet. 1:10) to be bestowed when Jesus Christ is revealed (lit., “in the revelation [apokalypsei] of Jesus Christ”; cf. the same phrase in 1Pet. 1:7; also cf. the verb “be revealed” [apokalyphthēnai] in 1Pet. 1:5). Four times Peter has already spoken of the Savior’s return and the accompanying ultimate stage of salvation (1Pet. 1:5, 1:7, 1:9, 1:13).

1 Peter 1:14 "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:"

not fashioning yourselves... Greek: suschematizo, to conform to another’s example. Only here and Rom. 12:2.

We read in the book of Samuel that to obey is better than sacrifice. The Father wants His children to be obedient to our Savior Jesus. In fact, He must be our Lord, as well as our Savior. We must crucify our flesh and its desires, and live a life separated unto the Lord. Lust of the flesh is not for the believer in Christ. We should overcome the lust of the flesh and live for Jesus.

The strenuous mental preparation suggested by the three admonitions in 1Pet. 1:13 is needed so that Christians do not conform to (syschēmatizomenoi, also used in Rom. 12:1) the evil desires (1Pet. 1:14) of their past sinful lives (cf. Eph. 2:3), when they were ignorant of God (cf. Eph. 4:18). Rather as obedient children (lit., “children of obedience”) they were to mold their characters to “be holy” in all they did (1Pet. 1:15).

1 Peter 1:15 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;"

be ye holy... Paganism scarcely produced a god whose example was not the most abominable. Their greatest gods were paragons of impurity, of sexual excess and perversion. Here Christianity has an infinite advantage over heathenism. God is holy and He demands all His followers to be like Him (1Pet. 1:15-16; Heb. 12:14). Holiness essentially defines the Christian’s new nature and conduct in contrast with his pre-salvation lifestyle. The reason for practicing a holy manner of living is that Christians are associated with the holy God and must treat Him and His Word with respect and reverence. We therefore glorify Him best by being like Him (see verses 16-17; Mat. 5:48; Eph. 5:1; Lev. 11:44-45; 18:30; 19:2; 20:7; 21;6-8).

Cursing and blasphemy is not the conversation of the godly. Our conversation reveals what we are in our heart. Christianity is of the heart. Out of the issue of the heart, the mouth speaketh.

Their lifestyle was to reflect not their former ignorance (agnoia), but the holy (hagioi) nature of their heavenly Father who gave them new birth and called them (cf. “called” in 2Pet. 1:3) to be His own. 1Pet. 1:15-16 do not speak of legal requirements but are a reminder of a Christian’s responsibility in his inner life and outer walk.

1 Peter 1:16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." Christians are to be Christ-like. If we are like Christ, we should be holy, because He is holy.

Because it is... “For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44-45). This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God.

Be ye holy;... Quoted from Lev. 11:44 above. Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.

This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God.

Though absolute holiness can never be achieved in this life, all areas of life should be in the process of becoming completely conformed to God’s perfect and holy will. The quotation in 1Pet. 1:16 was familiar to all who knew the Old Testament (Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7).



Verses 17-20: The exhortation to reverence (or, godly fear): The basis for the exhortation is our relationship to the Father. The motivation for living our lives in reverence is doctrinal, “forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things.” The ones who are exhorted to live their lives in reverence (verse 17) are the ones who are exhorted to be holy (verses 14-16). They are “redeemed”, (Greek elutrothete, i.e., “brought back from sin”).

1 Peter 1:17 "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:"

And if ye... If you call on God through Christ and profess to be obedient children, pass your time here in reverence and fear. This is another way of saying, “if you are a Christian.” The believer who knows God and that He judges the works of all His children fairly, will respect God and His evaluation of his life, and long to honor his heavenly Father.

without respect of... God cannot be anything but infinitely impartial in His dealings with all men. He cannot prefer one above another nor bless one above another when all meet the same terms and love Him with all the heart. The seeming preference of God between two men is based upon the attitude and disposition of the men toward God and conformity to His plan. Naturally, God cannot bless two men the same when one is in obedience and the other in rebellion. God will bless the ones more who conform more fully to His holiness.

Here it is clear that all judgment of God will be according to every man’s work (1Pet. 1:17; Mat. 16:27). Fear of the Father is showing great respect. If we are judging others, we are saying, we are judge. God is no respecter of persons. To be like Him we must not be a respecter of persons either. Jesus is the Judge of all the earth, who judges the works whether they be of God, or not. We should spend our time on this earth doing good.

The Price

The high cost of salvation — the beloved Son’s precious blood — calls for believers to live in reverent fear before God. Holy living is motivated by a God-fearing faith which does not take lightly what was purchased at so great a cost.

Obedient children know the holy nature and just character of this One who judges… impartially. Their right to call God Father leads to their obeying Him in reverent fear.

Verses 18-19: The word “redeem” means “to purchase.” When Christ died for our sins, He paid the price that satisfied the demands of God’s holiness. The price of redemption was the blood of Christ. In explaining redemption to the Galatians, Paul used three different words that were applied to purchasing servants at the ancient slave markets.

1 Peter 1:18 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;"

not redeemed with... Greek: lutroo, to procure the life of a captive or a slave by paving a price (see, Heb. 9:12). The price here is not silver and gold, but the precious blood of Christ (1Pet. 1:18-19; Mat. 26:28; Eph. 1:14; Col. 1:20; Acts 20:28). Silver and gold, the most valuable medium of commerce among men, bear no proportion in their value to the souls of men to be redeemed. Nothing but the precious blood of Christ could pay the ransom price for the soul. That is, to buy back someone from bondage by the payment of a price; to set free by paying a ransom. “Redemption” was a technical term for money paid to buy back a prisoner of war.

Here it is used of the price paid to buy the freedom of one in the bondage of sin and under the curse of the law (i.e. eternal death, Gal. 3:13). The price paid to a holy God was the shed blood of His own Son. (Acts 20:18; Rom. 3:24; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 9:11-17).

1. The first agorazo, meaning “to purchase in the market,” is used to explain how Christ paid the redemption price of His blood, which was sufficient to purchase every one “sold under sin” (Gal. 3:10; 2 Peter 2:1).

2. Ekagorazo, meaning “to purchase and take home,” emphasizes that Christians have been purchased out of the marketplace and are no longer for sale (Gal. 3:13).

3. The third word, lutroo, meaning “to purchase and give freedom,” emphasizes the liberty that belongs to a soul redeemed by God. (Gal. 4:5).

The Christian is encouraged to “stand fast” in that liberty (Gal. 5:1).

your vain conversation... Empty, foolish, unprofitable, and vain traditions and rituals. The Jews had added innumerable religious burdens and empty ceremonies which they held to be essential to salvation.

Vain (Greek mataias): useless, worthless. The price paid for their redemption was the “precious blood,” which was essential:

1. Sacrificially, as “a lamb without blemish and without spot” He was perfect;

2. Eternally, “who verily was foreordained” it was the Father’s plan and idea “before the foundation of the world,” that is, in eternity past; and

3. Historically, “but was manifest in these last times:” a reference to Jesus’ incarnation.

The father, spoken of in the verse above, is speaking of earthly fathers. This is saying, most earthly fathers teach their children that holding gold and silver is very important. The tradition of men is to get great wealth, if possible. God teaches being humble and loving to your fellow man. Gold or silver cannot save us from the wrath of God. Gold or silver cannot redeem our souls.

Silver and gold are of the earth. All things of the earth are not thought of as being godly. It is really the improper use of silver and gold that is corruptible. Mankind's desire for excess gold and silver has made sin out of it.


Children of obedience should also be strangers to their former empty way of life (cf. 1Pet. 1:14) handed down from their forebears, since they have been redeemed (elytrōthēte, from lytroō, “to pay a ransom”) with the precious (cf. 1Pet. 2:4, 2:6-7) blood of Christ (cf. 1Pet. 1:2).

1 Peter 1:19 "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

Only the blood of the Lamb of God can do away with sin. The blood of man is not without sin and could not do away with sin. Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh. (see John 1:14) The blood of a child comes from his father. God the Holy Spirit, hovered over Mary, and she conceived of God. God was the Father of Jesus Christ. It was the blood of sinless God that paid the price for sin.

Heb. 10:4 "For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

We see from the Scripture above, that animal's blood could not do away with sin either, even if it were the animal sacrifice for the sin. The blood of an animal could cover the sin for a year. It did not clear the conscience of the sinner, nor do away with his sin.

The blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, was pure. Only the blood of God manifest in the flesh of man can do away with sin. The blood of Jesus abolished sin for all who believe in Him.

That redemption is a purchasing from the marketplace of sin, a ransom not paid by silver or gold, which perish (cf. 1Pet. 1:7), but with the priceless blood of a perfect Lamb. Similar to the sacrificial lambs which were to be without… defect, Christ was sinless, uniquely qualified as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; cf. Heb. 9:14).

1 Peter 1:20 "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,"

was foreordained before... Greek: proginosko , to know beforehand (see, Rom. 8:29). See God’s Foreknowledge. In eternity past, before Adam and Eve sinned, God planned the redemption of sinners through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 2Tim. 1:9).

the foundation of... Before the disruption or overthrow of the pre-Adamite world (see, Mat. 13:35).

manifest in these... This expression refers to the first coming of Jesus. In this context, “last times” describes the period between the first and second comings, in which the Rapture is always imminent (see Acts 2:17; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18). 

The plan of salvation was planned from the foundation of the world. Jesus Christ was the one to do this, because we are His creation. Jesus was known as the Word of God in heaven. He was made real to us, when He took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us. "Manifest", means made real.

This payment for sin was planned before the Creation of the world and revealed for people’s sake through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. (The pres. Age is these last times [1Pet. 1:20] whereas the coming Age is “the last time” [1Pet. 1:5].) It is through Christ, whom the Father resurrected (cf. 1Pet. 1:3) and glorified in His Ascension (John 17:5; Heb. 1:3) that people may come to know and trust in God.

1 Peter 1:21 "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."

Who by him... Four things Christians believe:

1. They believe in God through Christ.

2. In the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ

3. In the ascension and exaltation of Jesus Christ

4. That their faith and hope are based upon the work of Christ

gave him glory... God, through the ascension, returned Christ to the glory that He had with Him before the world began (Luke 24:51-53; John 17:4-5; Acts 1:9-11; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:1-3; 2:9).

Jesus paid the penalty for sin for all mankind on the cross.

1Tim. 4:10 "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."

Salvation is provided for all, but not all receive the salvation He has provided. Simple faith in Jesus as our Savior and believing He rose from the grave brings salvation. For some, this is too simple and they do not believe.

His atonement for our sin brings us forgiveness; His resurrection from the grave brings us hope of eternal life. Our faith in Jesus Christ justifies us before the Father.



As a result of God’s eternal plan and priceless payment for sin, faith and hope can be placed in Him. (Cf. “faith” in 1Pet. 1:5, 1:7, 1:9; and “hope” in 1Pet. 1:3, 1:13.)

1 Peter 1:22 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

purified your souls... Seven experiences of Christians:

1. Purity of soul (1Pet. 1:22)

2. Obedience to the truth (1Pet. 1:22)

3. Yieldedness to the Holy Spirit (1Pet. 1:22)

4. Love without hypocrisy (1Pet. 1:22)

5. Love with fervency (1Pet. 1:22)

6. Purity of heart (1Pet. 1:22)

7. The new birth by the Word (1Pet. 1:23)

Purified in the verse above, means consecrated to God's service. This means then that we have changed into an obedient servant to do the will of God. The Holy Spirit teaches us all Truth. If we truly love God, we will love his children.

unfeigned love of... The love indicated here by Peter is the love of choice, the kind of love that can respond to a command. “Fervently” means to stretch to the limits (Luke 22:44; Acts 12:5; also Luke 10:27). Only those whose “souls” have been “purified,” i.e., saved, have the capacity to love like this. Such love exhibits itself by meeting others at the point of their need (2:17; 3:8; 4:8; also in John 13:44; Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:1-18; Heb. 13:1; 1Jhn. 3:11).

The only way we can show love to God is by showing love to His children here on earth. This is not an outward love for show, but a true love from the heart.

The Purification

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) a sincere love for the brethren (1Pet. 1:22-25), (b) repentance from sin (1Pet. 2:1), and (c) a desire for spiritual growth (1Pet. 2:2).

Holy living demands purification. A positive result of obeying the truth is a purified life (cf. 1Pet. 1:2). “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word” (Psm. 119:9). As trials refine faith, so obedience to God’s Word refines character. One who has purified himself by living according to God’s Word has discovered the joy of obedience.

A changed life should also be evidenced by a changed relationship with God’s other children. A purified life allows one to love purely those who share the same faith. Sincere (anypokriton) could also be rendered “without hypocrisy.” All evil thoughts and feelings regarding one’s brothers and sisters in Christ must be removed, for His followers are to love… deeply, from the heart. This kind of loving (agapēsate, from agapē) can come only from a changed heart, from one whose motives are pure, and who seeks to give more than he takes. This love is to be expressed not shallowly but “deeply” (ektenōs, “at full stretch” or “in an all-out manner, with an intense strain”; cf. ektenē in 1Pet. 4:8).

1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Being born again,... Literally “having been born again”, refers to all believers having been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, which communicates His offer of salvation to mankind. Thus, our salvation rests, from the human perspective, upon our willing reception of that offer.

not of corruptible... The spiritual life implanted by the Holy Spirit to produce the new birth is unfailing and permanent.

by the word... Two agents of the new birth:

1. Holy Spirit (John 3:3-5; 1Cor. 6:11)

2. Word of God (see, John 3:5)

The Spirit uses the Word to produce life. It is the truth of the gospel that saves.

The new birth mentioned here, is a birth of the spirit man. The old flesh man must be buried and the new spirit man takes his place. We bury that man of flesh in water baptism and rise a new creature in Christ. The next 2 Scriptures can say it better than I can.

John 1:13 "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Our spirit is born in Jesus Christ {the Word of God}.

Peter again reminded his readers that they had experienced the new birth (cf. 1Pet. 1:3): For you have been born again. This supernatural event made it possible for them to obey the truth, purify themselves, and love the brethren.


In verses 24-25 Peter enforces his point about the power of the Word to regenerate by quoting from Isa. 40:6-8.

1 Peter 1:24 "For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:"

all flesh is... Quoted from Isa. 40:6-8.

as grass, and... The 4th New Testament prophecy in 1 Peter (1Pet. 1:24-25). Next, 1Pet. 4:5. Earthly seeds and reproductions will soon perish, but the Word of God is eternal (1Pet. 1:24-25; Jas. 1:11; 4:14).

Life is like the grass mentioned here. It is here and all of a sudden it is gone. The flesh of man will return to the earth from which it came. It is the spirit of man that lives on.

This change in their lives would not die, because it took place through God’s Word, which is imperishable (aphthartou, the word in 1Pet. 1:4 that described a believer’s inheritance), living and enduring. Peter supported his exhortation (1Pet. 1:22) by quoting Isa. 40:6-8 (1Pet. 1:24-25). All that is born of perishable seed withers and falls, but God’s Word stands forever.

1 Peter 1:25 "But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

The Word of God is eternal. Jesus is the Word of God. The Word of God is also the Bible. The spoken and the written Word of God are the most powerful forces on the earth. The Word is Eternal. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the focal point of the Bible. This Word of God that is preached is the power unto salvation.

All that is born of perishable seed withers and falls, but God’s Word stands forever. This imperishable Word was the content of Peter’s preaching (cf. 1Pet. 1:12). His hearers must be affected by its life-changing power, as indicated in 1Pet. 2:1-3.