A Call to Holy Living

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One might ask, why are we called to Holy living? So, lets look back to the previous section and see what Peter is talking about. 1 Peter 1:3 (NRSV)

A Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, So, because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we are given new hope and new birth. 1 Peter 1:4–5 (NRSV)

4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Inheritance is something we can relate to, can’t we? As we live out our lives we often are witness to the handing down of property, from one generation to the next. I watched my parents receive an inheritance from their parents, and my children will most likely witness a day when we receive from our parents. But, these things are perishable, in other words they only last while we are here on this planet, in this life we have been given.

1 Peter 1:13 (NRSV)

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. The mind that is girded up, redirected by the Scriptures, will begin to think in a new way

Motyer, S. (1995). 1 Peter. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1165). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

This is the new birth that Peter talks about previously. Many scriptures talk about being born again. Jesus explained to Nicodemus, in John 3:3 (NRSV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” So, what does Holiness mean? How can we be something if we cannot describe what it is? Do not be conformed to desires that you formally had because you now have been instructed to have the mind of Christ. In all things and through all things be conformed. 1 Peter 1:15–19 (NRSV)

15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

Verse 20 says that He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 1:1–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Jesus was before, at the foundations of the world, but made manifest for your sake.

1 Peter 1:21 (NRSV)

21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. So, what should we take with us today? 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

25  but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Pe 1:22–25). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.