Desire Holiness

1 Peter 1:13–16 NIV

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 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 opens by pointing us back to the salvation that has been given to us. Therefore or because of who our living hope is and what He has accomplished for us. Peter shifts in his letter from who God is and who we are in Christ to now how are we to respond.

We respond by first preparing for action. The phrase in Greek that is translated here as minds that are alert is the phrase literally translated gird up you minds. It bears with it the picture of gathering one’s long robes by pulling them between the legs and then tieing them around the waist so as to prepare for running.

Secondly, we continue to keep ourselves spiritually ready by being fully sober. This is speaking less about not being drunk and more about not being spiritually intoxicated by the things of the world.

Finally, the response should be to set your hope completely on the grace that is awaiting us as Christ is revealed. He is refering back to verse 7 and the rewards of our faith in Christ.

The phrase translated do not conform means to pattern one’s actions or life after. So we are not to pattern our lives after those who are pursuing evil desires.

Instead, we are to pattern our life after Christ.

Pursue God

1 Peter 1:17–21 NIV

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Peter points us to the One to whom we are desiring holiness in response to, our Heavenly Father. Holiness is only made possible in the person of God. if we desire holiness, then we must pursue the Father.

Our holiness is only accomplished through Christ and by Christ. We honor Christ and His sacrifice by desiring holiness and pursuing God.