The Christian’s call to be holy

Peter appealed to those living with confident expectation of a heavenly home to live holy lives. Working people in that day girded their loins to work unencumbered, like a man taking off a suit coat to do hard physical labor. One girds his mind by training it with prayer and study. “Sober" conveys the idea of thoughtful and careful. Christians exhibit the self-control implied here because of their hope of heaven. That hope is for those who are faithful to the end of life, or until Jesus comes (1 Peter 1:13; Matthew 25:1-13; Galatians 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Christians are children of obedience, meaning they ought to act as if they belong to obedience. This instead of acting like worldly people act (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:2; 5:6-7; Colossians 3:4-10). That was the past lifestyle of those to whom Peter wrote. It was the way they lived when they were in ignorance, suggesting they were Gentiles (1 Peter 1:14; Acts 17:30; Ephesians 4:17-18).

Each Christian should instead conform to God, who is holy (Hebrews 12:14). The idea is set apart from sinfulness for God’s service. The quote of verse 16 comes from Leviticus 11:44-45; 20:7-8 and 26. God is holy in that he is separated from sin and all manner of evil (Isaiah 59:1-2). Peter notes that God called them and Paul tells us the call comes through the gospel (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:14).

Peter gave instructions for those who would call on God as their Father. First, they needed to be reminded that God is no respecter of persons but will judge each based upon his deeds (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; 6:7-8). Second, those calling upon the Father should remember they are just pilgrims in this life. This life should be lived in fear (1 Peter 1:17). This fear could be described as the "worshipful awe of obedient children toward their beloved parents" (Woods).

Christ’s followers can approach their loving Father knowing he bought them out of bondage to sin with the blood of his Son. Christians were not bought with some of the perishable things men hoard up, thus they could not think they earned it or bought it for themselves. They were bought back from an empty life of sin learned from their fathers. This ought to warn those who simply become something religiously because their parents believed it that way. The word "precious" means highly valued. It is sad that so many pursue the getting of gold and material wealth all their lives, yet spurn the blood of Jesus which is eternally valuable. Christ is our passover lamb that causes eternal death to passover us (1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; Isaiah 53:7).

God had a plan to save man from sin in the event man chose that course. That plan was made before the world was formed (Ephesians 1:4). Notice Paul said God chose all those who are in Christ, not God chose those who should be in Christ. The plan was not made known until Christ came into the world (Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:1-6; Col. 1:25-27).

Through Christ one is made a believer in God. The act that really proves Jesus was God’s Son, and indeed that there is a God, is his resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:32-36; 3:14-15; 4:10; 5:29-32; 13:29-33; Romans 1:4). Christ is now glorified, seated at God’s right hand. All Peter discussed produces faith in God (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:16-23) and is the source of the Christian’s hope for a home in heaven (1 Peter 1:20-21).