1 Peter 1:13-2:3
Click Here to Read 1 Peter 1:13-2:3
“Therefore…” (verse 13). Here is a word that seems rather insignificant, but I feel like it’s always good to keep in mind that the word “therefore” is linking together what came before it and what comes after it. In this case what comes before is something that was set in place for us, what comes after is a call to action on our part. So, to review from our last reading:
- We have been reborn into a living hope.
- We have experienced the sanctification of the Holy Spirit.
- We have been given an inheritance that is incorruptible.
Therefore, we are to prepare our minds and hearts for action, be alert, and rest our hope upon the grace that is forthcoming. And as obedient children of Him who is holy, we are to be holy. “Because it is written, be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16 NKJV). Now that sounds like an impossible command. We are only human after all, how are we supposed to be holy? And all the time? That’s just not realistic. However, Peter wouldn’t tell us to do something we didn’t have the ability to do. So, let’s go back to that therefore word again. We have experienced the sanctification of the Holy Spirit and been given an inheritance that is incorruptible, therefore, we are to be holy. And we are not only human after all. We are triune beings. We are one part spirit, one part soul, and one part body. Our spirit is the part of us that was reborn and has been given all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). Our spirit is perfect, righteous, and holy because it has been made one with Holy Spirit. It is our body that is still carnal (of this world). We are one third righteous, one third worldly, and that leaves our soul to be the deciding factor of whether we are dominated by spiritual truth or worldly lusts.
Paul encourages us in Galatians to walk in the Spirit so that we can avoid fulfilling carnal desires. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Galatians 5:16-17 NKJV). And in Romans: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6 NKJV). Peter’s call to action for us to “gird up the loins of your mind” in verse 13 is like Paul’s call to action for us to renew our mind. “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 NKJV). We need to recognize how we have been changed, what we have been given, and how to live from heaven to earth. Our spirit is already established in heavenly places. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 2:4-10, 1:3-6). When we renew our mind to think according to what the Word of God says about who we are in Christ, the rest of our triune being will be transformed and follow suit. That is how we walk in the Spirit.
Peter also reminds us here that we were not purchased with a worldly commodity that is corruptible, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19). The value of an item has nothing to do with the price tag someone attaches to it. The value of an item is really determined by the price someone is willing to pay for it. Think about that for a moment. No matter what value people may place on us in this world we need to remember that our true value lies in the fact that we were purchased by the very blood of Jesus, the Son of God. He paid the ultimate price for us that we would be united with Jesus and be partakers of His inheritance.
Finally, Peter encourages us to desire the Word of God as a newborn desires pure milk. Newborn babies don’t consume anything except (ideally) breast milk because it contains everything they need for their bodies to grow and develop to then be able to handle solid food. When we are first reborn, we need to feed on the Word and only on the Word to grow and mature our reborn spirit (by renewing our mind in the Word). We must lay aside all that we have learned in this carnal life and start learning about the spiritual life that we have been born into because that is the life that is everlasting. “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25 NKJV). And God intends for us to start living that life here, now. We are living testimonies, witnesses of who He is, we are salt and light.
Let’s pray.
Father, we acknowledge today the great price that You paid for us, that we would be able to be members of Your family in heaven, be made righteous and holy, purified, set apart for You by the precious blood of Your only Son, Jesus. We recognize that our spirit has been united with Your Holy Spirit and that through the sanctification of Your Spirit we are perfected and worthy to be in your presence. Worthy to be called children of God. Worthy to be forgiven and restored. Worthy of an inheritance beyond our imagination. Worthy to be in Christ Jesus. We thank you for what you gave for us. We ask that as we come to Your Word seeking to know You and this life You have given to us, You would grant us greater understanding. Give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You that we would know the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in us, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward us who believe. We thank you for Your faithfulness to guide us and we pray that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened by Your truth as we seek You more. Amen.