“Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13 NET).
The word “hope” in 1 Peter 1:14 conveys the positive assurance that God will extend His unmerited favor to us upon the revelation of Christ. While that assurance carries implications for the future, it also carries implications for the present…
“When we ‘fix [our] hope completely on the grace to be brought to [us],’ present trials will not deflect us from obeying God faithfully now. In other words, Peter urged his readers to face their daily trials with a specific attitude clearly and constantly in mind. We should remember that what God will give us soon, as a reward for our faithful commitment to Him, is worth any sacrifice now (cf. Rom. 8:18).” (1)
So what we believe about Christ (and His future return) will undoubtedly impact our choices for today. For instance, the following passage from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes characterizes one type of mindset…
“Because God does not punish sinners instantly, people feel it is safe to do wrong” (Ecclesiastes 8:11 TLB).
However, the New Testament epistle of 1 John presents us with a different way of thinking…
“Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure” (1 John 3:3 GNT).
Therefore, those who place their hope in Christ should demonstrate that hope in the daily choices of life. Hebrews 9:28 serves to reinforce that mindset with the following promise…
“…Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and he will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time he will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for him” (TLB).
Finally, Jesus left us with a contrast that relates to this passage in some of His final recorded words…
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:12-15).
(1) Constable, Thomas. DD, Notes on 1 Peter 2023 Edition ” 1. A life of holiness 1:13-16″ [1:13] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/1peter/1peter.htm