Ed Urzi

“as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14).

“Obedience” is a difficult concept in many respects. On one hand, we often have little difficulty in obeying those rules that pertain to something we enjoy. In addition, many of us are perfectly willing to live in obedience to a regulation or directive that benefits us in some way. However, it is more difficult to live in obedience to an authority figure, a rule that inconveniences us, or ultimately, to God Himself.

This may explain the enduring popularity of fictional accounts that feature heroic characters who overcome the forces of oppression. Those forces are often associated with an attitude of insolence, arrogance, and hubris- and since it is always gratifying to see arrogance humbled, it’s easy to see why such narratives remain so popular.

It is not uncommon to find similar attitudes among human authorities as well. However, it would be a mistake to assume that our negative experiences with self-important authority figures also apply to Christ. You see, Jesus sets a very different precedent in this area…

“So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to [Mary and Joseph]…” (Luke 2:51 GNT).

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).

“…being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

We should also consider Jesus’ attitude of humility as demonstrated at the Last Supper…

“So (Jesus) got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing…

After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, ‘Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do'” (John 13:4-5, 12-15 CEB).

So if we chafe at this directive from 1 Peter 1:14 and its admonition to act “as obedient children,” we should remember that Jesus is the one who leads by example in this area.

“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

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13 ESV).

This reference to “being sober-minded” encompasses more than freedom from intoxication. It also includes the elements of discipline (or temperance) and discretion (or circumspection) as well. ₍₁₎ This concept will reappear later in 1 Peter 4:7 where it will be rendered “watchful.” Taken together, these definitions should prompt us to be disciplined in our thinking and alert to anything that might make us fall.

So just as we might gather a long coat that presents a tripping hazard as we descend upon a staircase, this verse encourages us to pull in the loose ends of our thinking. ₍₂₎ This is important, for if we are undisciplined in our thoughts and attitudes, it is only a matter of time before we engage in behaviors that are likely to trip us up.

God’s warning through the prophet Jeremiah illustrates this idea via the use of an instructive word-picture…

“Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people— The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it” (Jeremiah 6:19).

We can help ensure that the “fruit of our thoughts” produces a good harvest by prayerfully acting upon the following Scriptural guidance…

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

“…take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 GW).

Jesus also spoke about the importance of this idea in the context of His return…

“Take care that your hearts aren’t dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don’t let that day fall upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. It will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:34-35 CEB).

Finally, we can implement this directive from 1 Peter 1:13 by asking some of the following questions as we face the daily decisions of life…

• “Is this thought or act appropriate from God’s perspective?”
• “Am I making the best use of the talents, skills, and abilities that God has given me in this situation?”
• “Am I handling these circumstances in a God-honoring manner?”

To borrow a phrase from our text in 1 Peter 1: 13, these questions provide us with a vertical perspective that can help us prepare our minds for action.

(1) G3525 nepho https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3525/kjv/tr/0-1/

(2) See John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 1 Pe 1:13.

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

One of the more frequently overlooked words in the Bible is the word “therefore.” Once we train ourselves to look for this word within the Scriptures, a wide variety of applications open up for us. You see, the word “therefore” signals a transition from an earlier teaching or idea to an associated action, consequence, or behavior.

“Therefore” tells us that a Biblical author is about to present us with an application that is based upon a previously established concept. This word should thus prompt us to listen carefully whenever it appears within the Scriptures. 1 Peter 1:13 presents us with a good illustration of this idea in action, for the next few verses will alert us to six personal applications based on what we have already read within this epistle…

• Gird up the loins of your mind (verse 13).
• Be sober (verse 13).
• Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (verse 13).
• Be obedient to God and do not allow your lives to be shaped by the inappropriate desires of the past (verse 14).
• Be holy in your conduct (verses 15-16).
• Live in respect (or fear) of God (verse 17).

The first action given to us is “gird up the loins of your mind.” This obscure reference is easier to understand when we remember that people typically wore long, robe-type garments in the New Testament era. If someone needed to move quickly, that person might take up the lower portion of that garment and tuck it inside a belt. That would allow sufficient freedom of movement for running, working, or other tasks.

Some Biblical translations have adapted this concept for contemporary audiences through the use of the phrase “prepare your minds for action” (AMP). ₍₁₎ The idea is that we should prepare to face the challenges of daily life in an active (rather than passive) fashion. One of the best ways to meet those challenges involves familiarizing ourselves with the Biblical Scriptures by reading them each day. This will enable us to implement the following counsel from the Biblical book of Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2).

We’ll consider some strategies to implement these directives from 1 Peter 1:13 and Romans 12:2 next.

(1) Also see the CSB, ESV, and NLT translations of this passage, among others.

“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:12).

In the midst of this discussion regarding God’s messages to His prophets, 1 Peter 1:12 offers an interesting aside: “These are things which even the angels would like to understand” (GNT).

While the word “angel” is generally associated with a supernatural being today, this word carries the idea of a messenger in the original Biblical languages. Thus, we can say that these angelic beings serve as emissaries, representatives, or agents for God. Although angels possess capabilities that far exceed those of ordinary human beings, 1 Peter 1:12 tells us that they have something in common with these ancient prophets: they each failed to grasp the scope of God’s plan for humanity.

That plan thus serves as a subject of interest among the members of the angelic realm. This likely includes fallen angels, as well as those angels who continue to serve God. One group undoubtedly seeks insight into God’s plan as a means of honoring the One whom they serve. The other may be seeking actionable intelligence in an attempt to counter God’s agenda.

This passage also tells us that angels are not passively interested in God’s plan for humanity, as if one were listening to the broadcast of a sporting event while performing some other task. Instead, these celestial beings hold a great degree of interest in God’s redemptive plan. ₍₁₎ One source offers a wide-ranging perspective on this subject…

“…Scripture indicates there is a sense in which all angels may be considered celestial spectators of planet earth. Indeed, 1 Peter 1:12 tells us that all the angels ‘long to look into’ things related to God’s redemption of humankind. This is a topic of great fascination for the entire angelic realm. _[a]

We must remember that angels have been observing earth from the very beginning. They were present when man was first created. They witnessed the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Throughout the Old Testament era they witnessed one prophet after another speak forth words regarding the Redeemer who would be born in Bethlehem. They witnessed the incarnation and watched as Christ -the One they had served since their creation- took on human flesh. They also witnessed His cruel execution on the cross of Calvary and His glorious resurrection from the dead.

In short, the angels -from the very start- have been celestial spectators of the unfolding drama of human redemption being played out on planet earth.” ₍₂₎

(1) See G3879 parakupto https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3879/kjv/tr/0-1/

(2) [a] See Louis A. Barbieri, First and Second Peter (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979), p. 40. Quoted in Rhodes, Ron, Angels Among Us Copyright © 1994 by Harvest House Publishers [p. 129]

“This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you…” (1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT).

Much like the prophets of old, our lives serve the generations to follow. To use the analogy of a relay race, those who have invested in our lives have handed the baton to us, so to speak. We, in turn, will hand something off to the generation that succeeds us. The question is, will we hand them something good, or will we hand them something else?

At the risk of sounding pedantic, every new generation replaces their predecessors. These older generations trust that the investments they have made in these younger generations will continue to bear fruit long after they are gone. But much like an assembly line, each new generation invests in the generation that follows.

No one escapes this responsibility, for whatever we do (or don’t do) will impact those who follow, perhaps for generations to come. In fact, we might even say that everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, holds a leadership position from this perspective.

You see, one does not need to possess a leadership title in order to be a leader, for we are already leaders in certain respects. Everyone has a circle of influence, even if it is only among a few select individuals. For instance, we may be in a position to influence friends, classmates, or co-workers. Our words and actions will influence teammates, roommates, family members, or others. In today’s worldwide social media age, we possess the ability to influence those we’ve never met in person.

So how can we serve and lead the generations to follow? We can do so by applying Paul the Apostle’s counsel to a young church leader named Timothy: “…set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). With this in mind, we should remember that everyone teaches and instructs others through the example of their lives. Some teach others what to do, while some teach others what not to do.

We can honor God and serve those who follow when we set the right example for others in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you…” (1 Peter 1:10-12 NIV).

Our text from 1 Peter 1:10-12 explains why God’s prophets failed to grasp the full meaning of His revelation concerning the Messiah: their work involved service to a future generation.

For instance, consider the following excerpt from the book of the Biblical prophet Daniel. After Daniel received a prophetic vision of the future, the angel Gabriel was sent to provide him with a further explanation. Yet despite the additional detail offered by God’s angelic messenger, Daniel chapter eight closes with the following words…

“‘The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.’ I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding” (Daniel 8:26-27 NIV).

These passages hold implications that should not escape our attention. Here in 1 Peter 1:11-12, the great apostle tells us that the Old Testament prophets did not grasp the full significance of what God had spoken to them. Much like the prophet Daniel, “It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering were not meant for themselves and their period of time, but for you” (1 Peter 1:12 AMPC).

In a sense, what was true of these prophets is also true of us: our lives serve future generations as well. You see, the prophets are long gone, but their words continue to speak to us today. Their lives served future generations, just as the lives of those who preceded us served our generation. That service was rendered to us by parents, ministers, teachers, and mentors, along with a multitude of others who have played a role in shaping our lives.

Those individuals served us by investing in us, for better or worse. This portion of Scripture should thus prompt us to consider the investments we are making in others with the limited time we have now. We’ll continue our consideration of this idea next.

“searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1 Peter 1:11).

1 Peter 1:11 continues an exposition concerning the Old Testament prophets and their struggle to understand their messages concerning God’s Messiah. This passage thus presents a useful application: if these Old Testament prophets did not fully comprehend the meaning of the things God spoke through them, we should not be surprised if we struggle to fully comprehend God’s purpose behind our life experiences as well.

Nevertheless, we can say that there are definite reasons behind the events that God allows to enter our lives, even if we fail to grasp His motive behind them. We can turn to several examples from our current age of technology to better appreciate this truth. For instance, let’s take the example of an automobile, a piece of software, or a complex electronic device that has performed consistently and reliably.

One does not need to have a comprehensive understanding of these advancements in order to place his or her trust in them. If we can place such faith in these imperfect technologies, we should have a greater degree of faith in the all-powerful God of the Scriptures, even when we don’t have a comprehensive understanding of His motives.

We should also consider this reference to “the sufferings of Christ” here in 1 Peter 1:11. There were many within the Jewish community of Jesus’ era who looked forward to the arrival of a conquering Savior who would liberate Israel from the oppressive Roman government. Since the Messiah was viewed as a person of strength and power, those who expected Jesus to be an all-conquering deliverer were sure to be disillusioned by His crucifixion and death.

Thus, the problem was not with God’s plan: the problem involved their perception of that plan. One oft-quoted way to illustrate that misperception is to visualize two mountain peaks. One peak represents the suffering endured by the Messiah for our sakes; the other represents His triumphant reign. It is only within our present age (as represented by the valley that lies between those peaks) that we can see these aspects of Jesus’ life and ministry with clarity.

Finally, one source highlights an intriguing observation regarding Peter, the human author of this passage…

“He [Peter], who wanted to hear nothing of it [Christ’s sufferings] during the lifetime of Jesus, made Jesus’ suffering and death the very centre of his explanation of Jesus’ earthly work.” ₍₁₎

(1) Cullman, Oscar. The Christology of the New Testament [p. 74] quoted in Constable, Thomas. DD. “Notes on 1 Peter 2023 Edition” (1:10-11) Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable. https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/1peter.pdf

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you” (1 Peter 1:10).

The Gospel of Luke records the following statement from Jesus…

“…all things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it'” (Luke 10:22-24 NIV).

1 Peter 1:10 offers insight into that passage as it describes the efforts of the Old Testament prophets to better understand the revelations they received from God. These messengers faithfully conveyed those prophetic truths; however, they struggled to understand how their messages formed a comprehensive picture. The following commentary offers two such examples…

“These prophets, realizing that the Spirit signified more by their words than they themselves could appreciate, scrutinized their writings for the deeper significance. Dan. 8: 15; 9: 2 f., is one example of this process in operation, while Isa. 53, quoted in 2: 22-25, is an instance of the type of prophesying in mind.” ₍₁₎

So while the Old Testament prophets spoke of the Messiah’s suffering (Isaiah 53) as well as His triumph (Isaiah 11), they labored to understand the relationship between those two aspects of God’s redemptive plan. Their experience illustrates the common bond we share with these ancient prophets whenever we struggle to ascertain God’s purpose behind the circumstances we experience.

If we are ever challenged with the task of deciphering God’s will for our lives, we can take comfort in the fact that these Old Testament prophets endured a similar struggle as well. Another source ties those experiences together for our benefit…

“Peter’s point in verses 10-12 seems to be that his readers could rejoice in their sufferings, even though they could not see exactly how or when their present trials would end. The readers should find encouragement by looking at the prophets’ limited understanding of their own prophecies dealing with the suffering and glorification of Messiah. God would bring their own experiences to a glorious completion, just as surely as He would Messiah’s, though in both cases the details of fulfillment were not yet clear.” ₍₂₎

(1) New International Bible Commentary general editor G. C. D. Howley, consulting editors F. F. Bruce, H. L. Ellison. Copyright© 1979 by Pickering & Inglis Ltd [pp. 1553].

(2) Constable, Thomas. DD. “Notes on 1 Peter 2023 Edition” (1:12) Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable. https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/1peter.pdf

“receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).

While 1 Peter 1:9 reaffirms the doctrine of salvation mentioned earlier in verse five, the other components of this brief passage (such as these references to the “soul” and “the end of your faith”) may be less familiar.

For instance, “the end of your faith” is not like the end of a road or the finale of a movie presentation. Instead, this passage associates the salvation of our souls with the result (or outcome) of our faith. That end result involves our deliverance from divine judgment, as well as the eternal life that God offers through Christ.

In the original language of this passage, the word translated “soul” is “psuche.” This word survives today as the root of such modern-day words as psychology and psychoanalysis. In addition to our passage here in 1 Peter 1:9, this word also appears in 1 Peter 2:11 and 1 Peter 4:19…

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

In this context, the soul refers to the human being as an individual personality. It also conveys an emotional component that encompasses the things we love, hate, or feel indifferent about. The soul is the element of our being that embodies our talents, skills, and abilities. This includes our inherited traits and characteristics, as well as those qualities we have worked to develop.

In addition, the human soul incorporates our will, intellect, and everything that serves to distinguish one human being from every other human being who has ever lived, or ever will live. Therefore, we can associate the soul with the “you” inside your body.

This helps explain why men and women are more than just human machines. Unlike a piece of software that is written and programmed to perform certain tasks, the soul represents the distinctive element that uniquely identifies every individual human person. Thus, it enables every member of the human family to enjoy an exclusive relationship with his or her Creator that differs from any other human being.

So, while our physical bodies are temporal, the “you” inside your body will continue beyond your physical death. Thus, we can take comfort in this verse, for “The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls” (NLT).