This passages wraps up the paragraph that Peter has spent describing the glorious Christ and his work of redemption on the cross. In this last portion of that description, he ties that redemption right into the individual lives of his readers.

Take a look at this passage in 1 Peter 1:20-21.

God’s plan, from the very beginning of it all, was to offer himself on our behalf. This plan was formulated before the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Before he created everything in Genesis 1, and before mankind sinned in Genesis 3, God knew what it would take to bring mankind back to himself.

Peter reminds his readers of that fact, that the Christ, the Messiah, the one who was sacrificed for you and I is the same one that was there at Creation, and was in on the plan all along.

Peter seems almost to emphasize the final portion of verse 20, “for your sake.” What we have seen, what we know to be true, the prophets and patriarch longed to see, and searched the Scriptures hoping to find. We, now living after the fact, can see much more of the whole picture, and know God’s plan of redemption more fully.

Peter’s first letter has been very encouraging and motivational so far, but in this passage, he brings up the centerpiece of it all, our redemption by the blood of Christ.

You can see this for yourself in 1 Peter 1:18-19.

The concept of redemption is found frequently through the pages of the New Testament, and the image of Christ’s death redeeming mankind from slavery to sin is used by more than one writer. In fact, Jesus himself portrayed his death in this fashion in Mark 10:45. That makes Peter’s usage here unsurprising.

The ancient culture to which he was writing would have understood the concept of purchasing the freedom of a slave. A slave was valued at the amount of money paid for him, and purchasing his freedom gave an estimation of how valuable he was.

In this manner, Christ also purchased our freedom. However, we were slaved to sin and death, and the price paid for our freedom was the sacrificial death of Jesus himself. And so Peter makes it clear that our redemption is greater than anything that can be purchased using silver or gold. Those things, after all, are perishable, and we have a living hope that is imperishable, as he has already stated.

Just what have we been redeemed from? The general answer, as magnificent as it is, is sin and death. But Peter is more specific here. We are redeemed from the empty way of life we once lived. This is an indication of the pagan background of his initial readers, but it also points to the purposelessness of a life without Christ.

Peter has spent several paragraphs appealing for a lifestyle of holiness. He began by stating that this world is not our home, we are exiles. He expands on this in this week’s passage.

You can see Peter’s encouragement for yourself in 1 Peter 1:17.

Many times, one of the motivators for discipline is fear. For example, a parent can motivate a child by appealing to the child’s fear of the consequences or discipline that could come as a result. That is exactly what Peter does here. We are accountable to the Father, and if we neglect our responsibility to live holy lives, then we will face His discipline.

The Father will be the judge of our actions. He will judge each person in light of their actions, and his work will be impartial. And the fact that we may call ourselves a child of God won’t excuse inaction and unfaithfulness. We are called to be holy. The proper response is obedience.

God’s judgment is a theme that recurs throughout the Bible (See Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Psalm 62:12; Revelation 22:12, and many more). And as Christians, we should be very familiar with that concept, and ready to face it when the time comes. Being ready means living lives of holiness.

Once again, Peter reminds his readers that they are not citizens of this world. They are strangers, foreigners. This is not the same word the Peter used in verse 1. This word stands in contrast and complement to that, much like the description of Abraham in Genesis 23:4: “I am an alien and a stranger among you.”

In last week’s passage, Peter began the call to his readers to be holy. In this week’s passage, he brings that call to completion, and gives it the force of a command.

Take a look for yourself at this passage in 1 Peter 1:15-16.

This passage rings with the force of Old Testament authority. All throughout the Old Testament, God calls his people to “be holy.” Over and over, this theme is repeated in the pages of the Old Testament, and especially in the book of Leviticus. Peter’s call to holiness almost exactly mirrors the passage found in Leviticus 19:2, which is a portion of what is called the the “Holiness Code.”

Peter states very clearly that, as children of God, we are to emulate him. This is a theme that Peter will return to several times in his letter, and has already been seen in verse 2. Peter will refer to the concept of holiness many more times, especially in 2:4-10. His point is that we are to live as people wholly dedicated to God and his work on the earth.

Peter stresses the point that we are to be holy in all that we do. This phrase is used by Peter several more times throughout his two letters. And it is only used five other times in the rest of the New Testament. Translated “in all you do,” it could be more accurately rendered “in all your way of life.”

It is clear. In every aspect of our lives, we are to pursue the holiness, just like that of the Father. As he stated in the previous verses, the former way of life is futile.

We are called to something greater.

We are called to holiness.

Question: How do you maintain holiness in your life? Are there any disciplines that you have found to be especially helpful? You can leave a comment by clicking here.