“Be Holy… as He is Holy.” That is Peter’s call to action. We have something so precious, so incredible – something the angels themselves have not experienced… grace and its result – our salvation.

Our lives should reflect this grace into the world.

VERY practical advice from the apostle.

As usual, the audio links for this podcast are to the right, and the YouTube link is below:

1 Peter 1:10-16 – Our call to action.

Transcript for today’s Podcast

1:10-12… Concerning this Salvation

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 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 by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

The word translated “serving” is significant, for it points to the fact that the writings of the OT are of service to the new community—the church.

The expression “long to look” means “to stoop over to look” (cf. Lk 24:12; Jn 20:5, 11; Jas 1:25). It implies a willingness to exert or inconvenience oneself to obtain a better perspective. The specific tense used means continuous regard rather than a quick look. The Bible says nothing about salvation for angels. On the contrary, they learn about it from the church (Eph 3:10); and they serve the church (Heb 1:14).

Hebrews 1:14

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Continuing on, Peter says:

13 Therefore (because of what I just told you), with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

  Just as the angels intently study us and the grace lavished on us by God – we should do the same. Intently study the salvation God has lavished on us.

The Prophets had something to look forward to… and WE have something to look forward to. Since the prophets and the angels take great interest in this salvation, how much more should Christians pay careful attention to its results!

When driving across the Great Plains, you can barely see the Rocky Mountains in the distance. The closer you get to them the greater the detail that becomes visible. It’s like that with the Scriptures and the Prophets. They  – the Prophets – were far removed from the events of the cross and the resurrection… we are much closer. More details are evident concerning the Christ now than when Isaiah or any of the other prophets shared what they had revealed to them. The main emphasis of v.13 is on putting one’s hope wholly in the final consummation of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. At the present time, we enjoy only a beginning of that grace (cf. 1Jn 3:2-3). But just as the Rockies give more detail as we approach them, so does the grace we have been given give more detail the closer we get to the moment when Christ returns.

In 1 John 3:2, the Apostle John reinforces what Peter is talking about here.

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

Peter continues:

14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

And in 1 John 3:3, John backs up Peter by saying:

 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

This is a call to action. We are to focus on this salvation God has given – we are to act as if we were set aside for a special mission by God… because, THAT is the truth. We ARE set aside. Our response to His grace should be our giving effort to living a life that is holy, and living this life in front of a world that does not care for us.

Holiness embraces purity and moral integrity.