1 Peter 1:13-16, 22-25; 2:1-3, 11-12
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, August 15

I had a stepmother who had some very definite guidelines about housekeeping. You had to take your shoes off at the back door or you would ruin the carpet. You could not eat in the den because you might get food on the furniture. Every morning, you had to make up your bed, wipe out the bathtub, and pull the shower curtain closed so mildew wouldn’t grow. As long as my brother, dad, and I followed these guidelines, we were always assured of my stepmother’s blessing.

Did you know that God has some guidelines of His own? Did you know that if we follow these guidelines we will enjoy the blessings of God? The guidelines that our study suggests are being holy, loving, mature, and honorable. Let’s take each of these traits that God desires in His children and determine how we can incorporate them into our personal lives.

 

Be Holy (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Holiness involves conforming our lives to the standards and character of God. These focal verses include both negative (v.14) and positive (vv.15-16) aspects of living holy lives.

The negative aspect is found in the phrase “do not conform to the evil desires.” The word “conform” means “to pattern one’s actions or life after.” Peter states that a life of holiness is radically different from a life that conforms to worldly standards.

Before they were saved, they were controlled by their “evil desires” or “passions.” These evil desires always lead to disobedience to God.

Though Peter understood that all believers still have some remnant of the old life in them, he still believed that through the Holy Spirit they could be spiritually victorious. New Testament scholar Wayne Grudem stated, “Peter implies that he agreed with Paul (Romans 6:11; Galatians 5:24) that the Holy Spirit’s regenerating work has broken the ruling, dominating force of those desires, and that it is possible for Christians to have a significant measure of victory over them.” Some of these “evil desires” are listed in Galatians 5:19-20 and 1 John 2:16.

Have you been proactive in your effort to live a holy life? Are you turning your life over to the control of the Holy Spirit moment by moment? Jerry Bridges, author of The Pursuit of Holiness declared, “We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing that walking; He does not do that for us.”

 

Be Loving (1 Peter 1:22-25)

Christians, because they have been “born again of an imperishable seed,” are called to live a life of love toward others. Peter expects that growth in holiness would lead to a deeper love for others.

Peter uses two different words for “love” in verse 22. He uses the Greek words philadelphia and agape. The word philadelphia indicates an affectionate kind of love – the kind of love that you have for someone who shares similar interests. The word agape describes a sacrificial kind of love that is divinely inspired. John used agape to describe the kind of love that God has for mankind in John 3:16.

As we grow in holiness, we should be growing in love for others. When God sees the love that we have for others, inspired by His holy spirit within us, this brings His blessing on our lives.

 

Be Mature (1 Peter 2:1-3)

Peter exhorts his readers to “grow up” in relationship to their faith. Since they have accepted the gospel and “tasted that the Lord is good,” they are to rid themselves of the actions that would stunt their growth in grace.

You will notice that the actions Peter mentions are related to the aspect of love that he mentioned in previous verses. The words listed all refer to behavior that is carried out towards others. Christians are to “put away” (rid) themselves of the kind of behavior that is harmful to other people.

The word “malice” mentioned in verse one means any form of wickedness.

This includes not only ill intent but also any actions harmful to others. The word “deceit” defines the kind of behavior that tricks others or harms them through falsehood. The third of the five words that Peter mentions as being detrimental to an attitude of love and holiness is “hypocrisy.” This word can also be translated as “insincere” and means the masking of inward evil by an outward show of righteousness. The word “envy” is the opposite of thankfulness for good which comes to others. And finally, the word “slander” means any speech which harms or is intended to harm another person’s status, reputation, etc.

Are you maturing in your faith? You aren’t if the sins listed above are still a consistent part of your life.

 

Be Honorable (1 Peter 2:11-12)

To live an honorable life means that you live a “good” life. The word “good” has reference to “conduct” and describes a day to day pattern for living. The purpose for living a good life is to hopefully win others to faith in Christ. One biblical commentator stated, “The separated life of a Christian is one of the most powerful means God has of convicting the world of its sin.”

Do you desire the blessings of God on your life? If so, then grow in holiness, love people, spend time in the Bible, and conduct yourself in a way that would bring honor to Christ.