“People do not drift toward holiness,” wrote Canadian theologian D. A. Carson.
He continues, “Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord.”
Carson elaborates on this point, saying:
We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.
His words reflect the truth Peter penned in today’s Bible reading, 1 Peter 1:13–16.
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;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter begins this section with a “therefore.” I recall, as a young preacher, my Bible professors saying that when you see a “therefore” in the text, you need to read the previous verses and see what it is there for!
Interestingly, Peter has given no command in the first 12 verses. Instead, he has described what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. He speaks of God’s goodness, mercy, and grace. Of the new birth. A living hope. And an inheritance reserved in heaven. He reminds them—and us—that our faith is founded and our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ.
Because of what God has done for us, Peter calls us to respond in four concrete ways.
#1 Prepare Your Mind.
“Gird up the loins of your mind” is a vivid allusion to the long robes men wore in the Middle East. These garments could hinder quick movement. So, when strenuous action was needed, they gathered up their robes and tucked them into a belt around the waist.
Mentally, Peter is saying, as Wiersbe put it, “Pull your thoughts together! Have a disciplined mind.” Get spiritually ready.
#2 Control Your Mind.
“Be sober.”
Don’t allow the world to intoxicate your thinking. Keep your spiritual judgment clear. Don’t let worldly desires, fears, or distractions cloud your thinking.
#3 Fix Your Hope.
Live today in light of Christ’s coming.
Rest your confidence fully on the grace He will bring when He returns. Let that promised future shape your choices today.
#4 Purify Your Life.
“Be holy.”
Holiness means being set apart for God. As obedient children, we must leave behind our former sinful desires and let God’s character shape every area of our conduct. We should reflect His likeness and follow Jesus’ example.
Daily. Not just when we assemble on Sunday.
- Be holy at home.
- Be holy at work.
- Be holy in your marriage.
- Be holy with your finances.
- Be holy in your entertainment.
- Be holy in your recreation.
- Be holy when it’s hard.
- Be holy when no one is watching.
In other words, holiness is not simply an activity, but a lifestyle. It’s worth remembering, however, as J. C. Ryle reminds us, that “holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.”
Matthew Henry summarizes this passage, saying that holiness is both “the desire and duty of every Christian,” and it should characterize every area, every relationship, and every condition of our lives.
Thus, “holiness is not an option for the Christian,” as author Jerry Bridges observed, “it is a command.”
What God has done for us should motivate us to live purposefully and intentionally for Him.
Indeed, as A. W. Tozer wrote, “Holiness is the beauty of the Lord.” We should demonstrate that beauty daily in our lives.
We will not drift toward holiness. We must prepare our minds, control our thinking, fix our hope, and order our lives according to His will.
Holiness begins with what God has done. It must be reflected in what we do.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
