A man who is on mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ writes a letter to a group of Christians who are being persecuted like never before. There lives are literally on the line because they love and proclaim Jesus Christ. It’s important to note that Peter is writing to believers in Jesus, making this article only applicable and true to those who are Christians.
The letter of 1 Peter was written by Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He identifies himself in this letter as “an apostle of Jesus Christ.”[1] These apostles were those who were in contact with Jesus and directly sent by Jesus. The Greek term for apostle (ἀπόστολος) actually means “sent one, or messenger.”[2] As can be seen in the gospels, Peter spent a lot of time with Jesus, receiving direct teaching from Him. Peter was also somewhat hard headed. However, Peter was used by the Holy Spirit to write God-breathed literature[3], as we see in 1 and 2 Peter. Interestingly, Peter writes in this first letter a lot about faithfulness and conquering over sin – even in the face of great persecution.
It’s interesting to think about instances where Peter really struggled in this area. For instance, Peter doubted, or lacked in trust, whenever Jesus called him to walk on the water.[4] Peter also, infamously, denied he knew Jesus three times due to a fear of persecution, which he addresses heavily in this letter.[5]
So, with that in mind, I want to walk through this letter and find, what I believe, to be the main tool that Peter gives us to combat sinfulness and our desire to obey the flesh, the side of us that is corrupt and fallen in nature.
Identity
Throughout the letter in its entirety, Peter addresses a very important aspect of defeating sin in this life and that is identity. He makes many identity claims which we are going to want to explore. This identity is important, because in order to know how one should act (and be motivated to do so), that person must know who they are. As we, as Christians, pursue to live according to truth, we have to consistently act according to the reality of who we are. For instance, Paul addresses the Romans with truth about man and the salvation which we have received through Jesus Christ (among other things) and concludes in chapters 12-16 of Romans how we should respond, based on the identity addressed in chapters 1-11. He does the same thing in Ephesians, addressing reality in chapters 1-3 to later address what our response should be in chapters 4-6. So, according to Peter, who are we as Christians – seeing as Peter is writing the letter to Christians?
Peter tells us that we are chosen.[6] We are chosen by God, according to His foreknowledge, by the Holy Spirit, and for the purpose of obeying Jesus Christ.[7] HUGE statements are being made here. God knew that we would be chosen. The Holy Spirit did the work of sanctifying us according to that foreknowledge. We are chosen in God, not just to be chosen, but with the purpose of obeying Christ. As we know from many other passages[8], this obedience is what brings God glory which is our ultimate purpose.[9]
That obedience isn’t always easy though. Righteousness is not an easy pursuit, in this life. However, Peter makes it a critical point to know that we are righteous! We are righteous in our identity. We are chosen by God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit through the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. We are working, through progressive sanctification (the process of becoming holy), toward living out this holiness. However, understanding our standing with God is crucial! Peter actually points to this in 1 Peter 1:15-16, “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” We, as Christians, are to be holy because God is Holy. God declares that we shall be holy! Peter urges his audience to be holy, because God had declared it would be so.
What is holiness? The word holy, in the Greek, means to be unique/set apart. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:14, “do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.” This is what he is contrasting in verse 15-16. Our identity was once a fallen and ignorant person. However, we have been saved, called to holiness, and are now children of God. So, be holy! We are positionally set apart by faith in Jesus so we can be progressively set apart through obedience to Jesus.
In essence, we are declared holy, therefore we need to be holy. To not be holy would be like watching cats bark. Dogs bark, not cats. Holy people act in a holy manner, not a fleshly/sinful manner. We should live according to reality and the reality is, those who have believed in Jesus Christ have been made holy.
Some other identity markers
- We have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”[10]
- “obedient children”[11]
- “redeemed”[12]
- “believers in God”[13]
- Among those who have “purified your souls”[14]
- One who has “tasted the kindness of the Lord”[15]
- “living stones”[16]
- “A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession”[17]
- “The people of God”[18]
- Those who have “received mercy”[19]
- “aliens and strangers” of this world[20]
An accurate view of ourselves is vital, because it is the foundation by which we glorify God. We were once dead but have been made alive so that we might partake in the works God has for us, in turn glorying Him. Study who you are and who you are working to become. You are declared holy, and you are working to live accordingly. This holiness is where the sin disappears.
[1] 1 Peter 1:1
[2] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
[3] 2 Timothy 3:16-17
[4] Matthew 14:30
[5] Luke 22:54-62
[6] 1 Peter 1:1
[7] 1 Peter 1:2
[8] Romans 2:7, 10; 4:20; 6:4; 2 Corinthians 3:9, 18; Ephesians 5:27; 2 Thess. 2:14; John 7:18
[9] 1 Corinthians 10:31
[10] 1 Peter 1:3, 23
[11] 1 Peter 1:14
[12] 1 Peter 1:18
[13] 1 Peter 1:21
[14] 1 Peter 1:22
[15] 1 Peter 2:3
[16] 1 Peter 2:5
[17] 1 Peter 2:9
[18] 1 Peter 2:10a
[19] 1 Peter 2:10b
[20] 1 Peter 2:11
