1 Peter 1:13 – 2:3

Last week we looked at the first few verses of 1 Peter, where Peter sets out the foundation upon which we build. Writing to a scattered collection of Christian communities, many of whom had their origins in the post-Pentecost scattering of the early church, whom he calls ‘exiles, scattered’, he reminds them that they are God’s called people, loved and valued. They have been chosen, given a share in the inheritance of God’s people, and blessed. Even the persecution they experience is a part of that blessing.

And you recall that I pointed out that in the first 12 verses Peter includes no exhortations, no instructions, no directions.

Everything changes once you get to v13! Peter always did have a tendency to leap in with both feet, and even though he has been patient enough here (I guess that’s the work of the Holy Spirit) to give us an explanation before he gets going, he is in a hurry to move on.

So over the course of the rest of chapter 1 and the first 3 verses of chapter 2, he starts instructing this scattered church in what it means to be the people of God in exile; starngers in a strange land.

What matters to Peter is that we live lives of what I’m going to call ‘missional holiness’. Peter is not so misguided as to believe that holiness impresses God. His focus is always on the society in which we live. It is the world, the environment in which we are set that makes right living such a deeply missional calling. You know, I’m sure, that the root meaning of ‘holy’ is ‘set apart’, separated for the use of God, just as the temple furnishings were kept separate. We’ve been ‘set apart’ for God’s use, and so we need to remember that constantly.

By living in a distinctive way, we shout to our neighbourhood that there is an alternative. So – here are 7 steps to growth that Peter sets out for the Christian community as we look to respond to the call to be holy.

Prepare your minds for action.
‘Clear for action’ as a metaphor. ‘With minds that are alert’: the need to think about what we are doing and becoming. Literally, ‘gird up the loins of your thinking’ – that’s what you did when you prepared for effort.
Be self-controlled
Actually, not so much ‘self-control’ here as ‘focus’. Peter tells those he writes to that it is easy to get distracted, and they need to concentrate. They are to be focussed on what is ahead, on the goal to which they are headed. Concentrate deeply, he says, on the grace that is headed your way.
Do not conform.
That’s a theme for Paul as well, in Romans. Same word here as in Romans 12 – it means ‘don’t be created according to the same set of plans’ as the world around. I’m a big fan of ‘How it’s made’ – and so often you’ll see plastic products made by injection moulding machines as molten plastic under extreme pressure is forced into a mould. Don’t let the world around squeeze you into it’s mould, JB Philipps says. And of course that’s right. And Peter’s emphasis, unlike much of the NT, is indeed on our personal walk. But I think Churches also need to heed this warning; don’t let the way that the world does things become your way by default. When churches sought to organise themselves in the 19th Century, they often adopted the values and practices of the business world they were familiar with, and we have held on to so much of that – I’ve been to members meetings where one member was sternly rebuked for speaking to another, rather than ‘through the chair’! That’s allowing the world to squeeze us into its mould.
Be Holy
Quite clear (cp 2:11) that Peter means here moral and ethical clean living. It’s a mission imperative. Live good lives, so that others can see what a transformation brings. It matters how we live.
Live in reverent fear
Just remember, Peter says, how precious you are to God, and how much he has invested in you. Imagine this. You live between two other houses. And because of a small incident, your car is in the garage. But you’ve got a couple of very important appointments to keep in London on succesive days.

The first appointment, your neighbour to the left comes round. Lovely people – he’s an oil company executive. He doesn’t show off, but as well as the BMW he drives and the mercedes his wife loves so much they have a small Porsche that they only use at weekends – would you like to borrow it?

The second appointment, your neighbour from the right comes round. She’s a Teaching Assistant, and also works part-time in Lidl, since he is currently unable to work after an accident. You know that the ancient VW Polo that they have cost them dearly, because they have so little spare. They saved up for it for years. They say none of that – but offer to let you use it, as it’s the holidays and the kids are away with Gran, so they can manage with just a bike for getting to work at Lidl this week.

Which car do you worry about crashing most?

Peter says: live carefully, because you should remember how much it cost to get you fixed.
Love deeply
Peter turns to a specific area of life: the way you live with each other. Easy to misread v23, as we are so used to hearing these sentiments applied individually. But here that wouldn’t make sense. What Peter is saying here is ‘this new family is birthed by the eternal Word of God. All of you are. So remember that when you speak to each other.’ Next few imperatives are a part of this one:
In order to do that, rid yourselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. These are the words that damage and destroy our brothers and sisters in Christ. And they can so easily masquerade as ‘prayerful concern’
Crave growth.
Bodybuilding can become an obsession. Fitness can become the centre of our lives. But Peter says that a desire for ‘pure spiritual milk’ – and an intense desire for it – is good for us. A couple of things. The NIV has supplied the word ‘salvation’ here. Greek just has ‘grow up’! (AV has ‘that ye may grow thereby’ which is much better.) And ‘spiritual’ in this passage is ‘logikos’, which could mean ‘of the Word’ or it could mean thoughtful, reas