1 Peter 1:13-25
Be Holy
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
St. Peter preaches the gospel, to spread the word...He understands the word of the LORD will last forever...He also understood the importance of getting the good news out to others...
The focal point in the Twelve Disciples lives was getting the gospel out and preaching the word...The environment among the Jewish religious leaders, Pharisees, and teachers of the law was a hostile one for many years after Jesus was resurrected...
St. Peter tells us to be self-controlled...He quotes Leviticus and asks us to be Holy, because our LORD is Holy...He tells us that it is not gold or silver that is precious, but it is the blood of Jesus, death on the cross that redeems us from our sins...
Our faith and hope must remain in God, who raised Jesus from the dead...God glorified Jesus after His death...All flowers, plants, and men are perishable, but Jesus overcame death and was resurrected...
Through Jesus we can believe in God...God raised Jesus from His death...God glorified Him through His resurrection...Because of these things are faith and hope are in our Father...
God sent Jesus to us to believe in Him...If we believe in Jesus, and the One who sent Him, He will take away our sins...This is why He came...He died on the cross for our redemption of sin...He came to us to take away our sins, He died for us to give us justification of our sins...
Jesus came and lived, died on the cross, and was resurrected by God...With God, He overcame death, and now His word will stand forever...