1Pe 1:13-16 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,
and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought
to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(14) As obedient children, do not
be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (15)
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, (16) since it is written, "You shall be holy,
for I am holy."
As obedient
children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
V14
Note please the “as.”
It’s not easy to obey – especially as we grow up considering ourselves
to be savvy and smart, thinking we can figure it out.
But we are not asked to obey as grown-ups but as children. This word translated “children” carries the
idea of dependent, student, disciple.
Thayer, in his definition, writes this:
. . . the name transferred to that
intimate and reciprocal relationship
formed between men by the bonds of
love, friendship, trust,
just as between parents and children, . . .
This is not the same word that Jesus uses in the gospels
when He says to allow the “little children” to come to Him. Is the difference really important? In a way, yes.
When we “come” to Him, we come as little children – as
infants. We come utterly dependent upon
Him (which we always are). As we grow in
Him, we learn to make use of all the graces and mercies He has given us. We learn to read the Word, to pray, even to
do works of ministry. Though we look to
Him as infants, He grows and matures us so that we are of wider use.
So, Peter is recognizing that we are growing-up in Him and
Peter enjoins us to obey Him in the maturing relationship we have. And, Peter has a particular aim for this
obedience –
do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, v. 14
Now here is a Peter/Paul moment - Paul writes in Romans:
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Let’s take a look at this “conformed” thing. Both men use the same word:
συσχηματίζω suschēmatizō
Zodhiates writes in reference to the Romans passage:
An expanded rendering might read, ‘Stop being molded by the
external and fleeting fashions of this age, but undergo a deep inner change by
the qualitative renewing of your mind.’ Such a transformation can be wrought
only by the Holy Spirit.
Of the 1st Peter passage, John Gill writes:
. . . to be fashioned (conformed) to the lusts of it is to
indulge them, to make provision for them, to obey them, to live and walk in
them; which should not be done by the children of God, . . .
So we have a “don’t” here in 1st Peter and a
clearer “but” that fits with it in Romans.
The “but” here in 1st Peter, at least for me, is
overwhelming.
Now I’ve heard and read a lot of things that dance around
this and try to weaken it, but it says what it says! “Be holy as He is holy.”
OK – REMEMBER >
Gal 3:11 Now it is evident that no one is justified
before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."
Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes
in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone who believes.
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the
likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Peter has been laying the foundation for your assurance in
Christ – I think the Spirit did this because this verse is a whopper. For me it highlights my sinfulness and unless
I see my sinfulness through the blood of the Savior, I will have no hope.
Faith – no matter how weak is sufficient to be His.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through
faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Peter calls us to “holy conduct.” That means in your mode of living.
I’ll do one more on this passage -
No comments:
Post a Comment