As believers in Jesus our lives are transformed. Begotten into a living hope, with an indestructible inheritance, we rejoice. If necessary to purify our faith there will be trials. All this, according to Peter, demands a response. Peter gives a directive, the reason for it and summarizes.
The Directive
Peter directs his readers. “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, rest your hope fully upon the grace to be (received) when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Be God’s obedient children, live to the spirit not the flesh, and like He who called you, be holy. If you call on God the impartial judge, as long as you live, do so in reverence to God.
The Reason
Then he writes out the reason. “Before the foundation of the world,” he wrote, God planned the death and resurrection of Jesus, why? Peter explained it was to buy us back from our aimless conduct. God didn’t offer some material, easily corrupted method. No! He orchestrated the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the perfect lamb of God, so we could put our faith and hope in God.
Peter Summarizes
Peter summarizes his thoughts thus. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren,” he writes, “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” He explains. You have been born anew, not by a flimsy transaction but rather an incorruptible one, through the word of God which is eternal. Everything else will pass away, rust or fade away with time. “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” As my dad used to say, “that’s a promise you can take to the bank.”
Peter gave a directive, the reason for it and summarized.