1 Peter 1:13-25...From "whereas" to "therefore.


Pictured above is probably one of the most famous proclamations, President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation.  

The "whereas" section of a proclamation states the facts and the "therefore" section lays out the action(s) to be taken.  In our study of 1st Peter I see verses 1-12 of chapter 1 as the "whereas" section and verses 13-25 as the "therefore" section.

v.1-12 (a summary of the whereas' in relationship to the facts of our salvation)

Whereas...our salvation is influenced by all of the Trinity.

Whereas...our salvation is based on a living hope because Jesus rose from the dead.

Whereas...our salvation includes an imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven inheritance.

Whereas...our salvation is protected by God's power.

Whereas...our salvation is more precious than gold.

Whereas...our salvation will not perish.

Whereas...our salvation results in praise, glory, and honor at the 2nd coming of Christ.

Whereas...our salvation was prophesied by the prophets.

Whereas...our salvation was proclaimed by the apostles.

Whereas...our salvation gets the attention of the angels.

Therefore...

Before I type the therefore statement let us be reminded of who Peter is writing to.  The original audience is 1st century Gentile Christians who are being heavily persecuted by the Roman government.  Some are being burned at the stake; some are put in the arena with the lions; and some are put on "the rack" being tortured to recant their "Jesus is Lord" position.  In light of this Peter gives these 4 commands (actions) as a therefore section.

v.13-25 (the action to follow)

Therefore...

...set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. v.13

...be holy in all your conduct. v.15

...conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. v.17

...love one another earnestly from a pure heart. v.22

What a challenge in the face of persecution.  Instead of backing away, Peter instructs them to stand firm in their salvation and what God has provided for his own.  We see this instruction again toward the end of this letter when Peter says, "...I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God.  Stand firm in it." (1 Peter 5:12b, ESV).  

These words are still true of Christians today.  Any persecution that we endure that pertains to our association with Christ should be faced with our minds on what God has said about our salvation provided by Him; our conduct that resembles our holy God; our continual reverence of God as sovereign over all and our position as ransomed by Him through Jesus' death and resurrection; and our faith that expresses itself outwardly as love toward others.  These are the actions of the therefore fueled by the facts of the whereas.

Adam (sermon starts at 12:30 mark)




A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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