1 Peter 1:13,14

Because Salvation Has Arrived

Once Peter made it plain how specially favored Christ's followers were to be able to know and participate in salvation's plan, he went on to appeal for those living under that promise to live holy lives. The people of those days would gird up their loins so they could work unencumbered. This would be much like a man taking off a suit coat to do some hard physical labor. While one cannot literally gird up his mind, he can prepare himself for future events by training his mind with prayer and study. The word "sober" conveys the idea of thoughtful and careful. Christians can exhibit the self-control implied here because of their hope, or goal, of heaven. To receive that hope, one must be faithful to the end of his life, or until Jesus comes (1 Peter 1:13; Matthew 25:1-13; Galatians 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Peter's next description of Christians would literally be rendered as children of obedience and suggests they ought to act as if they belong to obedience. This should be done instead of putting on the ways of the world and acting like worldly people act (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 5:6-7; Colossians 3:4-10). That was the past lifestyle of those to whom Peter wrote. It was the way they lived when they were in ignorance, which would suggest they were Gentiles (1 Peter 1:14; Acts 17:30; Ephesians 4:17-18).