1 Peter 1:8-17

After humanity’s fall, God made a promise – a promise to defeat Satan through the Seed of the woman. Satan would bite his heel, but Christ would crush his head.

The promise becomes more explicit when God promised Abraham a heir through whom all the nations would he blessed. From this point on, the people of God looked forward to see whom this promise pointed to.

The prophets proclaimed his coming, the psalmists wrote about him, and the priests daily announced him in their sacrifices.

Now, he has come to inaugurate God’s kingdom. He has unleashed God’s redemptive grace, sealing all believers with the Holy Spirit. Yet we long for that fullness at his return when he will make all things new.

In the meantime, the grace he has given leads us to walk in holiness. Holiness, not as an attempt at salvation, but as a fruit of grace. Holiness, which is the distinguishing badge of God’s people in a world hostile to him. And holiness becomes us because the Father of grace is also the Sovereign Judge.

Peter reminds us:

“As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” (v.15)

So we look to Christ in faith and with a readiness to imitate him. For as he was in the world, so are we.