1 Peter 1:13 Commentary, Gird Up the Loins of your Mind
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:13, KJV
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
1 Peter 1:13, NIV
13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
1 Peter 1:13, NLT
13 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.
1 Peter 1:13, ESV
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:13 serves as a warning that we need to be prepared for Christ’s return. Though we may not know when He will come, we need to be ready at all times. This verse is a much-needed reminder for us to stay focused on our faith and to be prepared for the second coming of Christ.
We should not put our hope in anything else but Jesus and His grace. When He comes back, He will bring us salvation and eternal life. Therefore, we should always be ready for His return and devote our hope completely in Him.
Christians are called to live holy lives, set apart from the world around them. This can be a difficult task as the world is full of temptations and distractions. However, it is essential to remember that we are not alone in our journey. Our hope is in Christ, and he will provide us with the strength and grace we need to resist temptation and live holy lives. When we focus on Christ, His promises, and live accordingly, we can overcome anything that stands in our way as we await His return.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Revelation means “an act of revealing or communicating divine truth,” “something that is revealed by God to humans,” or “an act of revealing to view or making known.”
The “revelation of Jesus Christ” refers to the act of God unveiling Jesus the Son to His people.
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Revelation 1:1-3, NIV
Similarly, when we read the Bible, we are given a revelation of Jesus Christ. We see His character and learn about His plan for our lives. As we grow in our understanding of who He is, we are also transformed by His power. The revelation of Jesus Christ is a life-changing event that leads us into a deeper relationship with God.
In 1 Peter 1:13, the apostle Peter writes that “the revelation of Jesus Christ” will give us grace and salvation. This phrase is often understood to refer to the moment when Jesus will be revealed to the world as the Son of God, but in this context, it may also refer to the moment when Peter and the other disciples realized that Jesus was who he said he was. This realization would have brought them hope because it meant that everything Jesus had told them was true and that they were not following a false prophet.
In any case, the phrase “the revelation of Jesus Christ” is a powerful reminder that our hope is in Christ alone.
Interpretation
Christians are called to live in a way that is always ready for Christ’s return. This means being mentally and spiritually prepared at all times. It also means having our hope in the grace that will be given to us when Christ returns.
We know that Christ’s return will bring ultimate joy and salvation, so we must always keep our hope focused on that. In this way, we can be sure that we are living in a way that is pleasing to God and that is ready for whatever he has in store for us.
This is not always easy, but it is the Christian life; And, when we see Jesus Christ face-to-face, it will all be worth it.
Context
When Peter wrote his letter to the churches in Asia Minor, he was writing to displaced Christians who were facing persecution. In this context, Peter’s words served as encouragement to remain steadfast in their faith. Despite the trials they were facing, they could take comfort in knowing that they had been chosen by God and that they would inherit eternal life.
Within this chapter, Peter is writing to these Christians about how they should live their lives after being saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Christians have been set apart and must act accordingly. As God’s people, we must reject our old, evil, and sinful ways, and remember that our choices matter; These choices should always give Glory to God, and above all, exemplify our love for one another.
Correlation
Though the Bible is full of stories and admonishments, its ultimate goal is to encourage believers to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Christians are called to have their minds focused on God and living a life that reflects His grace. This isn’t always easy, especially in a world that seems to be constantly pulling us in different directions. However, our ultimate goal should be living a life that brings glory to God. When we keep our eyes on Him, we can better resist temptation and remain faithful to His call on our lives.
If our minds are not focused on God, then we will not be able to find hope in his grace. However, if we keep our minds focused on God, then we will be able to receive the fullness of his grace. Cross-references include:
And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
1 John 3:22, ESV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14, ESV
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8-10, ESV
Application
We are called to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. Christians are called to be holy people, set apart from the world for God’s purposes, which means living according to God’s standards rather than the world’s. And we are to set our hope perfectly on Jesus Christ, trusting that He will return and make all things right.
We are to be sanctified. This process of sanctification begins when we first believe in Jesus and receive His forgiveness, but it is a lifelong journey. When we live our lives according to these principles, we can know that we are pleasing God and doing His will.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV
We have to make a conscious effort to grow closer to God and allow Him to work in our lives. This may mean making some changes in our lifestyle or getting rid of things that are distractions from our relationship with God. It takes effort and discipline, but the rewards are worth it. When we pursue sanctification with a sincere heart, we will experience the joy of knowing that we are becoming more like Christ each day.
Our flesh is constantly warring against our spirit, and unless we surrender ourselves fully to God’s grace, we will never be truly sanctified when Jesus Christ appears again.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
