As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
As obedient children of God, believers are no longer to shape their lives by the sinful desires and habits that ruled them when they lived in ignorance of God and truth. This belongs with preparing the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and being holy in all conduct because God who called them is holy. Obedience means turning from the natural tendencies of the carnal heart and refusing the world's standard, taking Christ's sinless life as the standard and bringing daily obedience to all of God's commandments into everyday experience. It requires guarding the mind and the avenues of the soul from what awakens evil, gathering up loose thoughts and centering them on God and on what is true, pure and heavenly. Such a life is possible only with a heart renewed by divine grace, through earnest prayer, watchfulness, faith, the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, and hiding God's Word in the heart, for by Christ's sacrifice every provision is made for life and godliness.
Verse Meaning and Context
As obedient children of God believers are no longer to shape their lives by the sinful desires and habits that ruled them when they lived in ignorance of God and of truth. That former ignorance covered desires followed without knowledge of God, and obedient childhood now means refusing to be fashioned by them and turning away from former sinful habits by earnest effort. This change belongs to becoming like Christ and reaching the character standard God requires, set within the call to holiness and the hope of Christ's return.
The refusal stands together with girding up or preparing the mind, remaining sober and clear-minded, and hoping to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. With the mind so braced and guarded against forbidden and impure influences from without that would awaken evil within, believers are to be holy in all manner of conduct and in every part of life as He who called them is holy. This is among Christ's most precious lessons as teacher, with strength of purpose and moral courage obtained through His grace as wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and with His treasures of truth opened so that God's great love may be understood.
The same calling requires passing the time of earthly sojourning in reverence and fear toward God as the impartial Judge. It is grounded in redemption not with corruptible silver and gold from vain tradition but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish, foreordained before the foundation of the world and manifested for believers. Those so redeemed purify the soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, loving one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God which lives forever.
Call to Holy Living
Obedient children no longer shape their lives by the desires that ruled them when they lived in ignorance of God, but turn from the natural tendencies of the carnal heart to live in holiness after the character of the One who called them. This change requires putting away former sinful habits and self-directed tendencies, subduing self and dying to self, overcoming the natural feelings of the carnal heart by most earnest effort, and correcting defects of character while resisting temptation. It includes gathering up loose, undisciplined thoughts and centering them on God in obedience to His will, putting away lightness, vanity and trifling, and refusing to give or expect praise that fosters self-confidence and corrupts, with pride and self-exaltation corrected so that service is guided by His Spirit. The call is to be sober and holy in all conduct in view of the soon close of this earth's history and the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Believers are not to fashion themselves according to former lusts in ignorance nor according to the world's standard made to suit unsanctified hearts, but having been chosen out of the world are to leave worldly ways and take Christ's sinless life as their standard. By faith in the Son of God they follow His steps and example, imitate Him, reflect His character, and seek purity, rising above all cheapness of word or action and walking in love as followers of God. This change appears in practical reformation, with former loves and habits abandoned and life marked by meekness, reverence, sobriety and purity in loves, habits and conduct. They value the hidden character of a meek and quiet spirit over outward adornment, leaving worldly customs and fashions aside while hoping to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ and being holy in all conduct because He who called them is holy.
Obedience means daily obedience in practical life to all of God's commandments, bringing the law of heaven by which the whole universe is governed into everyday experience, with constant spiritual warfare so long as life continues in this world of sin. Christian character rather than profession alone reveals whether truth has been received and lived, for those who claim to be Christians must follow plain instructions, walk in the light and pursue holiness. Giving in to temptation and then excusing it contradicts what obedient childhood requires, and fathers and mothers are to study the instruction with all powers of intelligence until words and actions express it, with watchfulness and prayer, refusing unsanctified ideas, detrimental talk, and lifting the soul unto vanity. All who earnestly determine to keep the commandments will be kept as obedient children through the written Word as the perfect rule of faith and action able to make wise unto salvation, renouncing dependence on self for entire dependence on the righteousness and intercession of Christ.
The verse sets forth Bible sanctification as partaking of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, reaching the high standard of what Christians may be. Imputed righteousness is holiness, uprightness and purity dwelling within by faith as love, forbearance, meekness and all Christian virtues laid hold of until they become part of being, working the works of God and keeping the commandments. By the sacrifice of Christ every provision has been made for life and godliness, and the perfection of Christ's character as the perfection of divine character and model makes it possible to reach Christian perfection, the highest standard of glory and virtue as a church without spot or wrinkle. Divine power combines with human effort to work out salvation by learning meekness and lowliness from Christ and knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, for the robe of Christ never covers cherished sin and without holiness no one will see God or enter the marriage supper of the Lamb.
As obedient children believers remain forever separate from the world while living in it, free from its contaminating influences, coming out of the world in daily warfare and daily cross. They refuse to mold life, work, counsels and associations by former lusts, worldly alliances and false theories, but are molded after the similitude of Christ on the platform of the pure living principles of the gospel, with the whole person purified, sanctified and redeemed to fit them as holy members of God's family. This includes leaving worldly ways, customs and fashions aside with girded, sober mind, holiness in all conduct like the holy God who called them, and hope to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Obedient children form another class distinct from the world as it was in the days of Noah, when they ate, drank, married and were given in marriage until the flood destroyed them, and as it will be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. They live a holy and reformed life, and that reformed life includes health reform to be borne in every church and done in the schools, by those who as husbandmen first cultivate the garden of the heart and are partakers of the fruit themselves. Obedient children also refuse to be fashioned by the natural heart when in distress, trial, affliction or temptation, not becoming exasperated, not letting the feelings of the natural heart control them, and not cherishing retaliation whatever course others pursue even when those who ought to help instead afflict the soul. Instead they contemplate the instruction of 1 Peter 1, pray to God, commit the case wholly to Jesus who died for them, and trust His pitying tenderness and sufficiency in every trying hour, knowing He knows it all and they will not have to be a sin-bearer for any soul. Acting as obedient children means stopping at once from listening to seducing fables and giving no place to spiritualism that leads to giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, with the promise that the Lord who has guarded and kept such listeners will be a father to them.
Guarding Mind and Heart
Not fashioning the life by former lusts of ignorance requires active resistance of temptation by guarding well the mind and the avenues of the soul. What is allowed to enter from outside can awaken evil within, so obedient children refuse to read, see, or hear anything that suggests impure thoughts. They refuse to let the mind wander at random on whatever the adversary suggests or wherever Satan would lead. Such guarding means bracing the mind, girding it up, and keeping it sober in order to turn from old lusts and be holy in all manner of living as the God who called is holy.
Loose, undisciplined thinking left to itself must be changed by gathering up loose thoughts and centering them on God, bringing the very thoughts into obedience to the will of God. This is the work of habituating the mind to dwell on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. It calls for putting away lightness, vanity, and trifling, overcoming the natural feelings of the carnal heart by most earnest effort, refusing to give or expect praise that fosters self-confidence and corrupts, and living sober and holy in all conduct in view of the soon close of this earth's history and the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Those who hear sacred truths must let them change the heart in this way instead of returning to the desires that shaped life in ignorance.
Special care must be kept over the thoughts so the mind is not diverted and allured by different things nor allowed to take its natural turn toward unimportant things that give no benefit. The mind is to be filled and crowded by the one great event of the coming of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when the graves will be opened and the dead raised and the living changed. Present privileges and opportunities are thus to be made the most of to prepare for the future immortal life.
Thoughts must be educated and trained to meditate upon sacred, holy, heavenly themes and upon Christ, refusing the habit of dwelling in thought or conversation upon common, earthly, cheap things. The natural turn toward dress and what to eat and drink and wear, and toward finding fault with one another, must give place to talk of heaven and heavenly things that bring peace and light. Then the treasure of the heart does not bring forth only earthly and corruptible things but what is a savor of life to others, with love filling the heart and speaking from the lips.
This obedience is wholehearted surrender of will and way to God's will and way, girding up the loins of the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and being holy in all manner of conversation as He who called is holy. It means separating every hindrance to advancement, dying to self, passing from death to life, fastening heart and affections on God who is all light and power, and keeping the eyes by living faith fixed on Jesus, refusing vain thoughts and choosing to think and speak of Christ. As the mind and heart draw near to God He draws near, every hindrance is removed so the Holy Spirit comes in and fills with the Spirit of Jesus, and in that surrender alone are true happiness, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost with the life and peace of being spiritually minded. Such control is possible only with a heart renewed by divine grace, earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness, the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit drawing the mind upward to pure and holy things, and diligent study and hiding of God's word in the heart to cleanse the way and keep from sin while being kept by the power of God through faith unto perfection.
Speech and Everyday Conduct
As obedient children, believers are not to shape speech by former desires but to reject gossip, backbiting, foolish talk, reckless joking and idle, cheap jesting. Such words grieve Christ and the angels, expose the soul to temptation, and give Satan advantage, while holiness requires careful, fitting words spoken for the good of others. A purified heart shows itself in what is said and done, turning from jesting and joking that dishonor Christ to pure speech that reveals His righteousness. That change follows cleansing and renewal of the heart by the Holy Spirit, so those who put on Christ avoid frivolous company and manifest Him in life and words.
Holy conduct puts away lightness, vanity, trifling, hardness, hasty words and impatience, overcoming the natural feelings of the carnal heart by earnest effort. In its place is a cheerful, pleasant, courteous and kind manner, with sober holiness in all conduct in view of the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Among family members this means thoughtful courtesy and kind affection, not as sentimentalism but as part of holy living. Complaint and faultfinding are put away, and words and conversation reveal a hope big with immortality because every moment is lived for the future immortal life in harmony with God. Loose, undisciplined thought is gathered up and centered on God in obedience to His will, refusing praise that fosters self-confidence and corrupts.
Holiness uses life to honor God by putting away frivolous talk and worldly entertainments, and those who practice it will see the King in His beauty. It avoids frivolous company and leaves worldly customs and fashions aside, valuing transformed loves, habits and conduct marked by meekness, sobriety and purity. Outward adornment is laid aside for the hidden character of a meek and quiet spirit, reflecting Christ's character and following His steps by faith in the Son of God. For those undertaking dress reform this same call to be holy in all conduct means acting carefully and doing work that fits the message.
The verse teaches practical godliness that must govern home life. The will is surrendered to God, self is broken as on the Rock, and prayer at home dies to self so that Jesus makes believers vessels unto honor with fervent and noble affection that gives fragrance to the character. Then the spirit of home trouble is not carried into neighborhood and church, nor are troubles born of lack of connection with God and objectionable traits of character poured out upon others.
This obedience is Christ's easy yoke that brings rest, peace and obedience, not grievous human yokes made by fables and foolish imaginings such as rules about hair color. It belongs with girding up the mind, staying self-controlled, hoping fully to the end for coming grace, and being holy in all conduct as God who called is holy. It is the work of forming new habits of thought through faith in Christ, controlling natural propensities, denying selfish inclinations, and fighting again and again against hereditary tendencies to wrong and everything hostile to grace and reform. Ministers are to teach this true teaching, opposite to fables that lay a galling yoke of unrest, disquietude and discouragement.
Power for Obedient Life
Obedient childhood is possible only with a heart renewed by divine grace, kept by earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness and faith in the Son of God unto perfection. The abiding influence of the Holy Spirit draws the mind upward to pure and holy things, habituating it to dwell on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report rather than wandering at random where the adversary suggests. Diligent study of God's Word hidden in the heart cleanses the way and keeps from sin, and following the Spirit of truth's instruction with willing obedience brings spiritual strength. That consecration becomes urgent in crisis, when the Holy Spirit turns the heart toward God and truth.
By Christ's sacrifice every provision has been made to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness, with strength of purpose and moral courage obtained through His grace as wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. His treasures of truth are opened so that God's great love may be understood, and His perfect character makes it possible to reach the standard of Christian perfection, the highest standard of glory and virtue as a church without spot or wrinkle. Reaching it requires learning meekness and lowliness from Christ and knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.
The truth of God's Word works in the heart to transform the character in obedience to God's will. This change is Christ's work to purify, sanctify and redeem the whole person, fitting believers to be holy members of God's family. In obedient children faith works by love and purifies the soul, gaining an experience of more value than gold or silver or precious stones. As partakers of the divine nature they think God's thoughts with perceptions sanctified by Christ's grace, working in Christ's lines and manifesting His kindness, thoughtfulness, mercy and love by helping and not discouraging those around them.
Becoming a child of obedience means yielding will and affections to God's will, seeking with all the heart to conform the will to His will and walk in harmony with Him while the risen Christ intercedes in heaven. It means renouncing all dependence on self for entire dependence on the righteousness and intercession of Christ, through the written Word as a perfect rule of faith and action able to make wise unto salvation, with growing personal acquaintance inspiring faith and making salvation the joy of His people. Then God works for such a person and makes an able instrument in almost any department of the cause of truth, with the way made comparatively easy, living every moment for the future immortal life and letting words reveal a hope big with immortality instead of complaint and faultfinding. Remaining in resistance to truth contradicts obedient childhood, and daring to risk disobedience such as breaking the Sabbath is contrary to it especially for one with tenfold more light, so that God will remove His light and leave such a person to take their own course and meet the result at last.
God's chosen children obey Him in keeping with the principles of His character revealed through Christ. They are to see themselves in a new light, fear God and observe all His commandments for their good and life and righteousness, put on the whole armor of God to withstand in the evil day, and be God's workmen learning lessons from Him and working as Christ worked with efficiency of God and not of self, which is the will of God even their sanctification and gives hope and courage and increases faith and confidence. The call belongs to a life of consecration in which self-sufficiency gives way to reliance on God and service for Christ.
Witness and Church Life
Obedient childhood is Bible sanctification lived out in the Word, with self sanctified so there is no discord and variance, no alienation and strife, but unity, preferring one another in honor and love without dissimulation. It means girding up the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, being holy in all conduct as He who called is holy, passing the sojourn in fear of the impartial Judge, redeemed not with corruptible silver and gold from vain tradition but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish foreordained before the foundation of the world, purifying the soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren and loving one another with a pure heart fervently, born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God which lives forever. Love for one another is the most convincing evidence that Bible truth has been brought into the practical life, giving evidence to a world broken by discord, strife, variance and hatred that God sent His Son that the world through Him might be saved and receive life through faith in Christ. Disregarding these injunctions dishonors God, so special victories are withheld while disobedience continues, because to bless open disregard of His Word would dishonor Him and ruin the workers.
Those connected with Jesus become channels of light to the world, blessing others by leading them to the Light of the world and to the light of the Word. They walk as Christ walked and work as He worked for salvation, revealing Him and revealing the spirit and power of the truth in words and actions. This requires separating every hindrance so the Holy Spirit fills with the Spirit of Jesus, keeping the eyes by living faith fixed on Jesus, dying to self, passing from death to life, fastening heart and affections on God who is all light and power, loving and serving God with whole soul, might, mind and strength, glorifying God and not self, seeking fresh manna morning and evening and divine enlightenment rather than devising means to glorify self or resting satisfied with past blessings. Christ alone must be brought into the life, for He alone cures envy, evil surmising against brethren and cherished self-sufficient spirit, makes felt weakness, ignorance, corrupt nature and great need of Him and the true inward corruptions of the nature, and alone makes pure, refines, cleanses and fits for the mansions of the blessed. As mind and heart draw near to God He draws near, His love fills the heart and speaks from the lips, angels are near, talk no longer centers on dress and what to eat and drink and wear and on finding fault with one another but on heaven and heavenly things that bring peace and light, through girding up the mind, training thought, guarding speech, refusing vain thoughts and choosing to think and speak of Christ, with every provision of abundant grace in Jesus to overcome every defect of character.
Knowing truth is not enough; it must be practiced in daily life and in faithful witness to the world, showing the character of those who will be saved. Life must no longer be shaped around the desires followed in ignorance before knowing God, but by the holy teachings of Scripture, with the natural desires and tendencies of the unrenewed heart subdued and self dying. Those who bear Christ's name are to be holy in conduct and ready to sacrifice all for God, and character will be tested in the coming time of trouble, revealing whether the word has been obeyed or neglected.
The instruction of the chapter must be brought before the churches in every place to be read and practiced with watchfulness and prayer as a most precious representation of what Christians may be if they hear and obey. It is to be presented to impress that the time has come for all to work intelligently and earnestly for the accomplishment of salvation. Every church member is to obey it in letter and spirit, beginning with full purpose to carry it out and heeding its principles in daily practice, for disregarding those instructions is disobedience. For men and women seeking office this obedience brings a decided change in words and spirit when speaking to others, received through individual prayer to Jesus Christ for the converting influence of the Holy Spirit to come. All are to listen and enter into the spirit of its counsel, with warning to those who lift up their souls unto vanity, together with the whole first chapter of 1 Peter, the first twelve verses of 2 Peter's second chapter in one presentation, and the first chapter of 2 Peter.
Fathers and mothers are to study the passage with all powers of intelligence until words and actions express its meaning. Its words are to be read to children to teach them sober-minded, pure and holy living, girding up the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and being holy in all conduct because God who called is holy. It sets the high standard to be lifted before all, calling for daily obedience to all God's commandments and bringing the law of heaven by which the whole universe is governed into everyday experience, evidencing receiving Christ and partaking of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, warning against unsanctified ideas and walking and talking detrimentally to healthful piety, and requiring constant spiritual warfare so long as life continues in this world of sin.
The chapter feeds poor hungry souls with rich food from the living Oracles, comforts and strengthens the feeble and afflicted, reveals God's love bestowed in large measure on His chosen, calls those not of faith to walk in the light of truth shining on their pathway, and stands with the Old Testament Scriptures whose importance remains against the claim that they were done away with the law of God, calling for obedience to all His commandments. Refusing to be molded by former lusts includes remaining forever separate from the world while living in it, free from contaminating influences, refusing to fashion life, work, counsels and associations by worldly alliances and false theories, and instead being molded after the similitude of Christ on the platform of pure living gospel principles, with medical missionary work bound up with and laboring unitedly with the gospel ministry in harmony with God's purpose.
As obedient children of God, believers are no longer to shape their lives by the sinful desires and habits that ruled them when they lived in ignorance of God and truth. This belongs with preparing the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and being holy in all conduct because God who called them is holy. Obedience means turning from the natural tendencies of the carnal heart and refusing the world's standard, taking Christ's sinless life as the standard and bringing daily obedience to all of God's commandments into everyday experience. It requires guarding the mind and the avenues of the soul from what awakens evil, gathering up loose thoughts and centering them on God and on what is true, pure and heavenly. Such a life is possible only with a heart renewed by divine grace, through earnest prayer, watchfulness, faith, the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, and hiding God's Word in the heart, for by Christ's sacrifice every provision is made for life and godliness.
Verse Meaning and Context
As obedient children of God believers are no longer to shape their lives by the sinful desires and habits that ruled them when they lived in ignorance of God and of truth. That former ignorance covered desires followed without knowledge of God, and obedient childhood now means refusing to be fashioned by them and turning away from former sinful habits by earnest effort. This change belongs to becoming like Christ and reaching the character standard God requires, set within the call to holiness and the hope of Christ's return.
The refusal stands together with girding up or preparing the mind, remaining sober and clear-minded, and hoping to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. With the mind so braced and guarded against forbidden and impure influences from without that would awaken evil within, believers are to be holy in all manner of conduct and in every part of life as He who called them is holy. This is among Christ's most precious lessons as teacher, with strength of purpose and moral courage obtained through His grace as wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and with His treasures of truth opened so that God's great love may be understood.
The same calling requires passing the time of earthly sojourning in reverence and fear toward God as the impartial Judge. It is grounded in redemption not with corruptible silver and gold from vain tradition but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish, foreordained before the foundation of the world and manifested for believers. Those so redeemed purify the soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, loving one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God which lives forever.
Call to Holy Living
Obedient children no longer shape their lives by the desires that ruled them when they lived in ignorance of God, but turn from the natural tendencies of the carnal heart to live in holiness after the character of the One who called them. This change requires putting away former sinful habits and self-directed tendencies, subduing self and dying to self, overcoming the natural feelings of the carnal heart by most earnest effort, and correcting defects of character while resisting temptation. It includes gathering up loose, undisciplined thoughts and centering them on God in obedience to His will, putting away lightness, vanity and trifling, and refusing to give or expect praise that fosters self-confidence and corrupts, with pride and self-exaltation corrected so that service is guided by His Spirit. The call is to be sober and holy in all conduct in view of the soon close of this earth's history and the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Believers are not to fashion themselves according to former lusts in ignorance nor according to the world's standard made to suit unsanctified hearts, but having been chosen out of the world are to leave worldly ways and take Christ's sinless life as their standard. By faith in the Son of God they follow His steps and example, imitate Him, reflect His character, and seek purity, rising above all cheapness of word or action and walking in love as followers of God. This change appears in practical reformation, with former loves and habits abandoned and life marked by meekness, reverence, sobriety and purity in loves, habits and conduct. They value the hidden character of a meek and quiet spirit over outward adornment, leaving worldly customs and fashions aside while hoping to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ and being holy in all conduct because He who called them is holy.
Obedience means daily obedience in practical life to all of God's commandments, bringing the law of heaven by which the whole universe is governed into everyday experience, with constant spiritual warfare so long as life continues in this world of sin. Christian character rather than profession alone reveals whether truth has been received and lived, for those who claim to be Christians must follow plain instructions, walk in the light and pursue holiness. Giving in to temptation and then excusing it contradicts what obedient childhood requires, and fathers and mothers are to study the instruction with all powers of intelligence until words and actions express it, with watchfulness and prayer, refusing unsanctified ideas, detrimental talk, and lifting the soul unto vanity. All who earnestly determine to keep the commandments will be kept as obedient children through the written Word as the perfect rule of faith and action able to make wise unto salvation, renouncing dependence on self for entire dependence on the righteousness and intercession of Christ.
The verse sets forth Bible sanctification as partaking of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, reaching the high standard of what Christians may be. Imputed righteousness is holiness, uprightness and purity dwelling within by faith as love, forbearance, meekness and all Christian virtues laid hold of until they become part of being, working the works of God and keeping the commandments. By the sacrifice of Christ every provision has been made for life and godliness, and the perfection of Christ's character as the perfection of divine character and model makes it possible to reach Christian perfection, the highest standard of glory and virtue as a church without spot or wrinkle. Divine power combines with human effort to work out salvation by learning meekness and lowliness from Christ and knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, for the robe of Christ never covers cherished sin and without holiness no one will see God or enter the marriage supper of the Lamb.
As obedient children believers remain forever separate from the world while living in it, free from its contaminating influences, coming out of the world in daily warfare and daily cross. They refuse to mold life, work, counsels and associations by former lusts, worldly alliances and false theories, but are molded after the similitude of Christ on the platform of the pure living principles of the gospel, with the whole person purified, sanctified and redeemed to fit them as holy members of God's family. This includes leaving worldly ways, customs and fashions aside with girded, sober mind, holiness in all conduct like the holy God who called them, and hope to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Obedient children form another class distinct from the world as it was in the days of Noah, when they ate, drank, married and were given in marriage until the flood destroyed them, and as it will be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. They live a holy and reformed life, and that reformed life includes health reform to be borne in every church and done in the schools, by those who as husbandmen first cultivate the garden of the heart and are partakers of the fruit themselves. Obedient children also refuse to be fashioned by the natural heart when in distress, trial, affliction or temptation, not becoming exasperated, not letting the feelings of the natural heart control them, and not cherishing retaliation whatever course others pursue even when those who ought to help instead afflict the soul. Instead they contemplate the instruction of 1 Peter 1, pray to God, commit the case wholly to Jesus who died for them, and trust His pitying tenderness and sufficiency in every trying hour, knowing He knows it all and they will not have to be a sin-bearer for any soul. Acting as obedient children means stopping at once from listening to seducing fables and giving no place to spiritualism that leads to giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, with the promise that the Lord who has guarded and kept such listeners will be a father to them.
Guarding Mind and Heart
Not fashioning the life by former lusts of ignorance requires active resistance of temptation by guarding well the mind and the avenues of the soul. What is allowed to enter from outside can awaken evil within, so obedient children refuse to read, see, or hear anything that suggests impure thoughts. They refuse to let the mind wander at random on whatever the adversary suggests or wherever Satan would lead. Such guarding means bracing the mind, girding it up, and keeping it sober in order to turn from old lusts and be holy in all manner of living as the God who called is holy.
Loose, undisciplined thinking left to itself must be changed by gathering up loose thoughts and centering them on God, bringing the very thoughts into obedience to the will of God. This is the work of habituating the mind to dwell on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. It calls for putting away lightness, vanity, and trifling, overcoming the natural feelings of the carnal heart by most earnest effort, refusing to give or expect praise that fosters self-confidence and corrupts, and living sober and holy in all conduct in view of the soon close of this earth's history and the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Those who hear sacred truths must let them change the heart in this way instead of returning to the desires that shaped life in ignorance.
Special care must be kept over the thoughts so the mind is not diverted and allured by different things nor allowed to take its natural turn toward unimportant things that give no benefit. The mind is to be filled and crowded by the one great event of the coming of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when the graves will be opened and the dead raised and the living changed. Present privileges and opportunities are thus to be made the most of to prepare for the future immortal life.
Thoughts must be educated and trained to meditate upon sacred, holy, heavenly themes and upon Christ, refusing the habit of dwelling in thought or conversation upon common, earthly, cheap things. The natural turn toward dress and what to eat and drink and wear, and toward finding fault with one another, must give place to talk of heaven and heavenly things that bring peace and light. Then the treasure of the heart does not bring forth only earthly and corruptible things but what is a savor of life to others, with love filling the heart and speaking from the lips.
This obedience is wholehearted surrender of will and way to God's will and way, girding up the loins of the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and being holy in all manner of conversation as He who called is holy. It means separating every hindrance to advancement, dying to self, passing from death to life, fastening heart and affections on God who is all light and power, and keeping the eyes by living faith fixed on Jesus, refusing vain thoughts and choosing to think and speak of Christ. As the mind and heart draw near to God He draws near, every hindrance is removed so the Holy Spirit comes in and fills with the Spirit of Jesus, and in that surrender alone are true happiness, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost with the life and peace of being spiritually minded. Such control is possible only with a heart renewed by divine grace, earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness, the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit drawing the mind upward to pure and holy things, and diligent study and hiding of God's word in the heart to cleanse the way and keep from sin while being kept by the power of God through faith unto perfection.
Speech and Everyday Conduct
As obedient children, believers are not to shape speech by former desires but to reject gossip, backbiting, foolish talk, reckless joking and idle, cheap jesting. Such words grieve Christ and the angels, expose the soul to temptation, and give Satan advantage, while holiness requires careful, fitting words spoken for the good of others. A purified heart shows itself in what is said and done, turning from jesting and joking that dishonor Christ to pure speech that reveals His righteousness. That change follows cleansing and renewal of the heart by the Holy Spirit, so those who put on Christ avoid frivolous company and manifest Him in life and words.
Holy conduct puts away lightness, vanity, trifling, hardness, hasty words and impatience, overcoming the natural feelings of the carnal heart by earnest effort. In its place is a cheerful, pleasant, courteous and kind manner, with sober holiness in all conduct in view of the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Among family members this means thoughtful courtesy and kind affection, not as sentimentalism but as part of holy living. Complaint and faultfinding are put away, and words and conversation reveal a hope big with immortality because every moment is lived for the future immortal life in harmony with God. Loose, undisciplined thought is gathered up and centered on God in obedience to His will, refusing praise that fosters self-confidence and corrupts.
Holiness uses life to honor God by putting away frivolous talk and worldly entertainments, and those who practice it will see the King in His beauty. It avoids frivolous company and leaves worldly customs and fashions aside, valuing transformed loves, habits and conduct marked by meekness, sobriety and purity. Outward adornment is laid aside for the hidden character of a meek and quiet spirit, reflecting Christ's character and following His steps by faith in the Son of God. For those undertaking dress reform this same call to be holy in all conduct means acting carefully and doing work that fits the message.
The verse teaches practical godliness that must govern home life. The will is surrendered to God, self is broken as on the Rock, and prayer at home dies to self so that Jesus makes believers vessels unto honor with fervent and noble affection that gives fragrance to the character. Then the spirit of home trouble is not carried into neighborhood and church, nor are troubles born of lack of connection with God and objectionable traits of character poured out upon others.
This obedience is Christ's easy yoke that brings rest, peace and obedience, not grievous human yokes made by fables and foolish imaginings such as rules about hair color. It belongs with girding up the mind, staying self-controlled, hoping fully to the end for coming grace, and being holy in all conduct as God who called is holy. It is the work of forming new habits of thought through faith in Christ, controlling natural propensities, denying selfish inclinations, and fighting again and again against hereditary tendencies to wrong and everything hostile to grace and reform. Ministers are to teach this true teaching, opposite to fables that lay a galling yoke of unrest, disquietude and discouragement.
Power for Obedient Life
Obedient childhood is possible only with a heart renewed by divine grace, kept by earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness and faith in the Son of God unto perfection. The abiding influence of the Holy Spirit draws the mind upward to pure and holy things, habituating it to dwell on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report rather than wandering at random where the adversary suggests. Diligent study of God's Word hidden in the heart cleanses the way and keeps from sin, and following the Spirit of truth's instruction with willing obedience brings spiritual strength. That consecration becomes urgent in crisis, when the Holy Spirit turns the heart toward God and truth.
By Christ's sacrifice every provision has been made to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness, with strength of purpose and moral courage obtained through His grace as wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. His treasures of truth are opened so that God's great love may be understood, and His perfect character makes it possible to reach the standard of Christian perfection, the highest standard of glory and virtue as a church without spot or wrinkle. Reaching it requires learning meekness and lowliness from Christ and knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.
The truth of God's Word works in the heart to transform the character in obedience to God's will. This change is Christ's work to purify, sanctify and redeem the whole person, fitting believers to be holy members of God's family. In obedient children faith works by love and purifies the soul, gaining an experience of more value than gold or silver or precious stones. As partakers of the divine nature they think God's thoughts with perceptions sanctified by Christ's grace, working in Christ's lines and manifesting His kindness, thoughtfulness, mercy and love by helping and not discouraging those around them.
Becoming a child of obedience means yielding will and affections to God's will, seeking with all the heart to conform the will to His will and walk in harmony with Him while the risen Christ intercedes in heaven. It means renouncing all dependence on self for entire dependence on the righteousness and intercession of Christ, through the written Word as a perfect rule of faith and action able to make wise unto salvation, with growing personal acquaintance inspiring faith and making salvation the joy of His people. Then God works for such a person and makes an able instrument in almost any department of the cause of truth, with the way made comparatively easy, living every moment for the future immortal life and letting words reveal a hope big with immortality instead of complaint and faultfinding. Remaining in resistance to truth contradicts obedient childhood, and daring to risk disobedience such as breaking the Sabbath is contrary to it especially for one with tenfold more light, so that God will remove His light and leave such a person to take their own course and meet the result at last.
God's chosen children obey Him in keeping with the principles of His character revealed through Christ. They are to see themselves in a new light, fear God and observe all His commandments for their good and life and righteousness, put on the whole armor of God to withstand in the evil day, and be God's workmen learning lessons from Him and working as Christ worked with efficiency of God and not of self, which is the will of God even their sanctification and gives hope and courage and increases faith and confidence. The call belongs to a life of consecration in which self-sufficiency gives way to reliance on God and service for Christ.
Witness and Church Life
Obedient childhood is Bible sanctification lived out in the Word, with self sanctified so there is no discord and variance, no alienation and strife, but unity, preferring one another in honor and love without dissimulation. It means girding up the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, being holy in all conduct as He who called is holy, passing the sojourn in fear of the impartial Judge, redeemed not with corruptible silver and gold from vain tradition but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish foreordained before the foundation of the world, purifying the soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren and loving one another with a pure heart fervently, born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God which lives forever. Love for one another is the most convincing evidence that Bible truth has been brought into the practical life, giving evidence to a world broken by discord, strife, variance and hatred that God sent His Son that the world through Him might be saved and receive life through faith in Christ. Disregarding these injunctions dishonors God, so special victories are withheld while disobedience continues, because to bless open disregard of His Word would dishonor Him and ruin the workers.
Those connected with Jesus become channels of light to the world, blessing others by leading them to the Light of the world and to the light of the Word. They walk as Christ walked and work as He worked for salvation, revealing Him and revealing the spirit and power of the truth in words and actions. This requires separating every hindrance so the Holy Spirit fills with the Spirit of Jesus, keeping the eyes by living faith fixed on Jesus, dying to self, passing from death to life, fastening heart and affections on God who is all light and power, loving and serving God with whole soul, might, mind and strength, glorifying God and not self, seeking fresh manna morning and evening and divine enlightenment rather than devising means to glorify self or resting satisfied with past blessings. Christ alone must be brought into the life, for He alone cures envy, evil surmising against brethren and cherished self-sufficient spirit, makes felt weakness, ignorance, corrupt nature and great need of Him and the true inward corruptions of the nature, and alone makes pure, refines, cleanses and fits for the mansions of the blessed. As mind and heart draw near to God He draws near, His love fills the heart and speaks from the lips, angels are near, talk no longer centers on dress and what to eat and drink and wear and on finding fault with one another but on heaven and heavenly things that bring peace and light, through girding up the mind, training thought, guarding speech, refusing vain thoughts and choosing to think and speak of Christ, with every provision of abundant grace in Jesus to overcome every defect of character.
Knowing truth is not enough; it must be practiced in daily life and in faithful witness to the world, showing the character of those who will be saved. Life must no longer be shaped around the desires followed in ignorance before knowing God, but by the holy teachings of Scripture, with the natural desires and tendencies of the unrenewed heart subdued and self dying. Those who bear Christ's name are to be holy in conduct and ready to sacrifice all for God, and character will be tested in the coming time of trouble, revealing whether the word has been obeyed or neglected.
The instruction of the chapter must be brought before the churches in every place to be read and practiced with watchfulness and prayer as a most precious representation of what Christians may be if they hear and obey. It is to be presented to impress that the time has come for all to work intelligently and earnestly for the accomplishment of salvation. Every church member is to obey it in letter and spirit, beginning with full purpose to carry it out and heeding its principles in daily practice, for disregarding those instructions is disobedience. For men and women seeking office this obedience brings a decided change in words and spirit when speaking to others, received through individual prayer to Jesus Christ for the converting influence of the Holy Spirit to come. All are to listen and enter into the spirit of its counsel, with warning to those who lift up their souls unto vanity, together with the whole first chapter of 1 Peter, the first twelve verses of 2 Peter's second chapter in one presentation, and the first chapter of 2 Peter.
Fathers and mothers are to study the passage with all powers of intelligence until words and actions express its meaning. Its words are to be read to children to teach them sober-minded, pure and holy living, girding up the mind, being sober, hoping to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and being holy in all conduct because God who called is holy. It sets the high standard to be lifted before all, calling for daily obedience to all God's commandments and bringing the law of heaven by which the whole universe is governed into everyday experience, evidencing receiving Christ and partaking of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, warning against unsanctified ideas and walking and talking detrimentally to healthful piety, and requiring constant spiritual warfare so long as life continues in this world of sin.
The chapter feeds poor hungry souls with rich food from the living Oracles, comforts and strengthens the feeble and afflicted, reveals God's love bestowed in large measure on His chosen, calls those not of faith to walk in the light of truth shining on their pathway, and stands with the Old Testament Scriptures whose importance remains against the claim that they were done away with the law of God, calling for obedience to all His commandments. Refusing to be molded by former lusts includes remaining forever separate from the world while living in it, free from contaminating influences, refusing to fashion life, work, counsels and associations by worldly alliances and false theories, and instead being molded after the similitude of Christ on the platform of pure living gospel principles, with medical missionary work bound up with and laboring unitedly with the gospel ministry in harmony with God's purpose.