Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Peter 1:17

"And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man`s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:" — 1 Peter 1:17 (ASV)

This verse carries on the call to a lifestyle that is different from that of nonChristians. Peter reminds Christians that they invoke God as “Father” and that as his children (v.14) they should indeed call on him constantly in prayer. But God is Judge as well as Father, and those who call on his name must remember that he is impartial in judgment. Simply because some people call themselves Christians does not mean that all will be well for them in the Judgment. Sinners “will not stand in the judgment” (Psalms 1:5–6); at the Last Judgment the unregenerate will be doomed. Those who have been saved by grace must walk in good works as the evidence of grace (Ephesians 2:10). They too will have their lives evaluated by God (Romans 14:10–12; 1 Corinthians 3:13—17; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and will receive according to what they have done. Yet justified persons cannot be condemned (Romans 8:1, 34); only the Lord who knows the hearts knows who the justified are.

Since judgment is certain, Christians must live in reverential awe of God— yet not in terror, for peace is one of their prerogatives (1 Peter 1:2). The Christian life is a temporary stay on this earth (cf. comment on 1:1). So the brief time granted us should be used carefully.