1st Peter 2:11-12 THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL It is not uncommon for new believers when they are under the pressure of suffering to yield to the desires of our fleshly nature. Those around us accept "sinful living" as natural and act according to their sensual inclinations hoping to find some kind of satisfaction. But those to whom Peter wrote were more than friends. and more than "dear friends." Those saints of God were "dearly beloved" to Peter. His personal love for them is a reflection of God's love that indicates the strongest appeal to them to act on his exhortations.
When someone becomes a child of God their citizenship is in heaven. We are aliens from another world and are foreigners who are passing through this world as ambassadors for our Lord Jesus Christ. As strangers our location is very temporary. We haven't settled down and moved in to be part of this corrupt world system. Even though we are here on a temporary assignment, there is a detachment from the world system and its pleasures because they are inconsistent with that which is righteous and holy.
As pilgrims our relationship with the people of the world is that we are among them but not one of them. A holy nation is one that is separated unto God. We are here to represent God by testifying of our Lord and by displaying His characteristics by the way we live. In response to the love shown to us, and the fact that we are only temporarily here, we have an obligation to demonstrate Christ-likeness to those around us. We remain loyal to our Lord and to the truth of God and to His people, at the same time we make our appeal to other people to "be reconciled to God."
Even though we may feel like strangers, because we are strangers our conduct should be above reproach. Others may be attracted to sin and live dishonorably. It is incumbent upon us to be honorable in all of our contact with the world. Honorable living is our responsibility in our personal and family life. In business dealings and social events, there is a dignity that accompanies righteous living that unbelievers will not like nor appreciate because it exposes sinfulness. Even though the hostile attitude is there, when the critical eye "beholds" the good works that support the witness of a believer, God will be glorified in the future.