The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer (“born again…of imperishable seed”) has changed the person so that his grasp of reality is so much greater than it was before he was born again (see on 1 Peter 1:3). In turn, his life is devoted to God (i.e., he offers up spiritual sacrifices). Yet what makes his God-focused lifestyle pleasing to God is not the Christian’s own effort or accomplishments, but the blessed benefits of Christ Jesus. His ransom (1 Peter 1:18) and his resurrection (1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:21) make the Christian alive and thus able to offer a “spiritual sacrifice” “acceptable to God,” as the explanatory words “through Jesus Christ” make clear.
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.