We have been working through 1 Peter, we are looking this morning at 1 Peter 1:22-25. We have looked at this letter with a series of sermons centered on the ‘living hope’ and we are in the third sermon in this series titled “Be Holy”.
In these messages we have broken them down with the text to look something like this: Hope and Grace, to live holy lives we need to focus on these. To place all of our hope completely on the grace we have received through Jesus Christ. Grace being the entire work of God in our salvation, Him choosing us, Him drawing us, Him saving us through Christ, us being with Him for all of eternity—and we do not deserve this and we cannot earn it, it is given to us through faith alone.
Because of this grace we, out of pure thanksgiving and humility want to live obedient lives as obedient children. We no longer want to be conformed to the desires of this world—because we are no longer ignorant of this reality of Christ in our lives.Being holy becomes our desire based on this grace at work in us. We want nothing more than to be holy in all of our conduct! Knowing we have a Father whom we call on is the father of the one who judges each mans work impartially—this should invoke in us a “reverent” fear, a holy fear that drives towards obedience. This “fear” is best illustrated by the story of Ananias and Sapphria in Acts 5. They lied about money they had received and for some property they had sold and God killed them both and “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events!” Acts 5:11This same Father showed great love for us and that He sent His son to purchase us through the shedding of His blood—the perfect lamb without blemish or defect. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV
So we see this cycle in Peters letter Hope and Grace-Fear and Love-The Cross
So this brings us to our text this morning 1 Peter 1:22-25
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.~1 Peter 1:22-25 NIV
Truth v.22
This next section of scripture focuses on loving one another. The first three sections of living holy bring us to this point. They set the stage to make this possible. Let face it we need help in loving one another, it does not come naturally and it isn’t always that easy—to love everyone. Especially Christians, because we all struggle with self—especially in America—where idolatry of self is a basic human right! It is all about “have it your way”—it is everywhere and it is in our churches. Mix self idolatry with self—righteousness and to can have a very toxic environment. We have all seen churches with this mix or at least heard of them and I guarantee people outside of the church know about them. As Christians we are submerged in the culture of sin and idolatry and it makes it way into our lives. So how do we find a way out? How do we start to love one another deeply and with a sincere heart? It starts with obedience.
- Obedience
Obedience is the key to this text this morning. It is what makes it all possible. It starts by having obeyed the truth. The truth being the gospel of Jesus Christ, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” ~John 1:14 NIV It is our believing the gospel, the believing of the truth—that makes possible the obedience in holy living. It is by this obedience to truth we are purified.So what does this purification mean and how does it fit here with obedience and loving one another.
- Purified Heart
I think this purification here is the active work of sanctification. There is the initial purification of sin in that God removes our sin and we are justified and there is the work of sanctification. Romans 6:6 makes this point, the first half says this:
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,” That is justification and then there another part called sanctification which is progressive in that it happens over the course of our lives, which is in the second half of Romans 6:6, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
Another verse to further drive this process home is 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Another word that needs to be addressed here is the word soul that is in the original text and I think it’s important. In the NIV it says yourself—but the word is souls and I think it better illustrates what Peter is saying. In that this purification is both inward and outward. This important and you will see when we get further in the text.So if were to paraphrase they text it would go something like this, “Then having purified your souls by your obedience to these true commands of holiness—love one another earnestly.” So we can connect growth in holiness will bring about a deeper love among Christians. You will see this as we continue.
-Love one another
This is a sincere love for your brothers—it is genuine—not simply an outward display—or professed love
Many of us say we love, but do we truly love? Is it more like affection than a deep love for one another. Peter makes this point by the way he uses the word love in this verse. The word is used twice and watch carefully how it is used. The word love used with brother in the verse 22 is the Greek word “Philadelphia” it is where we get the name of the City Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. In the very next part verse 22 Peter changes the word love from philadelphia with the root word for being phileo which in Greek an affectionate type of love to the word “agapoo”, which is another Greek word for love with much deeper meaning. It is a deep love, heartfelt love, tied to strong emotions. So we see in the text the progression Peter is driving at in living holy—that once we begin to grow in holiness we will have a genuine affection for one another, make your love for each other deep and strong from a pure heart. Push for the deeper love by obedience to the truth.
For you have been born again!
Born Again v.23
Peter is reinforcing the continual work of sanctification, that you have a new spiritual life. Loving one another deeply is a part of this new birth. This continued work is permanent—not of perishable seed, but of imperishable.
-Imperishable
By using the word imperishable Peter is telling us this new life in us is permanent and indestructible. This activity of growing in holiness, growing in obedience, growing in love for one another—will continue through our lives. I think that is why he used the word seed here to plant if you will—this idea of growing—growing in this new life.
This seed is the word of God
-Living and Enduring word of God
The word seed has been used before to describe the word of God. Jesus in the parable of the seed in Luke 8, it is here where Jesus says the seed in the parable is the word of God. I’m sure Peter was thinking of this story when he wrote this.
I think Peter is saying it is the word of God; God uses to awaken the new life in the unbeliever. This new life is also sustained, grown and matured through this same word. We must be careful not separate the word of God from the God who spoke it! It is the word of God and not our persuasive arguments that God uses to awaken an unbeliever. It is the word of God that is the life giving seed—it is the word of God—its reading and hearing that God give new life and matures believers.
It is obedience to its truths that we grow in Christ—grow in deeper love for one another. This word is the word that stands forever!
Stands Forever v.24-25
We can stand on it, we can build our entire lives on it because
-Grass and Flowers
For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
We know the fading glory of human achievement—our own work apart from the word of God will fade. Love for others based in myself alone fade—“for the world and it’s desires will pass away”—strength, power, wealth, beauty, fame and all the glory of man—will fade!
but the word of the Lord stands forever
-The Word Endures
This word of God will stand forever, it has stood the test of time and we can rely on it. We can trust it and we need it to grow—without it we are lost and we cannot grow in Christ—we cannot grow in obedience or love for one another if we don’t grow in the scriptures. The word of God has to be a part of our entire lives, everyday!
- Eternity and the Cross
We are in this together for eternity. The cross binds us to the same faith.
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” ~Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV
Finally it was Jesus who said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 NIV
Be holy-love one another.
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