Love one another

Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:22-23 CSB

Peter says that believers “have [been] purified.” In the Greek, the verb is in the perfect tense, meaning that the action happened in the present and is continuing into the future. Believers, when they have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are purified in that moment from their sin. Then, they continue to be sanctified, pursuing holiness through “obedience to the truth” until it is complete when they are in the presence of the Lord. Paul talks about this completion in Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” As believers live in the truth of the gospel, it should motivate us to have a “sincere brotherly love for each other.” As Christ has loved us, so we reciprocate this love to others, this agape love, sacrificial love. John 15:13 says, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” This love stems from a “pure heart,” meaning no ulterior motives. And this love is to be in action “constantly,” even in the moments when others are unlovable. Again, this love is only possible because “you have been born again,” being transformed. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” And our salvation will not fade, it is “not of perishable seed but of imperishable.” Remember that Peter mentioned in verse 18 that a life pursuing perishable treasures like silver and gold is an empty life. Finally, we continue our “obedience to the truth” through the “living and enduring Word of God.” Living means that the Word of God is alive and is able to bring change into our lives through application. Enduring suggests that this new life we have in God has permanence. We see these characteristics reflected in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Peter shares that through the obedience of God’s Word, believers are transformed to be more like Christ, being able to love one another as Christ has loved us. Through this love, we can help sustain one another through the trials we face here on earth. May we share this brotherly love for one another constantly, mirroring the love that was poured out for us on the cross.

Blessings,

Isaac De Guzman

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