1st Peter 1 - A purified soul

"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22)

Christianity is a social religion. It is predicated not only on the love of God but also on the love for each other. A true Christian is not one who only loves God but one who also loves the brethren. Jesus, speaking of the commandments of God, said, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31) Both commandments are inseparable, we must love God and our neighbor as ourselves. However, unfeigned love can only come from a purified soul and the process of purification requires obedience and obedience flows from faith. If we believe the truth then we must obey the truth and the truth calls us to purify our souls by casting out all that defiles from within. Faith and obedience are inseparable like to sides of one coin. The write of Hebrews said, "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:18-19) Faith and obedience, you cannot have one without the other.

"for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.' And this is the word which was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:23-25)

The word of God is not another philosophy, creed, or religion, it is the everlasting word of truth. Philosophies and religions come and go but the truth of God remains forever. It is fixed forever by the trustworthiness of God. King David says of God's word, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name." (Psalms 138:2 NKJV) God's word is sure and, because it is sure, we can confidently give our obedience to it knowing that His word will never fail. When we obey His word we are giving ourselves to something that is eternal. God's word is not just anther fad or the latest philosophy, it is eternal and ever true and worth of our faith and obedience.

 

David Robison