1 Peter 1:22-25 Fervent Love
Introduction: In verse 13 Peter began to apply the truths learned in v. 1-12. He told us that because of what God has done we should 1) gird up our minds 2) Be sober in our conduct 3) have a hope that does not waver 4) Be Holy in all that we do. Then, last week, in verses 17-21, we found that Peter said we should fear our Heavenly Father. We saw in reference to God – “fear” means to have reverence, respect, honor, to have a deep sense of accountability. Peter told us two reasons why this should be. He said:
1. Christians should have reverent fear because of Who God is (v.17).
2. Christians should have reverent fear because of What God has done (v.18-21).
Thus, we have learned that there ought to be a difference between the saved and the saved:
1. our mindset should be different 2. our lifestyle should be different,
3. our interaction with God should be different
4. and this week we will see how we relate to other Christians should be different too.
Text: 1 Peter 1:22-25 (Read carefully noting structure)
v.22 has one primary action. What is it? Love
love who? One antother
love how? With a pure heart fervently
Rest of passage tells us why…
Proposition: Every Christian should have fervent love for other Christians.
why? Peter now tells us two reasons why…
I. Christians should begin to fervently love other Christians (v.22).
Love = aorist imperative, a command of something that must be begun immediately
Fervently = literally “to stretch to the limits”
A. This implies this is something you have to consciously decide to do/obey. (a command)
The Greek word is often used in relation to prayer, as when the people prayed for Peter when he was imprisoned in Acts 12. Here the word is translated “without ceasing” in Acts 12:5
This means that they purposefully decided to pray long term for Peter because of the great danger he was in. They had a goal in mind, therefore they prayed.
B. This implies this will take some effort. (not always easy to love, some are hard…)
This word is translated “earnestly” in Luke 22:44
This love doesn’t stop.
This love is real, not pretense.
This love is extensive: As one commentator says “it should reach to all the saints, the poor as well as the rich, and the lesser as well as the greater and more knowing believers”
Peter kind illustrates this point in 1 Peter 3:8-12.
You must consciously decide to act like this…
This will take some effort on your part.
This love will be inclusive, not exclusive..
To love “fervently” means you try to understand the other person…
It means you will give the person the benefit of the doubt…
It means you will not be easily offended….
It means you take the effort to reach out to others…
Some people are absent minded (they don’t mean to slight you)
Some people are rough around the edges (they don’t mean to hurt you)
Some people are really busy with family, life… (they don’t mean to ignore you)
Some people are in a big rush (they don’t mean to be inconsiderate, when they go past
you without speaking…)
Some people are mean, immature and do things that aren’t nice—but you should still love
them. Love like this is a sign of maturity…
Jesus said it this way:
Matt. 5:43-48 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun
to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if
ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the
publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Paul said the same thing:
1 Cor. 13:1-8a “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have
not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth
not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh
not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth
all things. Charity never faileth”
Folks, divisiveness, intolerance, insincerity, rudeness, selfishness,… are all contrary to
this verse. These are not from God, they are either a sign of immaturity, or you giving in
to the temptation of the evil one….
II. Christians can love others like this for various reasons (v.22-25).
A. Because you have been saved (22 &23)
You have a new nature (1:3) from pure seed. Thus created something pure in you.
This is the prerequisite, the foundation that make it possible.
B. Because these are your brothers (22)
Christians are brought into a new and a near relation to one another, they become brethren
by their new birth.
Matt.-Henry Com. “Brethren by nature are bound to love one another; but the obligation
is double where there is a spiritual relation: they are under the same government, partake
of the same privileges, and have embarked in the same interest.”
C. Because of the enduring power of God’s word (24-25)
Man has no real power, he is like a flower that fades away…
It is God’s word that saves us and it is God’s word that will give us the power to love the brethren fervently.
Summary: Every Christian’s life should be marked by fervent love for other believers.
Do you have this kind of love or not?
Invitation:
