Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart…. (1
Peter 1:22 )
God’s truth will transform us. The truth provides the standard for transformation—it
reveals God’s holy character and His holy commandments, so we know what we are
to do. It provides the stimulus
for transformation—showing our accountability and the rewards and discipline if
we obey or not, so we know why we obey.
The Word not only provides the standard and stimulus, but the strength
for transformation—it renews our mind, nourishes our soul, and fortifies our
faith. The Bible is different from any other book—Divine in its nature and
power.
Peter points to THE
ETERNAL ABILITY OF THE WORD OF GOD TO SAVE US (v.23). He speaks of the effects of the Word in verse 22
and offers an explanation for this in verse 23.
If you are saved, it is because someone, somewhere, somehow shared with
you the Word of God. It may have been
your parents, a preacher, a teacher or friend, but you heard the Gospel and
believed in Christ. No life whether
human, animal or plant begins without a seed.
That is the starting point of all and it is the beginning of a spiritual
birth, even as fertilization begins a physical birth. That seed is the Word of God. We should have confidence that the power of
the Gospel that saves us has power to save others. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom.1:16 ).
Peter, also, proclaims
THE EFFECTIVE AGENCY OF THE WORD OF GOD TO SANCTIFY US (v.22). The Holy Spirit works through the Holy
Scriptures to produce holy saints. The
new life implanted in us at salvation becomes a new lifestyle incarnated in us
through sanctification. “Purified” is in the perfect tense that
speaks of that which commences at conversion—positional—and continues
in sanctification—progressive—until it culminates in glorification--perfection.
The truth that we comprehend in our head, becomes the conviction of our heart,
and then becomes the compulsion of our conduct.
The faithful application of the truth through obedience is how we grow
in Christ-likeness. Faith is active, not
passive. We can’t be pure apart from the
Spirit’s power, but we won’t be pure apart from our partnership with Him. A new life produces a new love. It is the outstanding mark of the
Christian. “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another.” (John 13:35 )
Peter, further, professes THE ENDURING ACTIVITY OF THE WORD
OF GOD TO SECURE US (v.24-25). The work
of the Spirit that begins when we respond in faith to the Word of God continues
to be active in us as we grow in the Word and will ultimately shape us to be
like Christ in glory. The brevity and
frailty of our humanity is stressed in verse 24. Contrast that with God’s eternal and powerful Word
in verse 25. The unchanging Word in an
unstable world is what we need. If your
Bible is coming apart, you won’t be!
I commend to you the Word of God. Trust its Author and He will save you. Study its message and it will sanctify you. Make it the foundation of your faith and it will
secure you—giving you a solid path in the constantly shifting philosophies of
the age.
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