An Exposition Of 1 Peter, Part 7: Obeying The Truth

1 Peter 1:22-25

Introduction

As we have seen, Peter is concerned how the believers should conduct their lives in a world that was becoming increasingly hostile to Christians. Peter emphasizes the conduct of individual believers as well as the conduct of the church as a whole. He also emphasizes that we have been set apart by God for this purpose. When we look at today’s text, we will see how Peter tells us the importance of love among the brethren. So lent us now examine the text at hand.

Exposition of the Text

Since you have set apart your lives for the purpose of obeying the truth — The concessive use of the perfect participle translated “having set apart” states that the believers already stand and continue to stand in the obedience to the truth. They were obeying the truth. Peter had already told the churches that God had already purposed them unto obedience through their being sanctified (set apart) by the Holy Spirit and the sprinkled blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:2). He reminds them again in 1 Peter 1:14 that they were to obedient children. Obedience is important. Elsewhere in Scripture, we see a link between obedience and faith which was presented already in this study, Here the link is between obedience and truth. John states that “truth” is not a set of propositions (doctrines) about Christ. It is this, of course. Faith has content. But John 14:6 also says that Jesus Himself is truth. Truth is centered in the person of Jesus. It is relational. It is personal. Without this personal relationship that everyone must have if they are to truly be a Christian, mere assertions about Jesus are dead. Peter has already reminded the believers and us that we have been born again to a living faith and not a dead one (1 Peter 1:3).

And demonstrated through the sincere love of the brethren which comes from a pure heart — This is a paraphrase of what the Greek text says here. The Greek word translated “sincere” here means “without hypocrisy. Jesus railed against the Pharisees because they made a show of religion without the proper motives. By using both “sincere” and “pure heart” in this phrase, he is putting great emphasis that obedience to the truth is demonstrated by the total love of one another within the church. Peter remembered the night when Jesus was betrayed. He commanded them to love each other in the same manner that Jesus had loved them. (John 13:34) Jesus demonstrated his unfeigned love of the disciples by dying on the cross for them. Peter centers his epistle in the suffering of Christ on our behalf. This is the love the believers are to have as John also records: John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Love one another fervently — Peter again makes it clear that the love of Christians, one for another, is the proof of obedience. The previous phrases which we have looked at actually explain the main verb of the sentence which occurs here. Previously, he had used “brotherly love” which is based upon the Greek word “philos” and “adelphia” (Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love). But here, Peter uses the verb form of “agape”for love which has even a deeper meaning than “philos” which is “friend.” Peter could remember in John 21 when Jesus asked twice if Peter loved Him using “agape” to which Peter answers with “philos.” the third time, Jesus uses “philos” to which Peter emphatically answers with “philos” a third time (John 21:17). Jesus went on to tell Peter how he would be arrested and crucified for His faith in Jesus. Peter would demonstrate “agape” in his martyrdom. But at the time of his writing the epistle, this had not yet happened. In 2 Peter, the time was closer. The churches which Peter addressed were probably facing this in the near future. The pressure of this would tempt brother to betray brother rather than to lay one’s life down for the brother. This is why the love had to be sincere and fervent.

You were not born again with corruptible seed — Peter reminds the recipients that they had been born again (or from above, or both meanings). He now tells the believers the negative of what this means. Plants in this world are grown from seed. Jesus reminds us that the seed must first be planted and die. From it comes a plant which after some point puts out seed and dies. Everything in this world dies. This includes humans. As wonderful as the single cell produced at conception and grows into a marvelous body, humans are born mortal as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve. No matter how well people care for this body, all will die.