First Epistle of Peter
LOVE THE BRETHREN
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)
This is a tremendously large verse, with great depth of meaning, and will require our very close attention.
"seeing ye have purified your souls"
"Seeing ye have," tells us that the purifying of their souls or selves, as it really is, was a work of the past. When was this done? No doubt, Peter is referring to the time of their conversions. When one is converted, he is purified. Positionally, the Lord sees such as "clean every whit."
Normally, after one's conversion, his life is, in a great measure, purified too. If one professes salvation, yet shows no improvement in cleanliness of life, we naturally question the reality of his salvation. Titus 2:14 tells us one of the chief reasons that Christ gave Himself for us, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous or good works." If our life is not, in a great measure, purified, one of the chief ends of our salvation is lost.
However, purity is something that the believer must seek to maintain for himself in his life. Paul says in 1 Timothy 5:22, "Keep thyself pure"; and also in 1 Timothy 4:12, "Be thou an example-in purity." With a little lack of self-will, we will let ourselves sink into immoral practices.
A great help toward purity is Bible reading. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Ps. 119:9). As the pure Word of God filtrates through the mind, it has a cleansing effect.
"obeying the truth"
However, since it is the Word of God, it should be more than just read, it should be read and obeyed. We should read the Word as if the Lord Jesus was personally speaking to us, and personally asking us to do things for His sake. We were saved by obeying the truth of the gospel. We will prosper and grow as Christians only as we obey the truth of the Word of God. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).
What is the truth we are to obey? No doubt, in the first place, it is the gospel. In Romans 16:26 we read of the "Obedience of faith." Then in 2 Thessalonians 1:8 we read, "Taking vengeance on them that know not( God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (See also Eph. 1:13 and Rom. 6). First naturally we hear the Word which commands us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We then put our trust in Him and obey His commandments, which are clearly explained in His Word.
Then the Scriptures as a whole are often called "the word of truth" (See Ps. 119:43 and 2 Cor. 6:7, etc.). Then Christ Himself is called the truth as in John 14:6. "I am the way, the truth and the life." Every time we obey the truth, whether first in the Gospel or then as believers in Christ who trust and obey Him and His Word, it will be sure to have a cleansing effect upon us.
"through the spirit"
In 1 John 5:6, we read, "The Spirit is truth." The great work of the Spirit is to get us to believe the truth enough to obey the truth. In fact, we would do neither apart from His work in us. We are naturally so blinded by Satan that we could not believe, and so obstinate by nature that we would not obey. He works on us and softens us, and causes us to trust, and makes us willing to obey the Gospel. Sorry to say, many are not saved because they "resist the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51). Then after salvation many are not what they ought to be, because instead of continuing to obey the Word of God, they grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
"unto unfeigned love of the brethren"
One of the first effects of our salvation is love for the people of God. It is the Spirit that gives the new life, and immediately thereupon, He makes His abode in the human heart. In Galatians 5:22, we read, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, etc." Love is the first thing He seeks to produce in the heart of the redeemed. Love for God and Christ, love for the brethren, love for the poor lost sinner.
They say, "Birds of a feather flock together." Just as soon as one is converted, he naturally drifts toward the people of God. He loves their company rather than that of the world. Before salvation, he shunned prayer meeting, Bible reading, worship services, but after, he loves to be there. Before salvation, he loved the company of worldlings, but now he does not care for the tavern, the dance hall, or other places frequented by the sinner. The company in his home changes too, and he seldom visits in the homes of the unsaved, unless he can bring them the Gospel. If, after profession and baptism, one still seems to love his old companions and his old haunts, one could naturally question his salvation.
Reading the Word and seeking to obey it, has a tendency to foster this love. The more we are in the Word, and seek to walk in Its ways, the more our hearts will be drawn to the Lord, and se, we are sure to love His children more too. If we do not love the brethren, we are not obeying the truth, because the Word, over and over again, tells us to lave the people of God.
"unfeigned love"
The word "unfeigned" means, "without pretense" or "hypocrisy". There is much pretended love in the world. You can usually tell a politician by the way he says "hello" to everybody he meets. You would think he loved everybody; until after he is elected and then things often change. With a true Christian it is not so. His love is genuine, his love is true. No make-believe, or put-on, about it. There is a real bond of affection between them.
"love of the brethren"
Who are the brethren? Sometimes we make a mistake here. Are the brethren whom we are to love, just those of our assembly or circle of fellowship, or congregational group? No, no! This term includes every true child of God, no matter what their physical location might be in the whole world. Black, white, red, yellow, brown. If one is a true child of God then they are to be loved, that is if obeying God's Word is important to us. We may not be able to go on with one who is unquestionably unscriptural, but this should not in the least lessen our affection and love toward them. Today there seems to be much anger among brothers in Christ with some saying this and others saying that, and sadly it often seems to separate the brotherhood. Brothers, such should not be so. Let us see that we "love the brethren." In the early church all the saints were together and it would be so wonderful if it were still so, but certainly none of us can make it so. However, we can make the best of it and each one of us can "love the brethren" everywhere they may be.
"see that ye love one another"
You will notice that we have the word "love" twice in this verse. It may seem strange that first it says, they do "love the brethren" and then it exhorts them "to love one another."
These two words translated "love" are different words in the original. The first ("phile") is a weaker word than the second, "agape". "Phile" speaks of natural affection, while "agape" speaks of intense divine love.
Peter had experience with these two words at his restoration after his denial of Christ. We read of this in John (21:15-17). Three times the Lord Jesus asks, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" The first two times the Lord uses the strong word "agape." "Simon, do you love me deeply, or with divine love?" Simon Peter comes back with the weak ward "phile." "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I am fond of thee." The third time the Lord Jesus uses Peter's weak word "phile." "Simon, son of Jonas, are you fond of me?" We read then that Peter was grieved, because He said unto him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" However, Peter still dared not use the strong word. He said, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I am fond of thee." Are we just fond of the Lord Jesus or do we love Him deeply with that divine love?
It is natural for Christians to be fond of one another because they have the same nature, and are related as children of God, through the blood of Christ. But the apostle desires that they go far beyond this. He wants them to have a God-like love for one another, which would make them willing to sacrifice for each other or even to die for one another if need be. As it is put in 1 John 3:16, "And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
"love one another"
These three words are linked together fifteen times in the New Testament. Sometimes it is in the form of a statement of fact, like in 1 Thessalonians 4:9, sometimes in the form of exhortation as in our verse, and sometimes in the form of commandment, as in John 15:12. This being so often repeated, should impress us with the great importance of showing love to one another. In each of the five chapters of our epistle, Peter has something to say of love to other Christians. Note: Chapter 2:17; 3:8; 4:8; 5:14, where "charity" should be "love".
Class, race, social standing, financial condition, pass sins repented off, degree of education, nor any other earthly difference, should in any way have a bearing on our love to the people of God. We need to be on our guard, or these things will affect us.
The story is told of an Irish lady who was saved and brought into fellowship in an assembly of Christians. She was trying hard to get acquainted. She invited a member of German decent to pay her a visit. This member made all kinds of excuses, practically saying she did not want to come. However, a few days later when someone else invited this same lady over, she immediately said, "Yes, I will come; we have something in common." Evidently her "love" was affected by the fact that they were of the same nationality. Let us remember that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28).
"But", you may say, "some Christians are so unlovely; they are so hard to even like much less love." This is sadly true. Some are so wise in their own conceit, or so overbearing, or so unkind in their ways or speech, it is admittedly difficult to love them. Yet even such we should love. Shower such with affection and perhaps you will be able to "overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21).
A sister in Christ once asked, "What can I do to make the Christians love me?" You may know someone with similar thoughts. In the first place, that should not be our first concern. Our first question should be, "Am I loving the people of God as I should?" If not, then start working on that. Pray not only, "Lord, increase my faith and obedience," but also, "Lord, increase my love." Love begets love. As we love more, we will be loved more. To be loved, be lovely. Be the kind of Christian that it is easy to love. Be kind, true, tender, helpful, happy in the Lord and you will never have to complain, "Nobody loves me."
"out of a pure heart"
"With a pure heart" could be translated "out of a pure heart." As we have natural affection for the people of God because we have been purified, so the apostle desires that from that purified heart should come divine love as well. Pure love should come from a pure heart. This love should not be selfish, desiring things, but unselfish, giving things.
"fervently."
The word "fervently" speaks of intenseness. We use it often in connection with fire. We speak of fervent heat. Our love should have a little heat in it. A flame not easily put out because it is fed by the oil of the Spirit of God. This flame should grown hotter and stronger as the days go by.
