1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

'Love one another deeply, from the heart’ (v. 22). Today’s verses revolve around this one central command. We have been redeemed from our old way of living by the precious blood of Christ. We have begun a new life, and loving one another is right at the heart of it.

• Peter begins by explaining why believers love one another. How has this happened (v. 22)?

Peter writes of a new obedience, which leads to a new purity, which leads to a new love. This is a description of the beginning of the Christian life.

Obedience is the right response to hearing the truth about the Lord Jesus. Christians are those who have been ‘chosen … to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood’ (1:2). We have been purified by his blood. Now we are called to a new life of purity, living as obedient children.

We leave behind our old ways and begin a new life together. In this new family, the bond of love between us is real. It flows naturally out of becoming a Christian. Now Peter calls on believers to keep loving. We must love one another ‘deeply, from the heart’, whatever happens.

• Many things will put this love under pressure, but we must keep loving each other. Why must we (vv. 23–24)?

We should love one another because we ‘have been born again’. When a baby is born, a new life begins. We have been born again spiritually, so now we must live our new life together as God’s redeemed people.

This new life will last forever. That is what Peter stresses here. We have been born again through ‘the living and enduring word of God’ (v. 23). It is this ‘imperishable’ seed which has brought us new life.

Peter contrasts this ‘seed’ with ‘perishable seed’. Our physical human life begins from a perishable seed. However glorious human lives seem now, they are soon gone, like the bloom of a flower (v. 24). But the word of God, which has been preached to Peter’s Christian readers and to us, is eternal. The new life this word brings is eternal too. So, love your Christian brothers and sisters! The relationships in our new family will last forever. Let’s make them good ones!

Pray

Ask God to help you to keep loving your fellow believers deeply and from the heart, whatever happens.