Love One Another

“Love one another with a pure heart fervently…” I Peter 1:22

Did you notice how intently Peter must have listened to the words of the Lord Jesus? He was also an ardent follower of the ways of the Lord. He had observed carefully the Pattern. He would have heard Lazarus being described as “he whom Thou lovest” (John 11:3). He would have known that the love of the Lord Jesus was an undiscriminating love for “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus” (John 11:5). He would have noticed that John described himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). He would have heard the Precept, “These things I command you that ye love one another” (John 15:17). He would have learned the Principle, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). It is indeed one of many Lessons Learned from the Lord in this epistle! But Peter used another expression in our text – “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love…” Why does he bring in the Purifying? The purifying took place at conversion. The Lord Jesus told Peter of two washings – “He that is bathed (washed all over) needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit” (John 13:10). At conversion we were purified (washed all over). Paul called it “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). This regenerating work of the Holy Spirit has transformed our actions and our affections. The Word of God has been implanted within our hearts (James 1:21).

Are we like Peter, following the Pattern? Are our souls purified as a result of obedience to the Word of the Gospel? Are we obeying the Precept to love one another fervently?