Love for Our Sisters in Christ

November, 2007

by: Julie Rivera

The Koinonia groups are taking a look at biblical love from the book of I Peter 1:20-23. We are addressing specific commands on HOW we might love one another. Though there are many passages in the Bible that address this vital gift God has given to His people, these three verses in particular provide critical instruction for all who name the name of Christ, with specific study of verse 22. “20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (NASB) Purified Soul

In this verse we see there is a response of obedience to the truth: “Since you have in obedience to the truth, purified your souls…” Now we know that WE are not able to purify our souls. It is HIS work on the cross that atoned for our sin, that paid the penalty to God, and when you asked to be forgiven, placing your trust in Jesus Christ, you responded to the truth. HE purified our souls. So we see that a response of obedience to the truth produces a purified soul. We will never be able to love biblically without a purified soul!

The verse goes on to explain the reason our souls are purified. He purified our souls “for...a sincere love of the brethren.” God saved me and God saved you for the whole purpose of loving others. That overwhelming concept shows us the selfless life God commands us to live out toward His Body.

When we study the word “sincere,” we see it means “genuine, without hypocrisy, unfeigned;” it is not fake (see Rom. 12:9-10). We discussed examples of sincere love. We meditated on many verses that clarified principles of biblical love for the brethren. Some of those principles included:

• If our love for God is genuine, we will love His people (I John 4:19-21).
• The world will know we are Christians by our love for one another (Jn 13:34-35).
• Our love of the brethren shows that we are saved (I Jn 3:14, I Jn 4:7, Js 2:14-17).
• Love is the goal of our study of God’s Word (I Tim 1:5).
• Without love our accomplishments mean nothing (I Cor 13:1-3, 8, 13).
• God’s greatest commandment is to love (Matt 22:36-40).

After our souls are purified for a sincere love of the brethren, verse 22 of I Peter 1 says that we are to “fervently love one another from the heart.” This word, “fervently,” means “earnestly, intensely.” It’s from a verb which means to “stretch out the hand.” It gives the idea that we are to be stretched to the maximum in our love for others. This word is used the same way in Lk 22:42-44 when Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane and about to be crucified: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

The only other place this word, “fervently,” is used with the same meaning is in Acts 12:4-5 where Peter had been placed in prison by Herod the king. Verse 5 says, “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.” It is interesting to note that the word “fervently” refers to prayer for the brethren in both passages. Prayer was one example of a fervent love for one another, along with many other descriptions of a love that’s “stretched to the maximum.” As Christians, we are commanded to love sincerely and fervently with the purified heart and soul.