“You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart” (1 Peter 1:22 NLT).
The apostle Peter taught that the foundation of being a Christ-follower is obedience to the truth, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For the one who has believed that Jesus died for their sins, was buried, and raised on the third day, has been cleansed of their sins, justified by faith apart from works. Yet, the distinguishing mark of this justification is love. For the believer has a sincere and familial love for other believers. Sincere, meaning without any hypocrisy or hidden motive. And familial, in that their love for fellow believers is like that for brothers and sisters. Since this mark of love for one another is evidence of the new purified soul, Peter instructs us to love deeply and whole-heartedly.
Peter had learned this teaching from Jesus, who said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Peter no doubt must have remembered Christ’s thrice repeated question to him, “Peter, do you love Me?”, as he wrote this epistle. For faith may be the foundation, but love is the mark of true Christianity.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You first loved us. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit, so that we carry the mark of love, which is the first and greatest aspect of the Spirit’s fruit. Help us to love as You love, so that the world will know that we are Your disciples. In Jesus’ name, amen.