Love One Another

1 Peter 1:22-25

1. I have a responsibility

As YOU continue developing moral virtue in your mind, thoughts, feelings and desires.

This describes my (and your) active involvement in an unending process of defeating the old nature.

You and I have responsibilities in our relationship with the Lord. While it would be far easier for God to give me a purified soul…It is with the help of the Holy Spirit you and I develop moral virtue through our obedience to God’s instruction.

If we continue rebelling (neglecting) against His instructions, we cannot develop moral purity.  

If we do not develop moral purity, we cannot love each other in the way the Lord teaches.

1 Corinthians12:27 - Those who are born again are the Body of Christ, supernaturally connected together in Christ Jesus.  God says you and I are to love each other in the same way we love, protect, provide, support, help, encourage and defend our family. 

In other words, the church is to love each other like family genuinely.

Why? Because we are genuinely family!

It is more than an acquaintance.  

It is more than a superficial relationship.  

It is more than a group of people who happen to meet at the same place each week.

We are not called to simply exist together; we are commanded to care for each other. It is this kind of sincere love that is a living witness in our daily lives.

Now for the convicting part. 

If you and I are not studying God’s Word and obeying His teaching, we cannot love each other in this way.  As a result, our daily witness is rendered ineffective and we become a group of people who simply show up to attend a worship service together.

2. I have a reason for my responsibility

Why then must we be obedient, develop moral virtue and love each other? 

Because something has taken place within us that is so significant, the only way to describe it is that we were born again.

We were all first born of perishable seed – the seed of man which is characterized by sin, selfishness and death.  

This is the seed of the world in which we live.  

This is this seed from which we must be saved!

How is this salvation accomplished?  Through the Word of God.

Jesus was not only resurrected by the power of God, but He resurrected US from the perishable seed!

In effect, it is His work and presence that saves us.  

It is also His work and presence that develops our moral virtue as we obey Him.

You and I cannot be saved out of death, 

infused with the spirit of God, 

Blessed with the continued presence of the Lord AND not be changed!

Jesus Christ does not save you and me to remain where we are.  

He saves us TO HIMSELF.  That is a life surrendered to His authority.  A life that is no longer our own to do what We wish.  

You and I do not get saved from Hell without first experiencing Jesus as Lord.  (Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus…)

When you know Jesus as Lord, you will earnestly seek to follow Him in obedience which develops moral virtue and equips you to love His church.

3. I have a hope because of God’s responsibility.

What was good news when you first heard it, is still good news today!

God has not changed.  His promises have not changed. He will never change.

No matter what you are going through right now – it is but a temporary circumstance that is overshadowed by God’s eternal promise.

He does not cease to be God when things do not work out like we had hoped.

He does not cease to be God when we do not understand.

Or when it looks like the world is winning.

Or when we fail miserably.

He is the God of my salvation.  My anchor. My cornerstone.  

There is no power in heaven, on earth or under the earth that can separate me from His love.  John 16:33 He overcame death so this world would not overcome me.

Here is the deal.

• You and I cannot be the church if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.
• You and I cannot love each other sincerely if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.
• You and I cannot love the lost if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.
• You and I have lost our way if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.

No matter where you are today and no matter your past – God's grace is extended to you. 

If we are to go and be the church, we must commit ourselves to the living word.  Study, Pray, Obey.

We must sincerely love each other like family.

We must seek to live In Such a way that God is magnified in our daily lives.