I Peter 1:22-25
I. Obedience to God’s Word Purifies – I Peter 1:22
(1) The word of God refines character. As trials refine faith, so obedience to God’s word refines character.
Psalm 119:9 – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
(2) Obedience to God’s word will allow one to love purely those who share like faith.
II. The New Birth Experience was Made Possible through Obedience to the Truth – I Peter 1:23-25
The change wrought in their lives would never perish or die because it took place through God’s word, which is imperishable. Peter is making this firm assertion from Isaiah 40:6-8. All that is born of perishable seed withers and falls, but the word of God stands forever. The imperishable word has tremendous value, if we would only heed to it.
How valuable is the word, psalmist?
Psalm 119:11 – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” The word of God would be treasured.
Psalm 119:89 – “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” The word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:105: – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” The word of God will guide you.
God’s word is just as true as His character. The same word encourages and exhorts us to trust Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Trusting in God and His word will bring you peace.
Isaiah 26:3 – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
After discussing the high cost of our salvation – a salvation wrought by the priceless blood of a perfect Lamb, Jesus Christ- Peter enjoins every believer to live a holy life. In other words, the high cost of salvation should cause us to walk in reverent fear before God. Our exalted position should motivate us to practice holiness in a sin-tainted world. Our lofty calling should have an effect on our conduct as children of God. Peter instructs us that we should be living “reverent” lives before God in light of the redemption that has been wrought for us. We should be motivated to live God-fearing lives because we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (v. 19). As a result of Christ’s finished work for us, we can place our faith and hope in God (v. 21). In other words, as a result of God’s eternal plan and precious payment of sin, faith and hope can be placed in Him.
And as we obey the truth, our lives will be purified. The life-changing power of God’s word, if obeyed, will purify or cleanse you! As trials refine faith, so obedience to the life-changing power of God’s word will refine character. As we obey God’s word, it will purify us, for Psalm 119:9 says: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” The one who has yielded his or her life to God’s word will experience the joy of obedience! The evidence that one is yielded to God’s word will be manifested in love shown to other believers.
This love shown is sincere, without hypocrisy. As brethren, we need to remove all evil thoughts and feelings that we are harboring for one another, and begin to manifest the self-sacrificing love of Christ – a love that motivated Christ to action on our behalf, for I John 3:14, 16 says: “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
In verses 23-25, because the believers had experienced the new birth, a change had been wrought in their lives, and they were able to obey the truth. And because of their obedience to the truth, the change in their lives will not diminish! Why? Because the word of God is imperishable and will stand forever. The same word that we obeyed that resulted in our being born again has tremendous value in our Christian walk.
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
