An Exposition of 1 Peter, part 7: Obeying the Truth

As we have seen, Peter is concerned how the believers should conduct their lives in a world that was becoming increasingly hostile to Christians. Peter emphasizes the conduct of individual believers as well as the conduct of the church as a whole. He also emphasizes that we have been set apart by God for this purpose. When we look at today’s text, we will see how Peter tells us the importance of love among the brethren. So lent us now examine the text at hand.

Exposition of the Text

Since you have set apart your lives for the purpose of obeying the truth — The concessive use of the perfect participle translated “having set apart” states that the believers already stand and continue to stand in the obedience to the truth. They were obeying the truth. Peter had already told the churches that God had already purposed them unto obedience through their being sanctified (set apart) by the Holy Spirit and the sprinkled blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:2). He reminds them again in 1 Peter 1:14 that they were to obedient children. Obedience is important. Elsewhere in Scripture, we see a link between obedience and faith which was presented already in this study, Here the link is between obedience and truth. John states that “truth” is not a set of propositions (doctrines) about Christ. It is this, of course. Faith has content. But John 14:6 also says that Jesus Himself is truth. Truth is centered in the person of Jesus. It is relational. It is personal. Without this personal relationship that everyone must have if they are to truly be a Christian, mere assertions about Jesus are dead. Peter has already reminded the believers and us that we have been born again to a living faith and not a dead one (1 Peter 1:3).

And demonstrated through the sincere love of the brethren which comes from a pure heart — This is a paraphrase of what the Greek text says here. The Greek word translated “sincere” here means “without hypocrisy. Jesus railed against the Pharisees because they made a show of religion without the proper motives. By using both “sincere” and “pure heart” in this phrase, he is putting great emphasis that obedience to the truth is demonstrated by the total love of one another within the church. Peter remembered the night when Jesus was betrayed. He commanded them to love each other in the same manner that Jesus had loved them. (John 13:34) Jesus demonstrated his unfeigned love of the disciples by dying on the cross for them. Peter centers his epistle in the suffering of Christ on our behalf. This is the love the believers are to have as John also records: John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Love one another fervently — Peter again makes it clear that the love of Christians, one for another, is the proof of obedience. The previous phrases which we have looked at actually explain the main verb of the sentence which occurs here. Previously, he had used “brotherly love” which is based upon the Greek word “philos” and “adelphia” (Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love). But here, Peter uses the verb form of “agape”for love which has even a deeper meaning than “philos” which is “friend.” Peter could remember in John 21 when Jesus asked twice if Peter loved Him using “agape” to which Peter answers with “philos.” the third time, Jesus uses “philos” to which Peter emphatically answers with “philos” a third time (John 21:17). Jesus went on to tell Peter how he would be arrested and crucified for His faith in Jesus. Peter would demonstrate “agape” in his martyrdom. But at the time of his writing the epistle, this had not yet happened. In 2 Peter, the time was closer. The churches which Peter addressed were probably facing this in the near future. The pressure of this would tempt brother to betray brother rather than to lay one’s life down for the brother. This is why the love had to be sincere and fervent.

You were not born again with corruptible seed — Peter reminds the recipients that they had been born again (or from above, or both meanings). He now tells the believers the negative of what this means. Plants in this world are grown from seed. Jesus reminds us that the seed must first be planted and die. From it comes a plant which after some point puts out seed and dies. Everything in this world dies. This includes humans. As wonderful as the single cell produced at conception and grows into a marvelous body, humans are born mortal as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve. No matter how well people care for this body, all will die.

BUT with incorruptible seed through the living and abiding Word of God — The strong Greek for “but” means to replace the idea of incorruptible seed with incorruptible seed. Paul tells us that the old and corruptible seed is buried with Jesus in baptism (Romans 6). But the new man is born with eternal seed. The death of our old man is already executed. One would say how can this be seeing that we are still in this corruptible flesh, and all too often, we behave corruptly? The answer to this is that what God has ordained is certain to come to pass; therefore, in the mind of God, it has already happened. We are now in process of transformation in the realizing of this eternal seed. this is what sanctification is. This is becoming what we already are. Because we have been begotten again unto eternal life, we no longer are to live according to the pattern of our previous life.

The means of our birth is the living Word of God. There are two ways of looking at the Word of God. The one is that Scripture is the means of our birth. The other is that we are begotten by Jesus who is called “The Word of God.” Perhaps the answer to this is both. The Bible is the very God-breathed Word of God. What God says is consistent with His character. When the preacher preaches the Word of God and not his own opinions, he is an agent of God in bringing people to the new birth. As Romans 10 tells us “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” God calls these ministers to preach that new birth might happen.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass — Peter now quotes Isaiah 40:6-7 to illustrate this truth. Isaiah speaks this in the context of the wilderness outside Israel where rain is very rare. the seed may lie fallow for several years waiting for the rain to come and bring them to life. the new grass and plants spring up quickly and mature. They go quickly to seed before the burning sun dries up the new growth. There are many who seek glory in this world. A few attain it. We think of sports stars who rise to the very top of their sport. but too soon, age catches up with them. Someone soon replaces them. The glory of man is so temporary. It does not matter what someone does. The people respond with “What did you do for me today?” If one thinks at least their fame will outlive their bodies, one would be most mistaken. Julius Caesar was great in his day. Ask someone who he was and what he did today and you will usually see one shrug their shoulders. A few might respond that he created a salad. Others might think he was the one who introduced a new way to deliver babies. Few would get it right. So is the legacy of man.

The grass dries up and the flower falls, but the Word of God abides for ever — In contrast to the temporary glory of human beings, the glory of God never diminishes. What God has said and done is the same always. Peter tells his hearers to put their time and energy into eternal matters. One should seek the glory of God and not theirs.

This is the word of the gospel was preached among you — Notice that Peter does not use the first person here which indicates that others had evangelized them. We do not know who these people were. There are many saints known only to God. But Hebrews tells us that God remembers these works. (Hebrews 6:10)This also agrees with Revelation 14:13. Preaching the Gospel can be difficult and at times dangerous. We remember the Apostles and other great saints whose memory has been recorded. But these unknown saints will also receive a great reward in heaven whereas there are some who thought their great works might get them noticed in heaven. Some of those who said: “What have we done?” will be surprised when their Lord recounts their works even down to giving a fellow disciple a drink of water. They will hear: “Enter thou into the joy of the Lord. Others will be equally surprised when they boast about their mighty works and hear: “Depart from me. I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:21-23) (See also Matthew 25:31-46) Someone had taken the risk of evangelizing these churches and received a great reward even in this life, and eternal life also.

Application of the Text

The emphasis of Christian love and unity serves two purposes. The first is that the decision to leave one’s old way of life to accept the new meant that many of the believers would be rejected by their families and friends. Peer pressure is enormously powerful, and being isolated makes one vulnerable to the attack of the devil and the temptations to go back to Egypt. metaphorically speaking. The devil will tell you how good the leeks and onions were in the land of Egypt. Satan will not remind you of how you were once a slave and how hard the bondage is. The church has to become the new family unit, The believers need to feel the love of the community as well as the love of God. We think of the Last Supper which was the Jewish Passover celebration. The Passover was to be celebrated in family groups. where was James, Jude and all the other kin of Jesus at this Passover. We know that they did not believe in Jesus until after the Resurrection Instead, Jesus celebrates it with His disciples. By doing so, Jesus completely redefines what the Christian family is all about.

the second purpose is evangelical. One of the strong draws to the church is demonstrated in the fervent love the brethren had for each other, a deep sacrificial love. The world is starved for genuine life. Earthly families are increasingly fractured and under enormous stress today. Divorce and temporary cohabitation arrangements are popular. They sing “all you need is love, love. Love is all you need.” But where in this world can one find true companionship? the French mathematician Blaise Pascal stated that there is a God=sized hole in every heart.” St. Augustin expressed a similar sentiment. The real need for love that one needs can only be filled by knowing the love of God. when we love one another fervently, we are demonstrating what this love is like. This draws people to Jesus. It cause them to ask the hope that is in us. We will come to that later in our study of 1 Peter. We show love to our earthly friends and family by demonstrating the love of Jesus. Jesus won over at least two of his earthly brothers, Our former family and friends might consider us as enemies, but we must consider them as enemies. What we need to do is to consistently demonstrate the love of Jesus in our lives.

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