1 Peter 1:22–23 (ESV) — 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the
truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure
heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable
seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
NOTE: The obedience
to the truth is the placing of our faith in Jesus Christ -- that is what
purifies our soul, not works in any general sense, but belief in Jesus, the one
unpardonable sin (i.e., not believing in Jesus). As a result we are born again
of an imperishable seed -- it can never die -- we can never die. That seed is
the word of God which transforms us into new creatures who can now exercise
sincere brotherly love, a love which we were created to experience and which
few truly ever experience. This is why discipleship is so important, because we
can begin experiencing brotherly love from others who are also being
transformed, by application of the living word of God to our lives. I am
excited and fearful as I look to the future, and realize the course our church
has placed themselves. I am excited because I know God is going to change men
and me. I am fearful because I know the enemy will fight back. But I must trust
God. He who is in me is stronger than anything the enemy might throw against
me. Father, protect us from the enemy. Keep us out of his hands.
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