I.                   Because of our salvation, we’re to love our brothers.   *

[ “If we try to build unity in the church on the basis of our first birth, we will fail; but if we build unity on the basis of the new birth, we will succeed.”[1] ]

1.            As with all real love, true brotherly love is a result of salvation. 
( 1 Peter 1:22-25; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 10:14-15; Titus 3:5-7;
Hebrews 4:1-2, 11-13; 1 John 3:14 ) (1) (2)*

[ “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth…” ESV  Past perfect tense – completed work.  Obedience – compliance, submission. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love abides in death.”  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law…”  ]

The Enduring Word

2.           *Hypocrisy should be absent in brotherly love.  ( 1 Peter 1:22 )

[ “…for a sincere love of the brethren…”  Sincere – literally, not hypocritical.  Love – GR philadelphia. Brotherly love because of our common second birth. ]

3.           *Loving our brothers is a choice we make.

[ “…love…”  Love – GR agapao.  Agape love because of our differences. ]

4.           *It’s our duty to fervently love our brothers from the heart.  ( Luke 22:41-44 )

[ Jesus sweating drops of blood – sacrificial, intense.  Fervently – to stretch out the hand. ]

II.                Because of our salvation, we should have a craving for God’s Word.   

[ Long – intensely desire. ]

1.            Continuing to eliminate sin in our lives stimulates our desire for God’s Word.  ( Ephesians 4:20-24; 1 Peter 2:1 )     

[ Putting aside – stripping off soiled garments.  ]

a.              Malice – the harboring of evil thoughts against another.  ( 1 Corinthians 5:8, 14:20; Ephesians 4:31 )

[ Wickedness.  Nourishes antagonism, builds up grudges, and secretly hopes that revenge, harm, or tragedy will happen to another. ]

b.             Deceit – tricking others for personal gain.  ( Mark 7:21-23; Acts 13:8-10 )

[ Falsifies income tax returns, cheats on exams, lies about age, bribes officials, and pulls shady deals in business.  Can’t serve God and wealth. ]

c.              Hypocrisy – trying to fool others into thinking that you’re someone you’re really not.  ( Mark 12:14-17 )

[  Pretends to be happily married when his home is a battlefield; spiritual on Sundays but as carnal as a goat on weekdays; pretends interest in others but his motives are selfish. ]

d.             Envy – jealousy over another’s advantages or prosperity.  ( Matthew 27:18; Titus 3:3 )

e.              Slander – attempting to make yourself look good by tearing down the character of another. 

[ Literally, speaking against. ]

Slander

2.           Recognize that God’s Word provides powerful spiritual nourishment.  ( Psalm 1, 119; 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2:2-3 )

[ “…like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…”  Word – GR logikos, pertaining to reason or logic; logical.  Long – intensely desire. Mentioned 42 times in Psalm 119 alone. Plus, statutes and commandments. ]

a.              It’s the Truth!  ( Psalm 119:130, 160; John 14:6 )

b.             We learn what it means to fear God.  ( Psalm 119:11, 38 )

c.              The Bible teaches us about moral righteousness.  ( Psalm 119:9, 11, 105 )

d.             Comfort and hope and strength are found in God’s Word.  ( Psalm 119:25, 28, 49, 76 )

HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED BECAUSE OF YOUR SALVATION?

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[1]Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt., 1 Pe 1:22. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989.