We covered 1 Peter 1:22 which says, Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
"Now that you have purified yourselves": No one is made pure without personal intention or effort. Just as no one can be become an accomplished or learned musician, so too, no one can become purified without some personal effort. As a matter of fact, the amount of effort which we make in purifying our souls is usually the measure of our closeness to the Lord.
"By obeying the truth": Notice that the purifying process only takes place as a result of obedience. There is no purification without obedience.
"Through the Spirit": Unfortunately, the NIV does not put the next phrase after "by obeying the truth" which is "through the Spirit".
It is only by the power of the Spirit that we can obey the truth and thus be purified.
Zec 4:6 "…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts."
"So that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.": The effect of purifying our souls by obedience to the truth through the power of the Holy Spirit is that we will have a sincere love for the brethren! You show me someone who is having a hard time loving his brother or sister and I'll show you someone who has not purified themselves by obedience to the truth through the power of the Holy Spirit!
"Now that you have purified yourselves": No one is made pure without personal intention or effort. Just as no one can be become an accomplished or learned musician, so too, no one can become purified without some personal effort. As a matter of fact, the amount of effort which we make in purifying our souls is usually the measure of our closeness to the Lord.
"By obeying the truth": Notice that the purifying process only takes place as a result of obedience. There is no purification without obedience.
"Through the Spirit": Unfortunately, the NIV does not put the next phrase after "by obeying the truth" which is "through the Spirit".
It is only by the power of the Spirit that we can obey the truth and thus be purified.
Zec 4:6 "…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts."
"So that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.": The effect of purifying our souls by obedience to the truth through the power of the Holy Spirit is that we will have a sincere love for the brethren! You show me someone who is having a hard time loving his brother or sister and I'll show you someone who has not purified themselves by obedience to the truth through the power of the Holy Spirit!
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