Fervent Love - I Peter 1:22

Introduction.

1. Last week, we saw that as obedient children we are:

a. Not to conform ourselves to the former lusts - I Peter 1:14

b. To be holy in all our conduct - I Peter 1:15-16

c. To conduct ourselves in fear - I Peter 1:17-21

2. There are other responsibilities we have as obedient children one is found in vs. 22

a. Simply stated, we are to love one another fervently.

b. A closer look at vs. 22 reveals:

1) What fervent love is

2) And how it is possible for Christians to love one another fervently

I. WHY IS FERVENT LOVE IMPORTANT?

A. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF DISCIPLESHIP...

1. While Judas had gone to betray Him, Jesus gave a new commandment - John 13:33-35

2. It is a commandment to love one another, even as Jesus loved us

3. The reason for such a commandment: to convince the world that we are truly His disciples!

4. Where there is no Christ-like love, our actions betray our words

a. We may profess to be Christ’s disciples...

b. But failure to have a fervent love like Christ had for us will cause the world to doubt our discipleship!

B. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

1. Love of the brethren is an indication that we have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life - 1 John 3:14

2. Failure to love the brethren is an indication that we are still spiritually dead!

C. THIRDLY, IT DEMONSTRATES OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD

1. God is love, and those who truly love have been born of God - I John 4:7

2. Failure to love leaves the impression that we have not been born again and that we do not truly know God! - I John 4:8

II. WHAT IS FERVENT LOVE?

A. CLEARLY IT IS FERVENT

1. The same word is used in reference to prayer in Acts 12:5

a. There it is translated constant or earnest

b. Just as the disciples were constantly praying for the release of Peter, so our love for one another is to be unceasing

2. Therefore, only that love which is constant and earnest can qualify as fervent love

B. IT MUST ALSO BE SINCERE

1. Translated unfeigned in some versions

2. The Greek word literally means not hypocritical

3. This makes it clear that fervent love is not to be some kind of show, but coming from the heart - Romans 12:9

C. FINALLY, IT MUST ALSO BE PURE

1. Love of the brethren must always be kept in the context of moral purity

2. Under no circumstances is our love to be a cover for sexual immorality - Ephesians 5:2-3

3. Pure, sincere, fervent love, then, is one that emulates Christ’s love, a sacrificial love!

4. How do we measure up to this type of love? Do we have a pure and sincere love for one another? Does the word fervently accurately describe our feelings and actions towards each other? If our only contact with one another is a weekly assembly, and if we are not opening our hearts and our homes to one another, can it be said that we love one another fervently?

III. HOW IS FERVENT LOVE POSSIBLE?

A. IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OUR SOULS HAVE BEEN PURIFIED...

1. By obeying the truth we have been forgiven - I Peter 1:22; Acts 2:38

2. By continuing to heed the truth, we are taught to be pure - Ephesians 4:20-24

3. Therefore we can be fervent in our love for it will be a pure love

B. IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN

1. Born again by the incorruptible word of God! - I Peter 1:23

2. How does being born again by the Word of God prepare us to love one another fervently?

a. By the Word of God we come to know what true love really is

b. For the Word of God tells us of:

1) The love of Jesus - I John 3:16-18

2) The love of God - I John 4:9-10

C. IN OTHER WORDS

1. We can have this fervent love because we have been purified and understand the need for a sincere, pure love of the brethren

2. We will have this fervent love, because the love of Jesus and God motivates us!

Conclusion.

1. If we fail to love one another fervently with sincerity and purity, it is an indication that we either:

a. Have never been purified, born again

b. Or are not allowing the love of God and Jesus to motivate us

2. Furthermore, failure to love one another fervently presents a picture to the world which belies our claim to:

a. Be true disciples of Christ

b. Possess spiritual life

c. Have a relationship with God as our heavenly Father

3. Perhaps this is the reason Peter exhorts us to love one another fervently, not only here in vs. 22, but also in I Peter 4:8!

4. In view of these truths found in God’s Word, how are we doing in our gave for one another...?

a. Even if we excel in this department, there is room for improvement - cf. I Thessalonians 4:9-10

b. In the days ahead, think of how you can be more fervent in your love of the brethren

c. But just don’t think, act! Open your hearts and homes to each other!

5. If you are not a Christian, we want you to enjoy the blessings of God’s love and the love of His children. But these blessings are only for those who have purified themselves by obeying the truth!

6. Why not do so today?

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10/05/2012

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Loving One Another Fervently - I Peter 1:22

Introduction.

1. Last week, we saw that as obedient children we are:

a. Not to conform ourselves to the former lusts - I Peter 1:14

b. To be holy in all our conduct - I Peter 1:15-16

c. To conduct ourselves in fear - I Peter 1:17-21

2. There are other responsibilities we have as obedient children one is found in vs. 22

a. Simply stated, we are to love one another fervently.

b. A closer look at vs. 22 reveals:

1) What fervent love is

2) And how it is possible for Christians to love one another fervently

Body.

I. WHY IS FERVENT LOVE IMPORTANT?

A. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF DISCIPLESHIP...

1. While Judas had gone to betray Him, Jesus gave a new commandment - John 13:33-35

2. It is a commandment to love one another, even as Jesus loved us

3. The reason for such a commandment: to convince the world that we are truly His disciples!

4. Where there is no Christ-like love, our actions betray our words

a. We may profess to be Christ’s disciples...

b. But failure to have a fervent love like Christ had for us will cause the world to doubt our discipleship!

B. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

1. Love of the brethren is an indication that we have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life - 1 John 3:14

2. Failure to love the brethren is an indication that we are still spiritually dead!

C. THIRDLY, IT DEMONSTRATES OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD

1. God is love, and those who truly love have been born of God - I John 4:7

2. Failure to love leaves the impression that we have not been born again and that we do not truly know God! - I John 4:8

II. WHAT IS FERVENT LOVE?

A. CLEARLY IT IS FERVENT

1. The same word is used in reference to prayer in Acts 12:5

a. There it is translated constant or earnest

b. Just as the disciples were constantly praying for the release of Peter, so our love for one another is to be unceasing

2. Therefore, only that love which is constant and earnest can qualify as fervent love

B. IT MUST ALSO BE SINCERE

1. Translated unfeigned in some versions

2. The Greek word literally means not hypocritical

3. This makes it clear that fervent love is not to be some kind of show, but coming from the heart - Romans 12:9

C. FINALLY, IT MUST ALSO BE PURE

1. Love of the brethren must always be kept in the context of moral purity

2. Under no circumstances is our love to be a cover for sexual immorality - Ephesians 5:2-3

3. Pure, sincere, fervent love, then, is one that emulates Christ’s love, a sacrificial love!

III. HOW IS FERVENT LOVE POSSIBLE?

A. IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OUR SOULS HAVE BEEN PURIFIED...

1. By obeying the truth we have been forgiven - I Peter 1:22; Acts 2:38

2. By continuing to heed the truth, we are taught to be pure - Ephesians 4:20-24

3. Therefore we can be fervent in our love for it will be a pure love

B. IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN

1. Born again by the incorruptible word of God! - I Peter 1:23

2. How does being born again by the Word of God prepare us to love one another fervently?

a. By the Word of God we come to know what true love really is

b. For the Word of God tells us of:

1) The love of Jesus - I John 3:16-18

2) The love of God - I John 4:9-10

C. IN OTHER WORDS

1. We can have this fervent love because we have been purified and understand the need for a sincere, pure love of the brethren

2. We will have this fervent love, because the love of Jesus and God motivates us!

Conclusion.

1. If we fail to love one another fervently with sincerity and purity, it is an indication that we either:

a. Have never been purified, born again

b. Or are not allowing the love of God and Jesus to motivate us

2. Furthermore, failure to love one another fervently presents a picture to the world which belies our claim to:

a. Be true disciples of Christ

b. Possess spiritual life

c. Have a relationship with God as our heavenly Father

3. Perhaps this is the reason Peter exhorts us to love one another fervently, not only here in vs. 22, but also in I Peter 4:8!

4. In view of these truths found in God’s Word, how are we doing in our gave for one another...?

a. Even if we excel in this department, there is room for improvement - cf. I Thessalonians 4:9-10

b. In the days ahead, think of how you can be more fervent in your love of the brethren

c. But just don’t think, act! Open your hearts and homes to each other!

5. If you are not a Christian, we want you to enjoy the blessings of God’s love and the love of His children. But these blessings are only for those who have purified themselves by obeying the truth!

6. Why not do so today?