Feb. 08, 2026

“BE HOPEFUL”

“GENUINE LOVE GUARANTEED”

1 PETER 1:22-25

Pride-keeps us from giving and receiving love.

“Your difficulty in relationships is caused by your heart attitude toward the Word of God.”

Goal: Commit yourself to totally obeying the Word of God in everything, so that God can guarantee your ability to give genuine love.

1.  The Bible Commands Us To Love Each Other Genuinely- 1 Peter 1:22

1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

*Four Things About Genuine Love:

*First, This Is The Only Command In This Passage- it is not a suggestion it is a command, “obeying the truth…” vs.22

*Second, This Love Is To Be Mutual- “love another fervently…” vs.22

*Third, This Love Is To Be With A “Pure Heart”-vs.22

The greatest definition of love a pure heart:

Philippians 2:1-5 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

*Fourth, This Love Is To Be “Fervent”- vs.22- “fervently”

“Fervent”- focus of all our energy, respect, and submission.

2.  The Bible Is What Purifies Our Souls So We Can Love Fervently- 1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

*Four Things About Honest Love:

*First, It Is Activated By Obedience To The Word Of God- vs.22

Obeying God’s Word, is it a habit for you?

*Second, Honest Love Is Energizes By The Spirit Of God- vs.22

“Through the Spirit”- God sets us apart to obedience when the Spirit is in control.

Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Ephesians 4:23 “and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

*Thirdly, Honest Love Is Guaranteed Not To Be Fake- vs.22

Two Things Christians Fake:

Love- Romans 12:9 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Don’t be fake

2 Corinthians 6:6 “by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love.”

Faith- 1 Timothy 1:5 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” 

2 Timothy 1:5 “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

1 Peter 1:23-24 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away.”

Isaiah 40:6-8 “The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

*Fourth, Honest Love Changes Your Attitude Toward The Word of God and Determines Your Ability to Love.- 1 Peter 1:25

1 Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

Will you say, “If I see it in the Bible, I will do it?