Thursday | 08 January 2026
In the introduction to his first epistle, the apostle Peter described the motivation of a person who has been born again of the incorruptible seed of God’s life. He said that we are motivated to believe, and then to obey, God’s word, expecting that what God has promised to give us, He will do. 1Pe 1:13‑19. This expectation becomes our hope and the substance of our faith. 1Pe 1:20‑21. Heb 11:1. We are, by these qualities, defined as a believer. We demonstrate that we are a believer when we obey God’s word by submitting to the Holy Spirit as He leads us and gives to us both the power and the desire to be an obedient disciple of Christ.
As children of God, the first command that we receive from the Father, through Christ, is that we are to purify our soul from carnality by obeying the truth through obedience to the Holy Spirit. We fulfil this obedience by joining, and then following, the Holy Spirit. This desire to be led by the Spirit has been birthed in us! Rom 8:14. As we walk by the Spirit as sons of God, we do not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Gal 5:16. For this reason, the apostle John declared that ‘whatever is born of God overcomes the world’. 1Jn 5:4.
Everyone who is born of God, loves. 1Jn 4:7. This expression of God’s divine nature is the reason why we follow the Spirit, whose love for God’s people was described by Peter as ‘sincere love of the brethren’. 1Pe 1:22. Notice that a sincere love of the brethren is the Holy Spirit’s love for God’s people; it is not our determined or self‑sourced expression of love for others. In order to love in this manner, we must join the fellowship of the Spirit, where we grow as a son of God as we continue to receive this capacity from Him. Php 2:1‑2.
Further Study:
1 Peter 1
References:
1Pe 1:13-22
Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’. And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 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.
Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Rom 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Gal 5:16
I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1Jn 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
1Jn 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Php 2:1-2
Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.