Title: Love Without Lies (1)
Contents
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1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scorners.
2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; in all that he does, he prospers.
4. The wicked are not so; but they are like chaff that the wind blows.
5. Therefore the wicked will not stand judgment, nor will sinners enter the assembly of the righteous.
6. All the ways of the righteous are approved by the LORD, but the ways of the wicked will be destroyed.
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18. You know that it was not with perishable things like silver or gold that you were atoned for from the vain acts of your ancestors.
19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20. He was foretold before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest for you in these last days.
21. You believe in God through Christ, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22. Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, since you have come to love your brother without deceit, love one another with all your heart.
23. You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of immortal seed, by the word of the living and abiding God.
24. Therefore all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.
25. But the word of the Lord endures forever. This is the gospel that was preached to you.
Content
Title: Love Without Lies
Text: Psalm 1:1-6, 1 Peter 1:18-25
“You have purified your soul by obedience to the truth, so that you have come to love your brother without deceit. It is said that one task in the life of faith is ‘cleansing’. The theme of the gospel of the kingdom tells us this. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and belive in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The condition for participation in heaven at hand was ‘repent’. The words to ‘repent’ are to get rid of all the customs of your existing life. It means to clear out all of your existing thoughts, language, and behavior. The cessation of bad habits begins with the taming of good habits. These are the same words as the conditions for everyone's invitation to the Messiah (Isaiah 55:7).
Born into the world without preparation and living a life without practice, there are questions that come to mind often. The question is, ‘Is there really such a thing as happiness or true love that we are looking for?’ The answer of God's Word for today's text is 'of course'. There are obstacles to overcome to get to that level. This is what the first verse of today's Old Testament text (Psalm 1:1-6) contains. This is the story of ‘the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, the arrogant seat’. The triple expression implies that it is not formidable. Of course they are fakes. However, saying that there are fakes is also a paradox of ‘there are real ones’. The challenge is to overcome the prevailing bad habits. There is a way. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and he meditates on it day and night.” The result (verse 3) is the fruit of ‘prosperity’.
The content of the happiness we seek is the love we all seek, that is, the love that can quench the thirst of our souls (Isaiah 55:1). It's not a fake, it's the real thing, 'love without lies'. This is also the content of today's New Testament text (1 Peter 1:18-25). God's holy will is 'we are also named in holiness' (1 Peter 1:13-17). That way is according to the holy word of God. It is an essential process of rebirth. ‘You were born again, not of perishable seed. of immortal seed, the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). The essence of that gospel is “but the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). The phrase “purifying the soul” also means that human transgression has not only defiled our souls, but has also inflicted fatal wounds on our spiritual functions.
Now let's find the way. We must find a way to purify the soul. “By obedience to the truth.” It reminds me of the words of our Lord. 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free) <John 8:31b-32>. “If you continue in my word” refers to our complete relationship with Christ. It is the perfect relationship in the parable of the true vine (John 15). The fruits produced become the glory of God the farmer. The first thing to do is to eat the word of God (John 4:14). In this way, I have made my own love that never thirsts, and according to the command of that love, I will not stop flapping my wings (1 Peter 1:22).