Audio Sermons

Reflecting Christ, Redeeming the Time
Born Again to Love!
Life B-P Church Worship Service, 1st February 2026
Text: 1 Peter 1:22-25

• Christ made love the distinguishing mark of true Christians. (John 13:34,35; cf. 1 John 3:14; 4:12)
• It is impossible for unbelievers to love with a pure heart fervently. (v.22b)
• There are three things that make it possible and even necessary for believers to love one another like this:

1.    The Enablement of the Spirit of God which Refines Our Souls (v.22)
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren…”

• This purification comes through the Holy Spirit who indwells us from the moment we were saved.
• It results in a capability to love without selfishness or hypocrisy.
• We are actively involved in this process of purification. (Cf. Galatians 5:16,22,23)
  Application: Commit yourself to walk in the Spirit, so that you will bear the fruit of the Spirit, which conforms you to Christ.

2.    The Effective Work of God which Regenerates Our Hearts (v.23) 
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible…”

• Our new birth took place the moment we were saved. (Cf. v.22)
• It enabled us to repent of our sins and believe in Christ for salvation.
• It remakes us into new creatures. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• It makes us love everything God loves, including His children.
• We share a common supernatural birth and belong to God’s family.

Application: Regard the church as a place where you can show brotherly love to members of the same family.

• God uses His Word to accomplish His work of regeneration. (v.23b, cf. Romans 10:17; Acts 2:37; 16:14)
• While an ordinary seed is capable of producing life which is perishable, God’s Word is capable of producing life which is imperishable.

3.    The Eternal Word of God which Renews Our Minds (vv.24,25) 
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever…” (Cf. Isaiah 40:6-8)

• In contrast to human life and human achievements which are fleeting, the Word of God lasts forever.
• It is the unchanging, eternal and absolute Word which has the power to renew our minds to understand God and become more like Him. (Cf. Isaiah 55:11)
• Since God’s love is so clearly revealed in His Word, reading it can transform us to love others as God loves us. (Cf. John 3:16; 
  1 John 4:7,8)

Conclusion

• We are born again to love one another as God has loved us.
• Many people need to know the love of God.
• The only way they can know it is through the Gospel of Christ.
• We can make an impact on the world today by showing God’s love not by our words alone, but also by our actions. 

Questions for Personal Reflection:

1. How can you know that you are born again?
2. Is there a difference between loving and liking? Must we like all fellow believers?
3. How can I love someone I dislike with a pure heart fervently?