Peter encouraged brethren to focus their minds and soberly hope for the grace of God to be delivered at the coming of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13-14). With their minds focused on Heaven, their manner of life should also be different. Instead of participating in the lust of the flesh, he encouraged them to model themselves after the Holy God, who expects His children to be holy (14-17). After all, God had gone to great lengths to redeem them; He purchased them with the blood of His Son (18-21). In verses 22-25, Peter continued to inspire them to live properly by reminding them of the powerful influence of the Word.
Peter proclaimed the power of God’s Word to purify, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth…” (22a). The word translated “purified” means “to cleanse from all defilement.” The Word of God, the Bible, is truth (John 17:17), and when it is obeyed, it has the power to remove the impurities in one’s life. How is this accomplished? It is accomplished by influencing an individual to cast aside sin (James 1:21) and to be cleansed by the blood of Christ at immersion (“baptism”) (Ephesians 5:26; Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16). After conversion, as demonstrated in 1 Peter 1:22, the Word of God should continue to influence believers to live in purity, which includes a genuine love for fellow Christians.
Peter proclaimed the power of God’s Word to renew, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God…” (23a). Peter reminded brethren that they had not only been purified by the Word of God, but they had also been “born again” by the Word of God. The word translated “being born again” means to be “regenerated, renewed.” When one’s soul is purified, it is also “renewed.” This regeneration takes place when the imperishable seed, the Word of God (Luke 8:11), has influenced an individual to be immersed for the remission of sins (James 1:17-18; Titus 3:5; John 3:5). The regeneration of the soul continues after baptism as one abides “in the light” (1 John 1:7-9).
Peter proclaimed the power of God’s Word to endure, “which liveth and abideth for ever” (23b). Though the Word of God lives, it is not subject to decay. It is living because its influence never grows old. In fact, even when it has been rejected, it has revealed the heart of a man (Hebrews 4:12). Though the physical body will decay along with earthly pursuits (1 Peter 1:24), the Word will endure to judge mankind in the last day (Matthew 24:35; John 12:48; Isaiah 40:8).
The powerful influence of the Word should motivate all Christians to live godly lives. It purified and renewed us and will ultimately judge us when Christ returns.
