1 Peter 1:17-25

¹⁷ “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. ²⁰ For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you²¹ who through Him are believers 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 obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart, ²³ for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For,

‘All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory is like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
And the flower falls off,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.’

And this is the word which was preached to you.”

God’s enduring word, the Gospel, purifies the souls of all who believe in Jesus. This salvation creates a sincere, indwelling love, for the family of God. Peter is also clear on the permanence of this salvation: It is imperishable. The salvation accomplished by Jesus and perfected in all who believe can never be lost. Whereas that which is of earth eventually fades and dies, that salvation which is of Heaven endures forever.”

Conduct yourselves in fear: God, our Father, is the judge of the universe. He will evaluate whether something is a work of the Spirit or the flesh. However, this does not mean that He will judge Christians. Peter is not encouraging believers to live as if they will be judged but rather in light of their Abba, who accepts them perfectly, is judge of the universe. This is a truly humbling reality. 

Precious blood: Because God is the judge, and He has saved us in Christ, we can relax when we show up to the judgement. The precious blood of Jesus forever speaks in our defense.

Fervently love one another: Christians have been washed and cleansed from all sin and set free from its power. Therefore, we are to live lives of love towards one another with the same love God has for us in Christ.

Imperishable: Our salvation cannot be touched by the world, and it cannot be interrupted by our actions. We are born again of unperishable seed, God’s seed. Because God is the author of our salvation we can rest securely in all that He has done for us in Christ. 

Word of the lord endures forever: God’s truth endures into eternity. In the context, Peter has in mind the Gospel. The Gospel is the eternal truth of God revealed in Christ. Because we are saved by the eternally finished work of Christ, our salvation is permanent and secure.