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1 Peter 1:22-25 ESV

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

I. PHILADELPHIA KIND OF LOVE (22)
A. Because we are born into the same family we should love another like we are brothers.
B. Early church formed brotherly love out of necessity.

II. BORN BY THE BLOOD (23)
A. We form brotherhoods naturally because we were created for community.
B. We are family through the blood of Jesus & that bond is greater than any other we have with others.

III. BORN BY THE WORD OF GOD (23)
A. We have brought to life in God by the Living Word of God, Jesus.
B. We have not only been brought to life by the Living Word but are kept by the Abiding Word, Jesus.

IV. BORN TO LIVE FOREVER (24-25)
A. Because we are brought to life by the eternal Word of God our life in God will be eternal as well.
B. The Gospel will shine eternally, which makes it the foundation of our brotherhood in Christ.
C. Because the Gospel is eternal it sits in the seat of authority over our communities.

V. OPPOSITE OF PHILADELPHIA
A. Honesty leads to harmony. Dishonesty destroys it..
B. Without transparency authentic love is impossible.
C. Harmony does not mean running from conflict.
D. Delayed honesty only delays our harmony.
E. Must not just be honest but honest about our capability to sin against others.

VI. HONESTY OF BROTHERS
A. Brothers don’t always agree but always work it out.
B. Brothers love one another & exist in brotherhood of grace no matter what do to each other.

VII. DISHONESTY FROM THE DEVIL
A. Satan is father of lies. God is the author of truth.
B. God has caused new cravings for truth to be birthed into our hearts causing us to leave faking it behind.

APPLICATION
1. Put away the bitterness of fake harmony and trade it in for savoring Jesus in real authentic community.
2. Jesus will taste sweet until sin taste bitter.
3. The goodness of God only increases our appetite for Him