In chapter 1, verse 22 of his first letter the Apostle Peter has instructed the followers of Jesus to love one another with the kind of love that God has. How is this possible? How can people who by nature hate and bear malice love like God? In verse 23 through the third verse of chapter 2, Peter supplies the answer. He writes, “…having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you. Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:”
Peter’s reply to the question about how it is possible for people to love like God is that they have been born again. Their basic nature has been changed. What used to be impossible is now part of the Christian’s character. The Apostle Paul expresses it this way, “among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:3-5) And as he says in another place, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
How can such a change take place? Peter says that the new birth takes place by means of God’s word. He compares God’s word to a seed. But this is no ordinary seed. Peter mentions three characteristics that distinguish this seed from all others. First, this seed is incorruptible. Ordinary seed will rot if it is not stored properly and it loses its potency if it is stored too long. But this seed, that is God’s word, can never be destroyed. Through the ages many attacks have been made against God’s word but all have failed. Though kingdoms and empires have come and gone, God’s word still stands. Secondly, the seed, that is God’s word, is living. Normally, when a seed is planted it must die in order to produce a plant. But this seed remains alive even though it has produced new life in all of those who follow Christ. And because it remains alive it continues to work on and transform the life of the believer. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The third way in which this seed, that is the God’s word, is different from ordinary seed is that it remains forever. But this is not limited to the words of God that are recorded in the Bible. Remember that one of the names for Jesus is ‘Word of God.’ The Bible says that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus never changes. The Jesus who willingly gave up His life 2000 years ago to rescue us from sin is the same Jesus who offers us salvation today and who will welcome those who believe in Him into God’s presence in the future.
A seed produces a plant consistent with its nature. Wheat seed always produces wheat. An apple tree is always grown from an apple seed. In the same way, the seed of God’s word produces fruit that is consistent with its nature in the lives of those who follow Jesus. Just as God’s word is imperishable, so too are those who believe in Jesus. He said, “…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die…” (John 11:25-26) Just as God’s word is living, so too the followers of Christ are spiritually alive. The Apostle Paul writes, “You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him…” (Colossians 2:13) And, just as God’s word is enduring, so is the person who obeys that word. The Scripture says, “The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.” (1 John 2:17)
After listing the characteristics of God’s word, Peter quotes from the prophet Isaiah to demonstrate the fact that man cannot survive without God’s word. “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; but the Lord’s word endures forever .” (1:24-25)
A plant always has the nature of the seed from which it came. James writes, “Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs?…” (James 3:12) In the same way the life of a person who is living according to God’s word will demonstrate God’s nature. In chapter 1, verse 22 Peter instructed the followers of Jesus to love one another with same kind of love that God has. Now, in chapter 2, verse 1 he tells his readers to remove from their lives everything that is opposed to God’s nature. He writes, “Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,” (2:1) We all need to ask ourselves what kind of fruit is being displayed in our lives. If we demonstrate any of these five things that Peter mentions, we may be sure that we have not yet obeyed God’s word as we should.
In chapter 1, verse 22 Peter has said that the change in our nature is a result of being born again. But, if a newborn infant does not grow, there is something wrong. Peter writes, “as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,” (2:2) There are two things which will prevent growth. The first is impure food. Peter stresses that our spiritual food must be pure. This is why it is so important for each of us to carefully study and apply God’s word to our lives rather than rely on the teachings of men. The second thing which will prevent spiritual growth is to live on milk alone. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14)