Love of the brethren is an essential part of the Christian life. Peter wrote, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1 Peter 1:22) In this passage Peter tells us three things about brotherly love:
First, love of the brethren is the natural outgrowth of obedience to the truth. He says that we have obeyed the truth “unto unfeigned love of the brethren.” The apostle John also connects our love for one another with our mutual commitment to the truth. He opened his second epistle in these words. “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.” (2 John 1).
Second, Peter tells us that our love for one another must be real. It must not be a pretended love. He calls it “unfeigned love” – that is, not hypocritical.
Third, Peter tells us that our love must be with feeling. He says, “Love one another with a pure heart fervently.” Our love for one another comes from the heart.
Claude