1 Peter 1:22

Verse 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls.

This purification here referred to is moral, and includes the pardon of their sins, and, further, the living of a pure, chaste and holy life.

In obeying the truth.

The apostle tells them how the leading of pure lives was by them accomplished. It was in obedience to the truth, obeying the commands of the gospel. It is through the Spirit, because the word of truth comes to the world of mankind through that instrumentality, and is inseparable from it. In fact, the entire gospel age is the ministration of the Spirit.

Unto unfeigned love of the brethren.

The purity of their lives had reached to that extent that their affection for the brethren was sincere, and not a mere pretense. This all being true, the exhortation of the apostle comes with irrestible force: "See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." That is, in sincerity of heart; love them continually. This love enjoined is the same in kind we find in the church of Jeruselem, when our author was in prison. "But prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5). On this point Dr. McKnight's description is worthy of commendation. He says: "Peter's description of Christian love is excellent. It springs up in a heart purified by truth through the assistance of the Spirit. It is sincere in its operation. It is unmixed with carnal passions, and it is permanent."