Sincere Love of the Brethren
I am afraid that there are way too many Christians who just "attend church." Yes, they are saved. They know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but they have not grown in their Christian lives. They are still "babes in Christ." Because of this lack of growth, they just go to worship services, but that is about all they do in their Christian walk, so they are very limited in their effectiveness as a church member. The Bible is clear that we are to grow in our relationship with Christ and a big part of that growth takes place in being a member of the body of Christ, the church. (I Peter 1:22) Peter speaks to the Christians who have purified their souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren. Once we have done that we are to love one another fervently with a pure heart. He is putting an emphasis on loving our brothers and sisters in Christ as a part of our growth in Christ. Of course, we must begin to grow in Christ by obeying His truth. W...