Peter in his first letter tells us about the new man begotten by wisdom, by the word of God. And this new man is called to love, to holiness, to life in common, and salvation: "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of god which lives and abides forever", 1 Peter 1:22-23.
Purifying our souls as Peter speaks means growing in virtue and truth, rejecting heresy. The heresy is the teaching of the error. To be new men and love each other with a pure heart we need an ascetic life, but this life is not about self denial, or austerity, or extreme abstinence. This life is about growing in wisdom, in the word of God. Growing in wisdom means to grow in virtue (justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude).
The progressive acquisition of wisdom (parable of the sower: Matthew 13:1-23), and therefore of virtue, cleanses our hearts, that is, free us from sinful passions such as shame, anger, guilt, envy. It is in this way that beatitude is fulfilled: "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God", Matthew 5:8. God is love without passions: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking" 1 Peter 2; also "Be holy because I am holy" 1 Peter 1:16.
The sanctity or holiness is a state of perfection: "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.", Galatians 5:22-23. The fruits of the spirit are the description of the character of God. Holiness is also fear of the Lord (devotion, constancy, firmness): "Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear", 1 Peter 1:17.
And this holiness of which Peter speaks is united to the true love of Christ, the love projected to the whole creation of God, the love of the Father who is impartially and judges everyone according to his deeds.
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