January 26 - New Birth

January 26 – New Birth

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

It wasn’t too long after Jesus began His ministry and had called His disciples together that He was approached by a man from the Sanhedrin named Nicodemus.  Nicodemus wanted to talk to Jesus about the incredible relationship that He had with God.  The miracles that were being performed could only happen if God were with Jesus.

Jesus’ response to Nicodemus was, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Their interchange in the next few verses helped to explain what Jesus meant – being born of both water (naturally) and the Spirit (spiritually) was necessary to be a part of God’s kingdom.  Nicodemus still had trouble understanding what Jesus meant and Jesus’ words were a little harsh.

You are Israel’s teacher, and you do not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.  I have spoken to you of earthy things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (John 3:10-12)

We don’t know whether Peter was there to witness this exchange, but I’m certain that he would have heard about it and now, in this letter, he explains a little bit more about this new birth.

Jesus’ gave us a chance at being born again – being born anew – through His death and resurrection.  This new birth offers us everything that we could imagine and brings us into not only God’s kingdom on earth, but the everlasting kingdom.  This is a promise to those who choose to see beyond the earthly realm into the heavenly realm and who choose to believe.

Peter tells us that this new birth brings us an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade and that though we have to face trials right now, we are being refined.  And finally, he reminds us that we are “receiving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.” (1 Peter 1:9)