There is something wonderful about a new birth. Someone entering the world who has not existed before, with all the possibilities of this new life, new birth. They have no past when they arrive. They are new. New on the scene. New in people lives. A new person now in existence, with finger prints that no one else has, to speak of the uniqueness of this new person. The miracle of birth has come to fruition. This is birth in the physical realm. But there is a second “birth,” the “new birth” that takes place in the spiritual realm and there are evidences that has taken place as much as in the physical realm. This “new birth” is imperative Jesus says, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” -{John 3:1-8}. Jesus says unless you are born again you cannot see the Kingdom of heaven. It is imperative you be “born again” not speaking of a second physical birth but spiritually, and this He tells us is the work of the Holy Spirit. But How? Our passage in 1 Peter 1:23 tells us it is through The Word of God, “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”
This is God’s channel, the means the Holy Spirit uses and he goes on to say that the Word must be preached to people so they can hear and as the Holy Spirit applies truth to their conscience and they receive the Word this new birth takes place. “And this is the word which was preached {the good news} to you.”- v 25
So we notice that we have a responsibility to share the Word of God, knowing that as we do the Holy Spirit is present and He alone can apply the truth, through enlightening, giving understanding to the person and as they receive and believe it the miracle of the “New Birth” takes place! In v 2 we are told that God is to be praised, blessed, to speak well of, because He has caused us… note, He is involved, initiating and gifting “… who has caused us to be … born again… to a living Hope… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
God the Father is involved, the Lord Jesus is involved, The Holy Spirit is involved and The Word of God the means through which we too can experience this new spiritual life, something that never existed before.
The “perfect tense” describes this new birth has taken place in the past and having continued effect. It does not mean we have to be “born again,” every time we sin, or once a year like the priest in the Old Testament had to go offer a sacrifice for themselves and the people. Jesus Christ His once forever sacrifice is sufficient for us and as our Permanent, eternal High Priest His sacrifice on our behalf is eternal! And just as a healthy child has an appetite and as they grow it changes from milk to solid food and they grow up physically and in their understanding, so, in the spiritual realm we too begin as a babe, knowing our sins are forgiven to a young person who overcomes the evil one using the Word of God appropriately and effectively and then as fathers who know Him deeply and intimately as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus as John teaches, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” – { 1 John 2:12-14} So you see three stages of spiritual growth from that passage.
But in the passage before us in 1 Peter 1 the evidences of the “new birth,” are LOVING OTHER PEOPLE!
” Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, “– { 1 Peter 1:22}
Peter says as a result of this “New Birth” that there is the evidences of two types of love. The first love speaks of the love of affections. {philadelphia}.The second love speaks of the love of sacrifice.{agapao}. They are as following,
A Love of SINCERITY-The word “Sincere” means without hypocrisy, pretense and instead genuine, authentic love of affection for others. Peter in 2 Peter 1:5,7 says we are to be growing in this type of love and it is evidenced in “deeds of love, affection,”
A Love of PURITY – This has to do with the condition of the heart. At the moment of conversion the heart is cleansed and the capability now to love from a heart with a pure motive and not using people for selfish gain, but to genuinely love them for their sake and the motive and conduct is one of purity. This does not mean a follower of Christ is perfect or not tempted to do things from insincerity or impure motives, but we have the capacity to refuse to yield to that temptation and instead choose to love with pure motives because we have the power due to the “new birth!”
A Love of FERVENCY – The word was used of a horse or a person ‘stretching’ out to the full capacity using all their strength, power, the word speaks of intensity, like an Olympic runner stretching their whole body, head, neck forward while coming to the finish line in a close race to pip their opponent at the post and win the race. it is not passive but everything been used to continually, effectively, spend one’s life in denying self in order to prefer another, whether they deserve it or not to unconditionally and sacrificially seek their highest good, seeking or demanding nothing in return. It is selfless versus selfish which this new birth gives us the capacity to choose to love unconditionally!
In this passage this new birth takes place through the Word of God.
Jesus said ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God,'{Matt 4;4}. The attack is on the Word of God… why? Because it is God’s Word! And there is power in His Word. There is the power to deliver a person from the bondage of sin, satan’s hold and from the wrath of God! Paul wrote, “ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God…” -{2 Tim 3;15-16}
“Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” -{Romans 10:13-15}.You and I have been sent! “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” -{Mark 16:15}. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;“- {1 Peter 2;9}
The New Birth Gives us New Power – to LOVE others affectionately, unconditionally, – with Sincerity, Purity, Fervency.
The New Birth Gives us New Privileges – to SHARE THE GOSPEL that Others May Likewise be in the Place the Holy Spirit can use His Word and by God’s mercy cause them to be born again to a LIVING HOPE!
The New Birth Gives us New Perspective – on life, how we are to live in loving others and how we are to lovingly revere His Word and value, cherish the souls of people, whom the LORD Jesus died for, that they may not die in their sins, the worst of all deaths, but be saved from their sin!
The New Birth Gives us New Life!
We are a New people who have turned to God and submitted in totality and exclusively to the LORD Jesus Christ as our LORD to rule over our lives and Savior to deliver us from the power of sin, the penalty of sin to live for Him and by His power as His REPRESENTATIVES upon this earth. Have you been Born again?