1 Peter - Born again

Born Again

Question of the day: Since this is Mothers Day weekend, tell us something about your mother, and or about being a mother. 

Last week Peter affirms the believers he is writing to, who are Gentiles, who never saw Jesus but who have a beautiful faith in Christ. 

Because of their beautiful faith, their hope, their inexpressible and glorious joy, he now continues with, "THEREFORE"

This comes after the faith.  After accepting Christ.  After knowing Christ as the cake plate on the counter that when the persecution and struggles of life reek havoc on our lives, we know at the core, Jesus is still there, untouched!

READ: 1 Peter 1:13-25

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[c]

And this is the word that was preached to you.

I have broken it down into each verse and we will discuss it verse by verse. Keeping in mind he is speaking to those who are believers, who are being persecuted, and who are scattered.  However they still have a remarkable faith...

13.  Hope on Jesus Coming
14.  Do not conform to the evil desires
15.  Be holy like Jesus
16.  Because it is written
17.  Live out your time here as foreigners in reverent fear.
18.  You weren't redeemed by silver or gold
19.  It was a lamb without blemish or defect.
20.  He was revealed for you.
21.  So your hope and faith is in God. 
22.  NOW... that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth.... so that you.... LOVE EACH OTHER DEEPLY. 
23.  You have been BORN again.
24.  The word of the Lord endures forever.

I choose Born again as the title for today's lesson because it is such an important concept that we don't talk about enough. 

In this first chapter of 1 Peter, we are introduced to those he is writing to.  A people who are scattered, and in distress, who are persecuted for their faith, and don't feel like they belong anywhere.  YET they are faithful and have a beautiful faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

To be BORN AGAIN is to acknowledge that they are children of God.  Adopted, yes, but it is as if Peter wanted to them to understand, it is even more than that.  Adoption is beautiful and he mentions that, but born into this family is another level of legitimacy.  There is no question, YOU ARE HIS and you are one with us! We are family!  Not just a rag tag happen to be in the same space, family, we are FULLY family.  A family of LOVE, a family of HOPE, a family of JOY! Inexpressible, Glorious JOY. 

I want us to think about this phrase "Born Again" from the perspective of each of our longing to belong! 

We all have a deep need to belong and yet when we don't belong, when we become, "THEM and US" it feeds hate, instead of love, it feeds selfishness instead of sharing, it feeds "I'm right" instead of a listening heart. 

To be BORN again, is to be FAMILY!  Really FAMILY and all it's beauty.

YOU as a believer of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior are BORN again!

WE ARE FAMILY!