New Birth Through the Resurrection – Greg Albrecht

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us 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.—1 Peter 1:3-4

What a fascinating passage! Four points to notice: 1) God is to be praised, for 2) in his great mercy, 3) he has given us new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and 4) he has given us an eternal inheritance of life, for it will never perish, spoil or fade.

We learn more about the depth of meaning inherent within our new birth and our eternal inheritance from conversations Jesus had with Martha and with Nicodemus. Just before he resurrected Lazarus, Jesus explained the spiritual life that he gives to all who receive him.

Jesus said this to Martha, who was grieving the death of her brother Lazarus:

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they died, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die… (John 11:25-26).

Earlier, Jesus told Nicodemus that he would never literally see, grasp or experience the “inheritance” about which Peter speaks (1 Peter 1:4) unless he was first born again. More literally, “born again” is better understood as “born from above,” as opposed to an earthly birth.

Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3).

New Spiritual Beginning

The Greek word Jesus used for “born” is genno or gennao—a word that is related to the word for the first book of the Bible—Genesis. Genesis means “beginning” or “bring into being.” Many words in English begin with the letters “gen” and have to do with origins, creation, sexual relations, reproduction and heredity.

We think of generation, gender, gene, genitals, genetics and genealogy and of course the biblical book of Genesis.

Jesus was speaking of a birth from above (not of or from this earth)—a new beginning—a re-generation.

We see that concept in the first chapter of the Gospel of John, which is the New Testament counterpoint to the first chapter of Genesis, in that it also discusses the beginnings of all things—the origin of the universe and life within it.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2).

In these two verses, the word “beginning” is mentioned twice, within the context of the Word, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead who came, in the flesh, to reveal the Father and the fullness of God.

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