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Peter 1:3-9: The Result of New Birth
As believers, it is no secret that
we are born again, not in a literal but rather in a spiritual sense. We are
born to new life in Christ, which is more important of a birth than our natural
birth. ! Peter gives us some implications we must remember as part of our new
birth.
1 Peter 1:3-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
Born Again to a Living Hope
3 Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great
mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being
guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a
little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so
that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that
perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though
you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you
believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with
glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
God Is the Cause of Our New Birth (vv. 3-5)
We
are only born again because of Christ and his sacrifice on the cross.
Therefore, we are not the initiators of our new birth, but rather God is, and
it is through him, that we are born again or made new. This is the purpose of
new birth, to be made new, like Christ.
Because of New Birth, We Are Tried (v. 6)
We
are promised tests and trials because of our new birth. It is guaranteed. This
should cause us to think realistically about who we are in Christ and what the
results are. For those who are in Christ, trials and tests are guaranteed.
Through Testing, Our Faith Is Made Complete (vv. 7-9)
We
are reminded through this passage as well as in James that our faith is
completed through testing. Therefore, let us be thankful for tests and trials.
We are guaranteed trials because this is how we are made complete and more like
Christ.
