Tuesday: Born Again
In Christ, we have a new life, a new beginning. We are born again. If this means anything, especially for those who accepted Christ after childhood, it must mean that they will live differently than they did before. Who hasn’t heard some incredible stories of those who, having been in the world, experienced a radical transformation because of Jesus and His saving grace?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Indeed, after talking about the death to self and the new life we have in Jesus (having been baptized into His death and resurrection), Peter then talks about the kind of changes one will experience.
Read 1 Peter 4:3-6. What changes will happen in a person’s life, and how do others respond to those changes?
The three terms Peter used that relate to alcohol abuse are “excess of wine” (KJV), “drunkenness” (NRSV), “revellings,” and “banquetings” (KJV), “carousing” (NRSV). To use modern phraseology, one’s partying days are over. In fact, according to Peter, the change that a Christian experiences should be great enough so that those who knew the Christian in his or her past life will “think it strange” that he or she no longer takes part in those same dissipations (1 Pet. 4:4, NKJV). Thus, we can see here a chance to witness to unbelievers without having to preach. A godly Christian life can be more of a witness than all the sermons in the world.
What does Peter say in these texts about judgment?
Here, as elsewhere in the Bible (John 5:29, 2 Cor. 5:10, Heb. 9:27), Peter makes it clear that one day there will be a judgment for the deeds done “in the flesh” (1 Pet. 4:2). When Peter talks about the gospel being “preached also to those who are dead” (1 Pet. 4:6, NKJV), he was saying that even in the past, people who are now dead had, when they were alive, an opportunity to know the saving grace of God. Thus, God can justly judge them, as well.
| As a believer in Jesus, how differently do you live now than you did when you didn’t believe in Him? What difference has Jesus made in your life? |
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Jesus has made an amazing difference in my life and there is more to come! Thank you, Jesus!
Christ has change my life in a way I cannot hardly understand, the things that I used to loved I strongly dislike, I find the hightest pleasure in learning, studying, and sharing his holy word. I cannot wait to see the full transformation when he is done perfecting my character. Glory and honor to him for ever Amen!
Esther
What a friend we have in Jesus? All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Nice.
Jesus is closer to me now than ever. Jesus will heal me and wipe away my tears. Amen. He has given me Hope and a new LIFE in him. Amen.
Jesus loves me and he is closer to me now than I have ever thought of. Jesus has given me Hope to live again and LIFE eternal. Amen.
The term again implies that something is being done once more/ repeated. Nothing really came out of the first birth, which was the birth of the flesh-Adam's birth. So in reality man has to be born again, this time being born of the spirit (see John 3:1-16), that is why a second Adam had to be born (Christ) who is the perfect example of what it means to be a "born again."
I believe that Peter is saying our character will be judged - have we allowed the LORD to change our hearts to be like Him, or are our desires still perverted by Satan's influence.
I think it would be incorrect to think that "judged for the deeds in the flesh" is only talking about outward behaviour, I believe it is much more referring to our hearts and characters.
that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—
that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
The change i experience is that those things i once loved, i now hate and i have an insatiable appetite for knowing Jesus, and better understanding Him and His plans for my life and am no longer determined to have my will feature supreme any longer but submit all things to Him. I also find i feel a great burden for the salvation of others and feel the hurt keenly when anyone turns away from Him.
My mother raised me in the Word, seeing her love for Jesus helped to truly know how much I wanted to love Him too. She was a great example of a Christian woman. My three children love the Lord too and my grands. She was such a humble, loving woman.
The apostle peter mentions 6 things that are outright sinful behaviour: lusts, lewdness, drunkeness, revelries, abominable idolatries, drinking parties. But there is nothing here about the sins of character defects. These sins are defined by the apposite of the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith, temperance, honesty, loyalty, etc. And etc. One may not do the six sins that Peter mentions but the sins of character defects for overcoming are sins that take the work of a lifetime to deal with. But if we are willing to let god work with us in these he will definitely help us moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. Praise god.
..."Sins of character defects"? What's that Pete. Can you please clarify?
Anger, impatience, jealousy, suspicion, nervousness, antisocial attitudes, snobbishness, hate, etc, and etc,. Again, any type of attitudes that are contrary to the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, goodness, temperance, purity, honesty, loyalty, etc. And etc. In short, Jesus' character. These are sins that are committed by Christians that do not drink or smoke or cuss or commit adultery etc. And etc. Yet these are sins of character defects. These are sins that will take a lifetime to get rid of. But God can and will help us to have the victory over them with his Holy Spirit and His promises, and if we keep our eyes on Jesus and His character and live moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day for God and Jesus through His Holy Spirit.
Thank you Pete for explaining. With my utmost respect, let me suggest the following:
Darkness never ever can exist where light is. If the fruit of the Holy Spirit is in a person, by default those "sins of character defects" will disappear. No need to "focus a lifetime" to get rid of those "sins of character defects" because a lifetime, neither ourselves will not -EVER- get rid of them. Our focus and our talk -as you said- should be on Jesus and as result of giving our hearts and lives to Him, the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be in us.
Yes, we may stumble and fall short here and there due to our sinful nature, however... ....Actually, let me quote (copy and paste) from a reading I found online yesterday:
"The difference between the sinner and the saint is NOT that the saint never SINS but the difference is this: the saint HATES his sin and pleads the blood of Christ, while the sinner loves his sin and goes back into it. The saint is like a sheep. It may fall in the mud hole, but it is not comfortable there, and will bleat until the shepherd lifts her out, and thereafter will avoid that mud hole by ten rods. The sinner is like a pig. It goes about looking for slime pits and when it finds one it slides in with a grunt of glee and will squeal vehement objections if you try to pull it out and no sooner is it out than it will return to the slime pit again. The saint may FALL into Sin but he will never remain there and he will be unhappy while in it"
Why is so? I know we all know why.
...So, we are saints. We are children of God. Let's focus on our Heavenly Father (our Daddy) and our Savior, Jesus. Lets dwell on Jesus and His beautiful character. By beholding, we are changed. Let's focus on, and, in The Light. 😊
By the way, because of God's grace and power, I have seen "pigs" transformed into "sheep" AMAZING! 😊
The conversation with Nicodemus comes to mind and all that was stated there.
How Jesus made it quite clear "ye must be born again", while the water and Spirit are key component, Christ in ones life is how our "born again" experience becomes evident. We've come this far by faith.
What does it mean to be born again? Can one be born again if he was born in a Christian home? and how can one be born again?
Mwesa - Nicodemus asked this very question and Jesus answered it in John 3.
Also Romans 12:2 sheds more light "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will."
Greetings,
Pete Villareal, could you kindly make it clear what you mean by "sins of character defects"
Help differentiate with what Peter has outlined, that is lusts, lewdness,etc.
Thank you.
As a believer in Jesus, I have learned how to love, forgive, and how to be patient for everything in my life. I focus on Jesus only and completely depend on him. He is the way. And there is no other way, Jesus christ is. Amen alleluia.
A prayer request from me, I just have to restore my first love for Him.