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1 Peter 1:23<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Truth to Learn<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The source of our spiritual life, the word of God, is eternal.<\/p>\n Behind the Words<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The expression, \u201chaving been born again<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word anagenna\u014d<\/span><\/em>. This is a compound word made up of ana<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cagain\u201d and genna\u014d<\/span><\/em>, which refers to the generation of offspring, that is, to give birth. The word is expressed here as a present, passive participle, so it could be expressed as \u201cbeing a born again one.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cof<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word ek<\/span><\/em>, which literally means \u201cout of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCorruptible<\/span>\u201d is from phthartos<\/span><\/em>, which refers to something that is perishable or subject to corruption and decay.<\/p>\n \u201cSeed<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word sporas<\/span><\/em>, which refers to the \u201csowing of seed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cAbides<\/span>\u201d is the translation of the Greek word men\u014d<\/span><\/em>, which means \u201cto remain, to stay, to live, or to endure.\u201d<\/p>\n Meaning Explained<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The term \u2018born again\u2019 is used in only two places in the Bible, in John 3 where Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and here.<\/p>\n Jesus answered and said to him, <\/span>“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”<\/span> Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, <\/span>“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.<\/span> That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.\u201d <\/span>(<\/span>John 3:3<\/span><\/strong>-6<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/p>\n In the John 3 passage \u201cborn again\u201d is translated from the Greek genao anothen<\/span><\/em>,<\/span> which literally means \u201cborn from above,\u201d which Nicodemus clearly understood to mean \u201cborn again,\u201d else he wouldn\u2019t have asked the question he did.<\/p>\n Clearly, Peter is writing his letter to Christians, and he is telling us something about the spiritual life (salvation) that we have. He tells us that the process of being born again is not from a perishable sowing of seed. Our first birth, our physical birth, is<\/strong> from the sowing of perishable seed. The seed of our fathers that produced us would have eventually died and perished if it had not fertilized our mothers\u2019 ovum. But our spiritual birth is the result of an imperishable seed.<\/p>\n This physical life, which was produced out of a perishable seed, is a perishable life. However, the spiritual life, the life we have as a result of the new birth, is produced by imperishable seed. As a result, this new life that we have is not perishable. It will abide \u2026 remain \u2026 endure forever!<\/p>\n Application<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Can you imagine losing your life and trying to be physically born again? You simply can\u2019t do it. Once this corruptible physical life is gone, it\u2019s gone. But our spiritual life is different. We can\u2019t lose our spiritual life because it is eternal. Do you see that? You can\u2019t lose your salvation \u2026 ever \u2026 period!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/p>\n – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n <\/span>If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:![\"signature\"](\"..\/..\/signature.gif\")
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