According To His Abundant Mercy Hath Begotten Us Again Unto A Lively Hope By the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - Part 1215

"God who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake i time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by [His] Son, whom He apppointed heir of all things by whom also He made all the worlds, who being the brightness of [His] glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:1-4)

"For unto which of the angels said He at any time, "Thou art My Son. This day Have I begotten Thee?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him." (Hebrews 1:5-14; Psalm 2:7; 45:6-7; Isaiah 61:1-3)

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

In studying some of the re-written modern day versions of the Bible, one can see that the author(s) have dealt differently in the uses of the word "begotten." For example, John 3:16 states: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:10-21) Yet, in the newer versions of the gospel of John, the text states that God gave His "one and only Son."

What is interesting is that these same authors did not change the same word "begotten" in I Peter 1:2-3. The question is why (or why not)? Certainly, if the word "begotten" translates into "one and only" in one scripture, the word begotten should be easily transferable to give the same meaning in other scriptural references.

But we observe that this is not the case in this latter reference, Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ declares to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia --- the "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" that grace and peace be multiplied to each and every one of them.

Then we read, "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ... to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:2-5)

Now try inserting "one and only" into "His abundant mercy hath begotten -- [one and only] us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." It does not work. Indeed, one and only does not even make sense. There may be a reason for this.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines beget as 1. to cause (something) to happen or exist or 2. to become the father of (someone).

In John 3:16, we see that God caused something to happen -- a bringing forward -- which we understand as the "holy thing" that was made when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, and as a consequence, our Lord God -- the Holy Ghost -- fathered a Saviour that would save the world from sin.

"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

The same God that was with the Word and was the Word in the beginning willingly was made flesh so that we could behold His glory. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth ... He was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:1-18)

"For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given and the government sahll be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)

This explains why "no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father. He hath declared Him." (John 1:18) "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." (I John 4:9)

"Behold, God is my salvation ... He also is become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2) 

God Himself as a Son (or a servant as some interpret) declaring peace to one and all that believe in Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

"He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18; Acts 4:12)

But as we know, God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8)

Not His one and only Son, but God Himself as a Son -- the only begotten of the Father -- so that we could behold His glory. Ask Jesus into your heart today. Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-42) 

You will never be disappointed knowing the Holy One who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Stand in the offering plate.