Jesus Said, "Marvel Not That I Said Unto Thee, "Ye Must Be Born Again!" Indeed, Grace And Peace Be Multiplied - Part 1927

Ye must be born again! Jesus first spoke of being born again with Nicodemus in John 3. Notably, Nicodemus asks Jesus whether being born again meant returning into his mother's womb and being born a second time. Of course, therein, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of both the water and the Spirit, in order to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Indeed, Jesus told Nicodemus -- "Verily verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. marvel not that I said unto thee -- Ye must be born again. The wind blows where is lists, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst tell whence it comes, and whither it goes; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8)

This is why -- "whosoever believes in Him [the Son of man -- Jesus] should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:14-15)

But Peter (as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ) delves further into Jesus teachings so that believers by faith will recognize that the inheritance Jesus spoke about with Nicodemus is incorruptible, and undefiled, and is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. In other words, Jesus' teachings apply to us this day as well when we believe in His Name. (John 2:23; Acts 2:36-38)

In this context, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ writes to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia -- those considered 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. 

"Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 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 1:1-5)

As an fyi, this is the last time that Peter is referring to here. And he is encouraging believers in Jesus by faith to greatly rejoice even in persecution and tribulation, because the Lord Jesus is victorious in all things. Our heart desire then should be to give Him all the glory and honour and praise, doing everything that we do in both word and deed in the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continuing, Peter writes, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." (I Peter 1:6-12)

You see, the prophets and angels could only enquire and search diligently for the Lord's promised Christ. These did not have the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven to strengthen them as we do, or to give them hope from within, so that they could rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

Referring to those of whom the world was not worthy, who wandered in deserts and in mountains and in ones and caves of the earth, who through faith also subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, and stopped the mouths of lions -- "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith received not the promise: God having provides some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40)

That something better was for us -- who willingly repent in our heart, and are baptized in His precious holy Name. (Acts 2:36-38) This so, because in this dispensation of grace, He gives us the Holy Ghost (wherein the resurrected Spirit of the Lord Jesus is reunited in the Father -- re: the doctrine of Christ) in our hearts, minds, and souls. We are renewed in Him -- the Comforter, wherein Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. But I digress somewhat. Continuing, Peter writes to us about that "some better thing for us" the following:

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ...

... who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: but the Word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (I Peter 1:1-25)

Let the Word of the Lord which by the gospel is preached unto you dwell in your hearts this day. Stand in the offering plate.