Lent Day 27

1Peter 1:3

In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

In God’s great mercy, He has given us a new birth.  The word for new birth is used only by Peter to mean a spiritual rebirth, a fresh beginning from God based on the salvation Christ brings to us.  When we believe, we are given the gift of new birth from God into a living hope of eternal life. Living hope means it has far more effect on us then just in our final day.  It is hope that has effect on us from the day we accept Christ.  It is God’s influence on us on a daily basis.  When we have hope for an eternal life in His kingdom, it changes the perspective of how we life here on earth.  It supports us and gives us guidance throughout our life, it calls us into action for others, grants us patience, gives us emotional strength to face difficulty and builds in us an encouragement to persevere to the end.   

This hope comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  It is the foundation of our hope, without it we have none.  God the Father accepted Christ’s life and death as a substitute for ours.  He was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God the Father.  When we believe in Christ, God thinks of us being united with Christ in His resurrection and guarantees we will also be raised from the dead.

 Romans 6:4

 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Ephesians 2:5-6

 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 3:1

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

We are also given a new birth into an inheritance of all Godly riches and an inheritance into His kingdom. We are considered an heir of God and by His grace and mercy, are freely given all He has to offer.  This inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade.  This means it can never be destroyed or disappear, can never be diminished in power or magnitude, never lose force, energy or strength.   It can never be less than it is, it can never be taken away. This inheritance is not something we can buy or work for, but a gift from God, through grace, which first makes us children of His and then grants us this inheritance grounded in an immutable promise.

Peace and Love,

LeAnn