WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:30.420 I'll be reading today's scripture lesson from the first letter of Peter, 00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:38.740 chapter 1, verses 1 to 5, and 23 to 25, and chapter 5, verses 12 to 14. 00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:48.299 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, exile scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:54.140 Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father 00:00:54.140 --> 00:01:00.319 through the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:02.939 Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 00:01:04.259 --> 00:01:07.179 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:07.679 --> 00:01:14.299 In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:19.159 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:22.519 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 00:01:22.899 --> 00:01:29.859 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:35.620 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, 00:01:36.179 --> 00:01:38.599 through the living and enduring word of God. 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:44.280 For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 00:01:44.759 --> 00:01:49.959 The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:01:51.939 --> 00:01:56.439 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:59.919 encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:01.619 Stand fast in it. 00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:07.479 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:09.960 Greet one another with a kiss of love. 00:02:10.640 --> 00:02:12.740 Peace to all of you who are in Christ. 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:14.900 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:16.740 Thanks be to God. 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:18.719 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:28.400 As we gathered together last Sunday, we introduced the themes of this great letter of 1 Peter, 00:02:28.640 --> 00:02:31.439 and we looked at those first two verses. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:37.000 And today, I want you to notice the way that this Christian, one of the first Christians, 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:43.039 and this great apostle of Jesus Christ, notice how he speaks as he begins this letter. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:44.719 He says in verse 3, 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:48.759 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:52.539 Peter can barely start talking. 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:59.439 He can hardly get past his introduction, and he's just bursting forth in praise at the beginning of this letter. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:02.840 And in this, he's doing what all the early Christians did. 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:10.539 The moment he mentions the triune God, the moment he says the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:14.800 he's like a little child on Christmas morning who can hardly contain herself. 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:21.579 He says, Praise be, glory be, thanks be to God. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:31.640 And this is characteristic of the early church, and it's been characteristic in all the periods of reformation and revival and renewal in the church. 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:37.580 There's just this sense of joy, this sense of praise that comes bursting forth from God's people. 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:45.920 And Peter, to remind you, he's writing to these Christian exiles and foreigners who are living in, quote unquote, Babylon, 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:53.320 who are suffering many trials, suffering a lot of grief and difficulty because they're following the way of Jesus. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:58.500 And he's writing to them saying, Here is something that you can greatly rejoice in. 00:03:59.320 --> 00:04:02.720 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.580 And what is Peter responding to? 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:12.579 What's causing him to just burst forth in praise and worship and adoration and thanksgiving? 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:17.120 It says in verse 3, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:27.220 In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.600 He's rejoicing in the great mercy of God. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:35.360 He's rejoicing in this God who has mercifully given us these three glorious gifts. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:39.920 And that's what we want to explore today, these great gifts from this merciful God. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:46.700 And what Peter is telling us is that Christianity, biblical Christianity, historic Christianity, 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:53.420 rejoices in a living hope, a new birth, and an eternal inheritance. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:05:00.220 Christianity, Christianity rejoices in a living hope. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:04.840 First of all, Christianity rejoices in a living hope. 00:05:05.580 --> 00:05:06.780 Again, this is what he says, 00:05:06.840 --> 00:05:14.240 In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:22.860 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is vital and central and foundational to the Christian faith. 00:05:22.960 --> 00:05:26.660 In fact, there's no Christianity apart from the resurrection of Jesus. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:34.319 And as we think back to those events at that time, we remember that Peter himself, Peter who's writing this letter, 00:05:35.579 --> 00:05:38.180 Peter disowned Jesus three times. 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:44.900 And in that moment, when he was disowning and denying Jesus, he called down curses on himself and he said, 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:46.879 I don't even know this man. 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:48.720 I don't even know who you're talking about. 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:53.360 And in that moment, we're told in the gospel that he broke down and he wept. 00:05:54.280 --> 00:05:57.920 And he was utterly downcast in misery and sorrow. 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:00.960 And then shortly thereafter, Jesus died on the cross. 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:04.439 And in that moment, Peter's hopes came to an end. 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:08.719 Peter was stuck in his failure. 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:18.639 Peter was condemned in his guilt and his shame and his fear of what is it going to be like now to stand before the judgment of God. 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:23.939 And so what was it that relieved Peter of his misery? 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:30.480 What came in to Peter's life to give him relief from his great failure and his great condemnation? 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:37.080 Well, it was this, that on Easter Sunday morning, Peter himself went and saw the empty tomb. 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:41.700 And he heard the message from that tomb that he's not here, he's risen. 00:06:42.900 --> 00:06:48.160 And Peter later on that day, he went and he saw Jesus that night. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:52.400 On Easter Sunday night, he heard Jesus and he touched Jesus. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:55.759 And he ate with the resurrected and living Jesus. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:01.439 And this happened over the course of those next 40 days until Jesus' ascension into heaven. 00:07:01.539 --> 00:07:08.180 In fact, we're told in the gospel of John, this great story at the end of John's gospel, that last chapter, chapter 21, 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:11.360 Jesus asked Peter three times, 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:12.879 Do you love me? 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:14.019 Do you love me? 00:07:14.099 --> 00:07:14.680 Do you love me? 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:19.879 And in that moment, he's restoring Peter for his threefold denials. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:21.620 And he's saying to Peter, feed my sheep. 00:07:22.039 --> 00:07:22.920 Feed my sheep. 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:24.300 Feed my sheep. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:24.360 Feed my sheep. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:27.259 So what was it that transformed Peter? 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:30.400 How did hope come alive for Peter? 00:07:31.259 --> 00:07:34.040 Well, he had these encounters with the living Lord. 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:39.180 And what was it that happened to Peter then when the Holy Spirit came, 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:42.240 when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost? 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:47.519 Peter, he gave the first Christian sermon in Jerusalem. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:52.819 And here's just a little portion of what he said in that sermon to this gathering of Jewish people. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:53.259 He said, 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:56.000 God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:01.860 freeing him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.480 God raised this Jesus to life, 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:07.779 and we are all witnesses of it. 00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:10.420 Exalted to the right hand of God, 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:11.480 he, Jesus, 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:14.480 has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:17.300 and has poured out what you now see and hear. 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:19.720 What is Peter saying? 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:26.199 Well, he's saying that if Jesus has been raised to this new sort of bodily life, 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:28.300 this new sort of transphysical life, 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:35.159 then we can have the confidence that this crucified man is actually now the living Lord 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:40.039 and that he now occupies the highest place in the cosmos, 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:44.219 that he's exalted to the throne of God the Father himself 00:08:44.219 --> 00:08:49.079 and that he is even now pouring out the Holy Spirit upon his church 00:08:49.079 --> 00:08:51.860 as his people are praying for the Holy Spirit. 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:56.500 What Peter's saying is that the resurrected Jesus is alive 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:59.480 and he's active in our lives even now. 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:01.279 He's not just a figure of the past, 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:03.480 he's our living contemporary. 00:09:04.459 --> 00:09:06.299 He's the living focus of our lives. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:10.860 He's the living reality of our worship and our fellowship and our mission. 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:15.159 The historic Jesus is the contemporary Christ, 00:09:15.819 --> 00:09:19.919 and he's filling his disciples with this electrifying intensity 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:21.959 of his resurrection power. 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:25.159 Now, that's how Peter preaches to Jewish people, 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:27.519 but what about when he's not with Jewish people? 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:29.120 How does he preach? 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:33.560 What does he say to non-Jewish Greco-Roman pagans? 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:35.340 Virtuous pagans, but pagans. 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:41.320 Well, we're told that when he goes to the Gentile centurion of the Roman army, 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:42.639 his name's Cornelius, 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.460 and he goes to his family, his extended family, his whole household, 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.820 probably a hundred different people of all his employees 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:51.519 and the folks who are related to him, 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:56.100 and here's what Peter says in that message in Acts chapter 10. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:56.500 He says, 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:59.759 They killed Jesus by hanging him on a cross, 00:10:00.560 --> 00:10:04.480 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:07.420 He was not seen by all the people, 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:10.159 but by witnesses whom God had already chosen, 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:14.080 by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:18.180 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:23.239 that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead, 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:27.679 and all the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:31.039 receives forgiveness of sins through his name. 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:34.479 Again, what Peter's saying is that even now, 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:38.059 Jesus is alive and Jesus is active, 00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:41.879 and he is the one who's orchestrating the preaching of the gospel. 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:46.139 He's the one who's enabling people to believe. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:50.360 He's the one who's doling out the forgiveness of sins, 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:52.039 and he is the one, Peter says, 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:54.019 who will judge the living and the dead 00:10:54.019 --> 00:10:58.919 as the one whom God has appointed to that awesome task, 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:01.279 and that all people, all the people that have ever lived 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.519 and all the people you've ever met 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:05.100 are going to stand before this Jesus 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:06.600 and look at him in the eyes 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:11.000 and given accounting to him as the judge of all the earth. 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:18.720 Christians are people who believe objectively 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:22.040 that Jesus has been bodily raised from the dead, 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:26.279 and we're people who experience subjectively 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:31.080 that Jesus is among us, 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:33.720 giving us his life and his power. 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:37.519 And this is why he says in verse 3, 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:39.960 in his great mercy he has given us new birth 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:41.240 into a living hope 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:44.800 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:48.920 Peter is encouraging these Christian exiles and foreigners 00:11:48.920 --> 00:11:52.320 who are experiencing a very hard time. 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.980 They're suffering great trials 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:57.700 because they're being faithful to the ways of Jesus 00:11:57.700 --> 00:11:58.720 in their culture, 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.060 and what Peter is saying to them 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:04.939 is that your hope is not a dead hope. 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:06.619 Your hope is not a lifeless hope. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.919 Your hope is a lively and a living hope. 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:11.939 It's not shadowy. 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.279 It's not uncertain. 00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:15.059 It's not nebulous or indefinite. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:19.559 Your hope is as vibrant as Jesus Christ, 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.639 the resurrected Jesus, 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:22.339 is full of life and power. 00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:24.439 And this, my friends, 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:27.359 is not mere optimism or cheerfulness. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.680 This is not the power of positive thinking 00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:32.779 that minimizes our problems 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:34.560 and our difficulties and our trials. 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:37.019 No, what Peter is saying 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:39.840 is that however badly you are treated 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.919 because of the way of Jesus, 00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:46.279 what's more true than all of that 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:49.519 is that you have a living hope to sustain you, 00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:51.480 is that you have a living hope 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:53.680 that can enable you to endure, 00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:55.259 that you have a living hope 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:58.059 that enables you to live as more than conquerors, 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:01.200 a living hope in which you share 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.399 in the triumph and the victory of Jesus himself. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.519 And again, this does not negate 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.919 any of our negative experiences. 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.259 This does not mean that we will not continue 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:16.639 to feel all those basic human emotions 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.559 of sadness and anxiety and all the rest, 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:21.019 but what Peter is saying is that 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:24.379 there's just a deeper and a wider reality 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:27.220 that we've all come to live in. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:30.399 That this Jesus, the Lord Jesus, 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.980 who was crucified on Friday, 00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:34.819 came out of his grave on Sunday. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.159 And Peter says, 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:38.620 that is what is gripping me. 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:41.600 That's what is moving me and thrilling me 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.179 and making me cry out, 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.159 blessed be the God 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.480 and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:50.820 blessed because Jesus didn't remain in his grave. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.060 Jesus was brought out from his tomb 00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:54.620 and he conquered over death. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.539 And if Jesus is not dead, 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.620 Peter implies, 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:01.080 then he went through sin 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.460 and he went through death 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:03.200 and he went through hell 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:06.100 back into that eternal realm of glory 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:07.960 from whence he came to us. 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.399 He vanquished sin 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:12.440 and he conquered death 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:14.460 and he triumphed over hell 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:16.019 and he's gone victoriously 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.660 through all of those things 00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.519 for us 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:20.580 to the other side 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.120 where he rules 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.200 and he reigns in glory 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.200 as the King of Kings 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:25.740 and the Lord of Lords. 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.820 This, Peter says, 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:29.400 is our living hope. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.220 Our living hope is not a thing 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:34.220 that can be dashed 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.740 and lead to disappointment. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.280 Our living hope is a person 00:14:38.280 --> 00:14:40.639 who is indestructible 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.660 and who can deliver, therefore, 00:14:42.780 --> 00:14:43.940 on all of his promises. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:47.160 In most churches, 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.060 that's where you say amen. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:48.940 Amen. 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.840 If you're here exploring Christianity 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.220 and you have questions 00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.080 about the resurrection, 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.660 as we said on Easter Sunday, 00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:59.019 there's a lot of wonderful, 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.080 rich resources for you 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:03.040 to examine the evidence of this. 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:05.460 And I'd point today to a book. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:07.000 Unfortunately, I gave out all my copies 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.960 in this Easter season, 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:09.259 but Rebecca McLaughlin 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:11.139 has a great short little book 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.680 called Is Easter Unbelievable? 00:15:13.599 --> 00:15:15.679 Four Questions Everyone Should Ask 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.739 About the Resurrection Story. 00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:17.459 And if that's you 00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.799 and you're exploring that, 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.359 I commend that little book to you. 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:21.939 Is Easter Unbelievable? 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.000 But if you're a Christian 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.500 and Jesus is your living hope, 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.659 I guess my question for you is, 00:15:27.739 --> 00:15:28.559 what is your plan 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.839 to spend time 00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:31.099 with your living hope this week? 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:33.840 How will you listen to 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.899 what your living hope 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.820 has to say to you 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:36.540 through his word? 00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:39.159 How are you going to talk to 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:40.920 and respond to your living hope 00:15:40.920 --> 00:15:42.680 about all the concerns 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:44.060 of your life this week? 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:47.100 Christianity rejoices 00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.460 in a living hope. 00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:51.700 But Christianity not only rejoices 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.659 in this living hope, 00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:54.940 Christianity rejoices also 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:56.820 in a new birth. 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.940 Christianity rejoices 00:15:58.940 --> 00:15:59.879 in a new birth. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.760 What Peter's saying 00:16:01.760 --> 00:16:03.280 is that we have a living hope 00:16:03.280 --> 00:16:05.420 not only because Jesus lives, 00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:07.400 but because by God's great mercy 00:16:07.400 --> 00:16:08.460 we also live. 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.820 We sang about this 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.660 just a little bit ago. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.740 That God has not only given 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:15.080 new life to the resurrected Jesus, 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:17.300 but he's given new life to us. 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.600 Again, Peter says, 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.660 in his great mercy, 00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:21.320 verse three, 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.780 in his great mercy 00:16:22.780 --> 00:16:24.660 he's given us new birth. 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:26.719 And then down in verse 23 00:16:26.719 --> 00:16:27.379 he says, 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.439 for you have been born again 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.779 not of perishable seed, 00:16:31.219 --> 00:16:32.240 but of imperishable 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:32.919 through the living 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.759 and enduring word of God. 00:16:35.719 --> 00:16:36.919 Some of you might say, 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:37.419 oh dear, 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.379 is this one of those churches 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.159 where we're going to talk 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.059 about being born again? 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.799 I thought that was just 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:44.079 for certain types of people 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.480 with big time troubles, 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.620 not us educated, 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.120 put together folks. 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.839 I thought that was just 00:16:49.839 --> 00:16:51.419 for certain kinds of churches, 00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:52.860 certain kinds of Christians 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.120 who need sort of an emotional, 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.220 cathartic experience, 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.120 not for us. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.639 But I think for many Christians 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.879 and especially among our friends 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.299 and neighbors here in the East Bay, 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.759 there's a lot of discomfort with 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:08.140 and even confusion by 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:10.099 this language of the new birth 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.599 and being born again. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.980 So I just want to ask the questions, 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.140 what is the ancient biblical meaning 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.460 of this word? 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.339 Anaganeo. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.339 What does that mean? 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:22.500 And why is the New Testament 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.939 saturated with this doctrine 00:17:23.939 --> 00:17:26.139 that's so central and vital 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:27.459 to the Christian faith? 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.419 What does it mean to be begotten again 00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:30.419 or born again? 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.879 What does it mean to experience 00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:33.139 the new birth? 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:36.339 I think the best way 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:37.259 to talk about this 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:39.179 is to go to the Gospel of John, 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.740 chapter three. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.679 It's a famous story. 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.000 It's a man named Nicodemus. 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.019 And he comes to Jesus 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.659 as a rabbi in Israel. 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.839 He's a member of the Sanhedrin, 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:50.599 which basically means he's a senator. 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:52.500 He's successful. 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.419 He's wealthy. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.240 He's a pillar of his community. 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.019 He knows the scriptures. 00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:59.740 He adheres to the law of God. 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:02.779 He's a paragon of moral excellence 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:04.000 and religious observance. 00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:05.879 This is basically as good a person 00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:07.139 as you can think of, 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:08.099 as good a person 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:10.279 as you could hope to find. 00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:13.179 And he comes and he's humble 00:18:13.179 --> 00:18:14.619 before Jesus. 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.699 He's open to Jesus. 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:17.740 He wants to learn from Jesus. 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:20.180 And how does Jesus respond 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.860 to Nicodemus in John three? 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.580 Jesus says, 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.680 Very truly I tell you, 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:26.720 no one can see the kingdom of God 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.819 unless they're born again 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:30.120 or born from above. 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.440 Nicodemus said, 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.440 How can someone be born 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.299 when they are old? 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.799 Surely they cannot enter 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.620 a second time 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:40.120 into their mother's womb 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.600 to be born. 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:41.920 He's astonished 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.440 by what Jesus has just said to him. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.200 And Jesus answered, 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:44.620 He said, 00:18:44.820 --> 00:18:45.920 Very truly I tell you, 00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.539 no one can enter 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.460 the kingdom of God 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.860 unless they are born 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:51.580 of water and the Spirit. 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.820 You should not be surprised 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.440 at my saying 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.180 you must be born again. 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.820 Jesus does not say 00:18:58.820 --> 00:18:59.860 to this great man, 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.680 You know what you need? 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.039 You need to be topped off 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.519 a little bit. 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.000 What you need is 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.120 to be supplemented here 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:09.500 and improved there. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.080 And what we need 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:11.820 is just to kind of 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:13.220 complete you, Nicodemus. 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.900 No, he says to Nicodemus, 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.460 You've got to start over. 00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:19.299 None of the good 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.299 that you've done 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:20.980 or none of the good 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.559 that you might be able to do 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.600 counts at all. 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:26.059 You've got to begin again 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.839 as a spiritual baby. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.120 And this is so important 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.140 because many people 00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:33.100 think that Christianity 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:34.640 is about putting your faith 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.940 in Jesus and his death 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.579 and his resurrection 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.079 so that you can be forgiven 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:38.559 of your sins. 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.620 And that's true enough. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.140 But what happens next? 00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.820 When you're forgiven 00:19:43.820 --> 00:19:44.380 of your sins, 00:19:44.540 --> 00:19:45.680 what do you do then? 00:19:45.780 --> 00:19:46.380 Are you just left 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.460 to struggle 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:49.060 and to sweat 00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:49.920 and to fight 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.200 and to try to live 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.120 a good life? 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.780 Are you left then 00:19:53.780 --> 00:19:55.020 to just kind of 00:19:55.020 --> 00:19:56.460 in your own resources 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:58.600 follow Jesus' example 00:19:58.600 --> 00:20:00.380 and live according 00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:01.420 to the Ten Commandments 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.100 and live according 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:03.900 to this high ethical standard 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:06.200 in the Sermon on the Mount? 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.840 If you've ever tried 00:20:07.840 --> 00:20:08.620 to do that 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.460 just on the basis 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.200 of being forgiven, 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:12.680 you know that it's impossible. 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:15.059 You cannot do it. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.620 If you try that 00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.480 in your own power, 00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:20.799 you're going to fail miserably 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.279 and be utterly hopeless. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.019 Why is that? 00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:28.519 Because we need a new life. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.759 We need a new identity. 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:31.880 We need a new outlook 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.799 and a new power 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.779 if we're going to live 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.639 the Christian life. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:37.700 Jesus does not tell Nicodemus 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.599 what you really need 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.359 is to be forgiven. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.019 That's true. 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.720 But what he says 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.519 to Nicodemus is 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:45.440 you need to be regenerated 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.579 with a new birth, 00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.420 a new beginning 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:50.039 so that you can live 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.240 an entirely new 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.279 and different kind of life. 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.139 And this is what 00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:56.500 the Apostle Paul is saying 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.059 in 2 Corinthians 5, 17. 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:58.420 He says, 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.220 therefore if anyone 00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.059 is in Christ, 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.859 you're a new creation. 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:04.039 The old has passed away. 00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:04.619 Behold, 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.639 the new has come. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.119 Why is it necessary 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.119 to be born again 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:11.000 as a new creation? 00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:13.099 Why is it necessary 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.379 to be born again 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:16.019 into this new life? 00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:16.299 Well, 00:21:16.719 --> 00:21:18.059 Peter says in verse 23, 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.240 for you've been born again 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.659 not of perishable seed 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.859 but of imperishable 00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:23.479 through the living 00:21:23.479 --> 00:21:24.000 and enduring 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.179 word of God. 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:27.159 What he's saying there 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.759 is that in your first birth, 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:30.279 that was from 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.440 a perishable seed. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.839 Meaning that the seed 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.920 of your parents 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:37.099 had sin and death in it. 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.160 It was a corruptible seed. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:41.079 It was a poison seed 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.619 because of the first Adam 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.640 and Eve 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.660 and all the way down 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.940 there was a taint 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.019 of evil 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:48.019 and something was off 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.440 in it. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.200 And so what is needed 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.279 for this new birth, 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:53.180 this second birth, 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:53.619 he says, 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:54.559 is the implanting 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.019 of a different kind 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.619 of seed. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.819 An imperishable seed. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.440 An incorruptible seed. 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.319 And what Peter's saying 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.259 is that when God 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:05.259 puts his divine life 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.660 in you, 00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:08.160 when God puts his abundant 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.359 and eternal life 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.099 into you, 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.579 you become a new person. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.240 A person that's 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.000 completely different 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.980 than the person 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.019 you were before. 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.000 You become, 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.859 as Peter will say 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.879 in his next letter, 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.639 you become a partaker 00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:24.160 of the divine nature. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.160 And that means 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.640 that you have 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.380 a new heart 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.340 and you have 00:22:28.340 --> 00:22:28.940 a new mind, 00:22:29.040 --> 00:22:30.140 a new will 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.180 and a new conscience. 00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.900 A new outlook 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.779 and a new identity 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.680 and a new power, 00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:35.380 a new being 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.259 because you have 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.340 the life of God 00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.460 in your soul. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.980 Now I want to think 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.019 about this for a moment 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.180 from a particular 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.820 vantage point 00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.640 and that is to 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:46.460 think for a second 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.380 about all the 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.759 baby boom 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.440 that's been happening 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.180 at Christ Church. 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:53.080 It's been somewhat 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:54.519 prolific in this past year. 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.080 Here's all our 00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:57.820 not yet one-year-olds 00:22:57.820 --> 00:22:58.400 in this church 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:59.220 is Isabella, 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:00.480 Robin, 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.720 Meredith, 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:02.519 Suri, 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.480 Shiru, 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.519 Teddy, 00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:05.380 Neri, 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.279 Samuel, 00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:07.400 and Ethan. 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.060 And we've even had 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:09.920 like three kids 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.019 just recently move away, 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:11.720 three babies, 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.080 but we have 00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:14.100 replacements coming. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.720 Two more 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.360 are on the way 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:17.560 in May and July. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.039 And that's almost 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.000 like one baby 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.740 per month 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.460 that's being cranked 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:23.379 out here at Christ Church. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.839 So we can, 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.779 if you pray for anyone, 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.859 pray for their mothers 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.359 today. 00:23:30.679 --> 00:23:31.639 But for each 00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.500 of these babies, 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:35.200 their birth 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:37.220 was a definite event 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.179 in their lives 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:39.940 that is going to have 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.960 ongoing consequences 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.440 for them. 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.179 And it doesn't really 00:23:45.179 --> 00:23:46.259 matter when they 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.720 were born. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.179 You know, 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.820 if they were born 00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.799 at night 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.340 in the winter 00:23:49.340 --> 00:23:50.240 or the morning 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.720 in the summer. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.380 It doesn't really 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.580 matter how they 00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:53.920 were born, 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.600 natural birth, 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.259 C-section. 00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:57.160 It doesn't matter 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.039 where they were born, 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.740 at home 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.680 or in the hospital 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.519 or in the car 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.120 from the home 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:01.779 to the hospital. 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.740 What really matters 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.380 for each one 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.039 of these babies 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.440 is that they 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:08.880 were born, 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.820 that they have 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.380 new life. 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.460 And this is the same 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.360 in the second birth 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.140 or the new birth. 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.160 It doesn't matter 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.140 how you were born. 00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:18.940 Whether it happened 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.840 for you fast 00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:21.019 or slow. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.700 Whether for you 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.500 it was subtle 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.940 or quite dramatic. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.140 What happens, 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.420 what really matters 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:30.060 is that this new birth 00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:30.660 took place 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.300 in your life. 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:33.220 And it has ongoing 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.460 consequences for you. 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.980 And in the same way, 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.420 you know, 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.640 none of these births 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.060 is something 00:24:40.060 --> 00:24:40.600 that we, 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.560 you know, 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.140 go and congratulate 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:43.759 the child, 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.040 like, 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.840 way to go. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.740 It's not something 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:48.160 that the baby did. 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.259 Right? 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.759 No one gives 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.200 themselves birth. 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:53.520 It happens to you. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.160 And someone did it 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.600 for you, 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.040 which is why 00:24:56.040 --> 00:24:56.660 all of you 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.240 should go call 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.759 your mom 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.259 and tell her 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.900 how much you love 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:00.280 her today. 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.200 And it's the same 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.140 way in the second birth. 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.100 In the new birth, 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.720 nobody can create 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.500 their own life. 00:25:07.780 --> 00:25:08.820 Nobody can bring 00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:10.020 something out of 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.779 nothing but God. 00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.960 And this is what 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.720 James says 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.000 in his great letter 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:17.019 in James chapter 1 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.519 verse 18. 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:17.920 He says, 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.819 God the Father 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:20.500 chose to give us birth. 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:22.160 You didn't choose that. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.119 God the Father 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:24.819 chose to give us birth 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.500 through the word 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.059 of truth 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:27.319 that we might be 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.759 kind of first fruits 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.900 of all he created. 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.819 So what I'm trying 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.759 to tell you today 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:34.019 is that a Christian 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.700 is a person 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.639 who's been born 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.480 not one time 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.220 but two times. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.440 And so my question 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:39.619 is, 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.500 have you experienced 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.219 the new birth? 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.199 And if you haven't 00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:43.879 experienced it 00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.819 but you want to, 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:47.079 ask God for his mercy. 00:25:47.199 --> 00:25:48.099 In his great mercy, 00:25:48.239 --> 00:25:48.739 Peter says, 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.419 he has given us 00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:49.819 new birth. 00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:50.459 Ask him 00:25:50.459 --> 00:25:51.979 to mercifully put 00:25:51.979 --> 00:25:53.059 his divine life 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:54.159 into your soul 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:55.239 today. 00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:57.819 Because your greatest 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.679 need is to know 00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.859 God as your Father 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.619 and to know him 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:02.739 as a child of God 00:26:02.739 --> 00:26:04.039 so that you can 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.879 call on him 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.539 and be blessed 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.139 by him. 00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:08.219 And if you have 00:26:08.219 --> 00:26:09.219 received the new birth, 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.620 then again, 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.660 I want to ask you 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.160 what is it going 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.799 to look like 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.640 this week 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.559 to begin your day 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:14.940 saying, 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.039 Abba Father. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.880 Abba Father 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.819 who gave me birth. 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.620 Holy is your name. 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.920 Heavenly Father, 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.779 thank you for giving me 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.319 new birth 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.920 and new life 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.559 into your kingdom. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:28.900 I want your 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.740 heavenly kingdom 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:31.200 to come into the earth 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.299 through me today. 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.659 Lord, 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.139 Abba Father, 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.559 let your life 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.419 flow through me today. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.240 Christianity rejoices 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.440 in a living hope. 00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:45.799 And Christianity 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.659 also rejoices 00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:47.339 in a new birth. 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:47.859 And finally, 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.559 I want to end 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.240 by talking about 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.879 how Christianity 00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:51.919 rejoices in an 00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:52.940 eternal inheritance. 00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:55.240 Christianity rejoices 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.079 in an eternal 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:57.259 inheritance. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:59.759 What does this new 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.519 birth and this 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.440 being born again 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.640 lead to? 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.660 It's just the beginning. 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.000 But what does it 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.460 lead to? 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.539 He says in verse 3, 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:10.440 in his great mercy 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.139 he has given us 00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:11.779 new birth 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.980 into a living hope 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.220 through the resurrection 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.019 of Jesus Christ 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.480 from the dead. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.139 And here it is, 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.599 into an inheritance 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.659 that can never perish, 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.960 spoil, or fade. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.519 This inheritance 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.420 is kept in heaven 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:23.980 for you 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.980 who through faith 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.200 are shielded 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.099 by God's power 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.859 until the coming 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.980 of the salvation 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.559 that is ready 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.319 to be revealed 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.299 in the last time. 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.079 What Peter's 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.879 talking about here 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.960 is not about life 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.619 after death 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.519 with God in heaven 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.440 as great as that 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.120 is going to be. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.200 What Peter's 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.000 talking about here 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.759 is the God 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.039 who made the world 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.480 as a perfect paradise. 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.360 And this God 00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.059 who's not going 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.680 to be satisfied 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:50.380 until all of his creation 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:51.559 has been fully 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.720 and beautifully restored. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.059 He's talking about 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.779 how the Lord 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.860 is going to renew 00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:58.220 his whole creation 00:27:58.220 --> 00:28:00.340 and he's going to destroy 00:28:00.340 --> 00:28:01.680 everything that's evil, 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.519 everything that's sinful, 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.700 everything that's stained 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.340 and ugly 00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:06.400 and foul 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.220 in that creation. 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.740 and instead 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.880 he's going to establish 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.220 the kingdom of God 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.400 fully and finally 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.600 and forever 00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.240 on the earth. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.460 What Peter's describing 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:18.500 is a coming new birth 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:20.079 not just of individual people 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.799 but a new birth 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.900 of the whole universe. 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.740 A new birth 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.319 of the universe 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.299 that's going to include 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.160 the resurrection 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.140 of our bodies 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:29.319 where we are going 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.160 to be delivered 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:31.559 from all the vestiges 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.900 of illness 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:34.600 and of weakness 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.540 and of sin 00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:36.320 and of shame 00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:37.440 and we like Jesus 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.519 are going to have 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:40.000 a glorious body. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.660 That's your inheritance. 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:45.180 That's the coming salvation 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:45.840 that's ready 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.860 to be revealed 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.840 at the last time. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.900 And what Peter's saying 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:51.400 is that this same power 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:53.160 that's going to renew 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.380 the whole world 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.740 at the end of history 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:57.560 is the same power 00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:59.480 that comes into your life now 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.160 through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.279 Christ. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.300 And how do you know 00:29:03.300 --> 00:29:04.540 that that power of God 00:29:04.540 --> 00:29:05.900 has come into you? 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.500 How do you know 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.880 that you have the new birth 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.680 and the living hope? 00:29:10.540 --> 00:29:11.680 He says ask yourself 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.920 this very simple question. 00:29:14.300 --> 00:29:16.120 What am I looking forward to 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:17.980 as my inheritance? 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.680 What am I looking forward to 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.340 as my inheritance? 00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:25.200 Am I looking forward 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.120 to things that are going 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:26.820 to perish 00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:28.200 or spoil 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.840 or fade? 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:31.399 Am I looking to things 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.439 that are going to be subject 00:29:32.439 --> 00:29:33.419 to disappointment 00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:34.839 and disorder 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.679 and darkness 00:29:35.679 --> 00:29:37.039 and depression 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.179 and disease 00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:38.759 and death? 00:29:39.939 --> 00:29:40.899 Peter is telling us 00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.579 that we need 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.259 an inheritance 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:44.299 that's impervious 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.799 to all of these 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.480 inevitabilities 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.459 in this world. 00:29:48.459 --> 00:29:49.299 And Peter's saying 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.059 I want you to look 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.679 for a moment 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:51.480 dear friends 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.099 at an inheritance 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.379 that you did not earn 00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:56.579 and that you cannot lose. 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:59.000 He says 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.839 there's a salvation 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.439 for you 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:02.259 that's finished 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.939 and it's perfect 00:30:03.939 --> 00:30:05.619 and it's unchangeable 00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:07.039 and it's being kept 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.460 by God 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.039 for you. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.839 And what he's doing 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.759 is he's encouraging 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.639 these Christian exiles 00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.819 these Christian foreigners 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.740 living in 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.299 quote unquote 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.799 Babylon 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.819 who are suffering 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.839 grief 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.899 in all kinds 00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:22.539 of difficult trials. 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.639 People who literally 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.419 have been displaced 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.340 from their homes 00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:26.539 because of Jesus. 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.560 People who have lost 00:30:27.560 --> 00:30:28.640 their inheritances 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:30.300 because they're following 00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:31.779 the way of Jesus 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.940 and what he's telling them 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.400 is that this world 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:36.000 and your life 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.500 in this world 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:38.080 as important as it is 00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:39.720 is not your true home. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.779 It's not your true inheritance. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.700 We are living 00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.480 and we are waiting 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.880 for the new creation 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.519 to come. 00:30:48.060 --> 00:30:49.019 And what's so great 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.120 about your inheritance 00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.560 Peter says 00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:52.720 is that it can never 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:54.140 perish or spoil 00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.100 or fade. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.440 It's imperishable 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.380 meaning that it's free 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.839 from death and decay 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:00.680 that would ruin it. 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.640 It's undefiled 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.539 meaning that it's free 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.720 from evil and sin 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.319 and impurity 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.299 that would spoil it. 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.140 It's unfading 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.400 meaning that it's free 00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.259 from the ravages 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.019 of time 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:12.039 that would make it faint 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.819 and feeble 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:14.039 and ultimately to fail. 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.000 You know many people 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.759 think that the gospel 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.039 is if I just try 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.559 to be good 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.940 then maybe someday 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.900 something good 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.620 will happen to me 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.960 God will be good 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.880 to me and bless me 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.440 but friends 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.920 the gospel is so much 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:29.440 more sure than that. 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:32.080 The gospel says 00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:33.320 that because of Jesus 00:31:33.320 --> 00:31:34.100 and what he's done 00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:35.240 on my behalf 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:37.779 not only am I accepted 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.299 by God now 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.720 but there's a salvation 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.640 that's being kept 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.539 for me in a way 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.660 that's utterly safe 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.279 and secure 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.920 in a way that's 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:48.100 untouched by death 00:31:48.100 --> 00:31:50.039 and unstained by evil 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.259 and unimpaired 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.079 by time 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.879 a salvation for me 00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:55.379 that is guaranteed 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:58.720 and not only 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.059 is our inheritance 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.839 and our salvation 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.759 kept by God 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.440 but Peter says 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.379 we ourselves 00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:04.980 are being kept 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.500 by God 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.159 even now 00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:06.960 shielded 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.839 guarded 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:09.379 by his power 00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:10.720 until the day 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.980 when we inherit 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:13.420 our great salvation. 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:16.759 so friends 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:19.480 have you been born again 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:22.000 into this living hope 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.120 and this great inheritance 00:32:23.120 --> 00:32:24.240 this great salvation? 00:32:25.820 --> 00:32:27.680 Have you been born again 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:29.160 out of this 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:31.360 lifeless hope 00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:32.860 and perishable inheritance 00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:34.880 and unreliable salvation 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.620 that this world offers to you? 00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:39.079 the gospel says 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:40.419 that God 00:32:40.419 --> 00:32:41.679 has an inheritance 00:32:41.679 --> 00:32:42.479 that's waiting 00:32:42.479 --> 00:32:43.699 for me 00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:46.779 that I'm going to receive it 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.339 from him 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.879 and I'm going to be raised up 00:32:48.879 --> 00:32:50.319 to see his face 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:51.539 and I'm going to be like him 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.219 and I'm going to have 00:32:52.219 --> 00:32:53.679 a glorified body 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:55.239 in a renewed earth 00:32:55.239 --> 00:32:56.279 and living in a realm 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.519 that's incorruptible 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.259 and I'm going to reign 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.599 with him forever. 00:32:59.739 --> 00:33:00.939 Have you been born again 00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:02.779 into that inheritance? 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:05.500 Have you experienced 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.399 this new birth 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.619 into a living hope? 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.980 An imperishable inheritance? 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:12.180 A secure salvation 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:14.839 that Jesus has won for you? 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:16.680 And if you say 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.700 yes I have 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:20.819 then the right thing 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.579 to say today 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:23.220 the right way 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.139 to feel today 00:33:24.139 --> 00:33:26.660 is praise be 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.079 to God 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.619 the Father 00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.879 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:30.720 praise him 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.980 for his great 00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.640 mercy toward us 00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:35.640 in the name of the Father 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.660 Son and Holy Spirit 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.620 Amen.