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| St. Pete Beach, FL |
I’m participating in a six week in-depth study of 1 Peter. It’s hosted at: http://allume.com/2012/06/1-peter-bible-study/
The idea is to take a crock-pot approach and let the verses simmer in study for an entire week. The focus will be on:
June 6-12 1 Peter 1:3-5
June 13-19 1 Peter 2:1-3
June 20-26 1 Peter 2:9-10
June 27-July 3 1 Peter 3:1-4
July 4-10 1 Peter 4:7-11
July 11-17 1 Peter 5:6-11
This week’s versus are so encouraging. That we can have hope no matter the circumstances because we have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven- eternal life! Today I looked up three different versions of 1 Peter 1:3-5 and it’s interesting to see how the language varies from one version to the next. One of the things that my eye was the difference between “new birth”, “begotten us again” and “born again”.
1 Peter 1:3-5
(NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 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. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 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.
(NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(NASB) Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Of the three ways to say it, “born again” reminded of Nicodemus approaching Jesus in John 3. It’s in Jesus’s explanation to Nicodemus that one of the most well known scriptures was declared, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This means eternal life in the presence of an almighty God who created us in His image and who loves us with an all-knowing never-ending love. I need this truth to wash over me fresh every day so that I can be born again with every breath because I need constant renewal. I need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to help me each day as I raise these two little ones, manage a household, and try to be a helpmeet for my husband.
I also treasure the “inheritance” part of this scripture. To me, it becomes something that is not only passed to me from a loving and generous father but it is something that can be passed to my children as well. Like a family blessing that we only need to live in order to fulfill.
Finally, I linger over the knowledge that this inheritance of eternity is protected by the power of God. It makes me feel safe and secure and covered in His love.
Hope you’ll join me in bible study. I pray these scriptures are as encouraging to you today as they are to me. Feel free to post any fresh revelations you have from these verses. I’d love to hear how these verses minister to you.
In His Grip,
Monica
