Words from the first epistle of Peter
7- The second birth

Apostle Peter spoke twice about the second birth. The first is in beginning of the epistle saying: “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” (1 Peter 1:3) and at the end of the chapter he  said “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible”(1 Peter 1:23)

Dear reader, the first treatment for all the pains you endure is to be born from above.  You won’t be able to overcome your fears and sufferings, and you will never enjoy all the privileges of this epistle unless you experience the biblical verse: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … You must be born again.” (John 3: 3 & 7). If anyone is not born from above, he cannot see and cannot enter the kingdom of God.  Dear, don’t expect external healing, before you heal from inside; for you are in need of an internal healing first.

Peter writes “has begotten us again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). This means that when you are born again you will have hope, a living hope that does not die; a hope based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.  Apostle Paul writes about this resurrection saying “who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:25). Hence you experience justification and then peace follows. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans5:1).

If you do not have hope or you have it dead; or if you are disappointed and grieved because of the past sins or the present pressures or because of fears of the future, and even if you have the three triples of sufferings, I ask you to start with the first medication which is the second birth. 

Consequently your life will completely change, your heart will be renewed, you will have a different viewpoint of life, and feel that God has created light in your heart “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”(2 Corinthians 4:6). Also you will feel as if you were blind and now you can see, desperate but now you live in hope; you were grieved but now God’s joy fills up your heart; for you have the living hope.

Now pray as David did asking God “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalms 51:10).

Magdy Samuel