“laying aside” – like removing a soiled garment putting aside “Therefore” – was a concise reminder to Peter’s readers to remember that saving power of God’s word in their lives as a basis for ongoing commitment to Scripture as the only power to live the Christian life. Job 23:12, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” A. Romans 7:22, “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.” BELIEVING AND BEHAVING WHAT’S IN THE BIBLE. The message of the gospel, that scriptural truth which when believed, is the imperishable seed producing new life that also endures forever. V.25, “‘But the word of the LORD endures forever.’' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” These verses intensify the idea of the permanence of God’s word by contrasting it with the fading glory of human achievement. The Apostle Peter now strengthens his point by quoting Isaiah 40:6-8. Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 5:18, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Unlike any merely human words it suggests it has power to awaken new life.Ģ. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We should never try to separate the word of God from God who speaks the word.

Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” “The implications for evangelism are obvious: ultimately it is neither our arguments nor our life example that will bring new life to an unbeliever, but the powerful words of God Himself.” Wayne Grudem The “Word of God” is either the spoken word of God (in gospel proclamation) or the written word of God (in the Bible). That is because He uses the imperishable seed of the living and abiding Word of God. However, sinners born again of God’s Spirit gain eternal life. Everything that grows from natural seeds is a sovereign creation of God, but it all eventually dies. In contrast to how an earthly father initiates human birth with his corruptible seed, God initiates the spiritual birth with an imperishable seed.

God did not affect the new birth using seed which is perishable. “not of corruptible seed but incorruptible” – seed represents the source of life (the Word of God). To stay in the context of Scripture, it is as though Peter is saying that believers are to love one another to the fullest extent (sincerely/fervently) because it is consistent with your new life in Christ. A former event, the consequences of which continue.ĮXAMPLE: January 7th, 1973 (43 years ago) “having been born again” – perfect participle emphasizes the continuing results of the previous new birth the new birth occurred in the past with ongoing results in the present. With this being said, let’s allow the text to speak for itself. And if I act contrary to its truths, I become overwhelmingly aware of it. It affects where I will go and what I will say. It affects what I believe and how I behave. The truth is, it affects every area of our life. It helps us to realize the power and impact of the “gospel” on our lives. The Bible, in many different places, magnifies the effect the “New Birth” causes.

Affectus god