1 Peter 1:3-5 - Spiritual New Birth and It's Blessings

The Word Read

Please remain standing for the reading of the Holy Scripture. Hear the Word of the Lord from 1 Peter 1:3-5:

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Behold, brothers and sisters, this is Word of the Lord. Please be seated. Let us pray.

Summation & Diagnosis

If you have your Bible, I invite you to open it to 1 Peter 1:3-5. Before we begin this morning, I want to make you aware of an opportunity for deeper study of the sermon passage. As some of you may know, I have a personal podcast called “Exposing the Bible Podcast”. I am using this to go even further into the text than I am able to go in a sermon on a Sunday morning. Last week Kristin and I recorded a 35 minute conversation on 1 Peter 1:1-2, specifically talking about the covenantal love of the triune God. So, if you are interested in going deeper you can check that out or if you have more questions about the text you can text/email me and we will talk through the questions we receive.

With that in mind, let us turn now to our sermon. Do you remember the day the Gospel broke through in your life? The joy that filled your heart as you knew that you were no longer under the bondage of sin, but enjoyed God as the Father you caused you to be born again? Do you remember that day, moment, or process? God in His grace and mercy broke the heart of stone that you had and created a heart of flesh. For me, I was on break at the fast food restaurant where I worked. I was reading my blue “Promise Keepers” Bible as the Lord was drawing me to Him. The weightiness of sin was broken as I repented of my sin and the grace of the God of Heaven flooded into my life. I was born again.

As you may remember, 1 Peter is about suffering. The churches who would have received this epistle would have been experiencing some type of suffering - loss of job, loss of relationships, imprisonment, death threats, and persecution. Yet, as we will see in our passage this morning, there was always hope in the midst of suffering for them. Why? Because of God the Father’s salvific work in the hearts of those who have been born again. We hope because he has saved us from sin and damnation. Unlike the world, who has dead hope, we who are in Christ have a living hope because He is alive ruling over the universe and the Church at this very moment and has/and will save us from judgment on the last day. Instead of receiving the wrath of God for eternity, we will walk into paradise because He alone has saved us.

As a note, 1 Peter 1:3-12 is one sentence in the original language. It is a long, long, long run on sentence full of dependent clauses and prepositional phrases. If you’ve ever read John Owen, you’ll know exactly what we are about to experience. Clauses and phrases used to clarify thoughts that really cause us as readers to fully appreciate the great mercy of God in our lives.

Today, as we travel through 1 Peter 1:3-5 we will answer four questions. 1) Why do we bless/praise God the Father? 2) Who has caused us to be born again? 3) What are two blessings of our new birth? & 4) What does it mean we are guarded or protected by God’s power? So, the sermon title is “Spiritual New Birth and It’s Blessings” and our questions are: 1) Why do we bless/praise God the Father? 2) Who has caused us to be born again? 3) What are two blessings of our new birth? & 4) What does it mean we are guarded or protected by God’s power?

1 Peter 1:3a - Why do we Bless/Praise God the Father?

Our passage begins with Peter blessing the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in total transparency, I originally wrote about 2,000 words on this sentence alone! There is so much truth dripping in this sentence where praise is given to God the Father, but time fails for us to explore this fully. For us, this may seem simply as an introductory comment. Yes, of course we bless or praise the Father because He alone is worthy. However, the simple phrase means so much more than a meaningless introductory comment. Though the phrase is more than this, Peter is not stating anything new. Peter echoes what we find in the Gospel according to Luke.

The priest Zechariah was muted because he did not believe an angel’s message that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son. Granted they were both advanced in years, so he disbelieves the angel. As a result of his unbelief, Zechariah is told he will be muted until the angel’s words, who came from God, become a reality. Elizabeth becomes pregnant and births a child. Eight days after the child’s birth, he is circumcised. They attempt to name the child Zechariah, but Elizabeth says, “No, he shall be called John”. They are confused since none of their relatives are named John, so they motioned for Zechariah. Zechariah writes on a tablet, “His name is John.” Immediately, Zechariah’s mouth is loosed, he becomes full of the Holy Spirit, and prophesies. Hear what he prophesied in Luke 1:68-75:

Luke 1:68–75 ESV

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Doesn’t that first part sound familiar? Blessed be the Lord God of Israel (Luke 1:68)… Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The prophets from long ago prophesied of the coming hope. They pointed the people of God to the Redeemer. At just the right time, Zechariah became full of the Holy Spirit and said, “The Messiah is coming, RIGHT NOW! My son John will pave the way, but the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, the Savior, the promise from Genesis 3:15 is coming soon! The greatest news that has been declared is here!”

In this advent season, do you feel the same way? Is the Gospel the greatest news you have ever heard or is there something greater to you? The greatest days of my life are being married and meeting my children, but the greatest day of my life is when God caused me to be born again.

1 Peter 1:3b - Who has Caused us to be Born Again?

Notice what the next part of 1 Peter 1:3 states, “According to His great mercy, he has caused us to be born again”. Put another way, God the Father, according to His great mercy, has fathered us into a new spiritual birth. We see here that God has great mercy for those whom He caused to be born again. Far too often we are told that the God of the Old Testament is a God who is full of wrath and anger, and the God in the New Testament is a God of love, compassion, and mercy. People attempt to separate the same God of both Testaments as if they are different in someway. Yet, the God of the New Testament is the same God of the Old Testament. He never changes. We see the great mercy of God in Exodus 34:6-7:

Exodus 34:6–7 ESV

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

This interaction with Moses happens AFTER the Israelites worship the Golden Calf! The Lord had every right to destroy all the people, yet in His GREAT MERCY He renews the covenant He made with them. Let us go back even further in history, God in His great mercy does not immediately kill Adam and Eve upon their sin. He kicks them out of the Garden of Eden so they do not eat from the Tree of Life which would ensure they lived forever in a state of sin. God has ALWAYS been a God of great and magnificent mercy!

Here in 1 Peter 1:3 we see that His great mercy has caused us to be born again. Notice the language - it is passive. He has caused us to be born again. We did nothing that caused us to be born again. Those who believe they can earn salvation by their works do not truly understand how salvation works. In our flesh, we so desire that there could be something we could do to earn salvation. The flesh could say, see I did it! There was something I have done that earned my place before God. Yet our deeds are woefully insufficient and are putrid before God. As Isaiah 64:6 says:

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

However, praise God, salvation is not by our works, as Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states:

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Furthermore, if you have not been born again you CANNOT see the Kingdom of God. It is impossible. Jesus says this to Nicodemus in John 3:3:

John 3:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Being born again is a work entirely of the Holy Spirit. He causes us to be convicted of our sin. He opens the eyes of our hearts to be open so we can see just how unholy we are before a holy God. This causes us to repent of our sin calling out for the mercy of God! We cry out, I need Jesus! He is the Lord and Savior and I need Him to save me from sin! In the gracious mercy of God, He then saves us from sin delivering us from His wrath.

This great God of mercy has caused us to be born again entirely of His free will and work so that no one could boast of their salvation. Not even you or me. What marvelous mercy! What matchless mercy! We, like Peter, owe our praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ because His mercy that has brought us new life - salvation! Have you truly been born again? Have you cried out to Jesus to save you? Area you a new creation in Christ? If not, today is the day! Cry out to the only one who is able to save you and He will! He left the throne of glory to save sinners like you! The heart of stone you have can become a heart of flesh that causes you to love the Lord God.

For those who have been reborn, is your heart captivated by the great mercy of God this morning? Or has your heart become callous towards God’s mercy? Did you worship with your heart fixated on God’s mercy as we worshipped this morning? Or did we merely go through the motions outwardly with a heart far from the Lord? He alone saved us. He, in His most excellent mercy sent Jesus to the cross for you. Christ paid the penalty for your sins. We, like Peter, should call out today - blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again!

1 Peter 1:3c-4 - What are Two Blessings of our New Birth?

Not only does Peter show us God has caused us to be born again, but as we will see in 1 Peter 1:3-4 there are blessings that come with our new spiritual birth. In our world today we have so-called pastors who claim there are blessings of health and wealth that come with salvation or good deeds. Send our ministry a tithe or donation and you’ll receive the money you’ve been needing or you’ll receive healing from the disease that plagues you. Yet, Scripture does not speak of these types of blessings. How many do we know that are genuinely in Christ yet have nothing? How many Christ-followers do we know that are struggling through diseases at this moment? These so called pastors proclaim false promises of a false gospel. The blessings that Peter speaks of are the true blessings of God that are given to His children as a result of being born again. Now, these are not the only two blessings we receive when we are born again, but these are two that Peter lists as he writes the elected aliens dispersed on earth.

What is the first blessing of our new birth? We have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! Put yourselves into the shoes of Jesus’ disciples. They followed Him expecting Him to usher in the Kingdom of God because He was the Messiah. Then He is arrested, tried, and killed on a cross. The man they thought was the true Messiah now laid dead buried in a tomb. For three days, utter darkness. But then, a glorious light broke through the darkness and Sunday came! The one they believed that was dead was truly alive!

Now put yourselves in the shoes of the people receiving this epistle. Try to understand the gravity of their situation. Yes, Peter writes, you are facing suffering and persecution, BUT you HAVE A LIVING HOPE! Don’t let the present struggles totally consume you. Remember that you’ve been born again and remember the blessing of a living hope you’ve received! There is no reason to live out of place of fear, but from a place of hope! I cannot help but think the Spirit had Peter write this because the Lord knows we as people are prone to fear. We lock our front door as soon as we enter our homes. We constantly scan a room looking for potential threats. We, can at times, live in a constant state of fear. Why? Because our parents, Adam and Eve, became filled with fear when they rebelled against God. God seeks them out and they hide themselves sin fear. Pitiful, sinful creatures cowering in fear as the Lord sought them. We are not only prone to fear, but prone to fear fear itself. We are creatures of fear. So, we are reminded here that we are not to live out of a place of fear, but the truth that we have a living hope.

Where does this living hope come from? What does the Word say in 1 Peter 1:3 - The physical and bodily resurrection of our Lord and Savior. The empty tomb. The place were an angel of the Lord rolled away the stone and caused the guards to flee in fear. The place where Peter and John rushed to after the women told them the tomb was empty. The place where death was defeated. The empty tomb where the resurrected Christ walked out victoriously. Here is where the living hope comes from - the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Does the fact you have a living hope through the resurrection of Christ Jesus bring you joy this morning? This is what God the Father has given you as a blessing because of His great mercy! Or do you sit here this morning with great hopelessness? According to one Gallup Poll taken in 2023, approximately 18% of Americans state they are currently battling depression. The number was 12.5% before Covid became a household name. Hopelessness is certainly a tragedy of our current times. Yet, this is not new. Hopelessness has plagued humanity for thousands of years. Yet, in Christ, there is immense hope. Dear church, Peter writes, you may be rejected by the world, but take heart because you have a living hope. The same applies for us today! You could be staring down a doctor’s report that gives you days to live - yet you have a living hope! You could be living out your worst nightmare, yet you hold the promise of a living hope. You could living your dream life, yet the promise of a living hope far outweighs the “perfect life” that could be taken in a moment. So, is the blessing of a living hope your’s today? If it is your’s, do you give thanks to God because He has given you this living hope?

The second blessing Peter wrote that we receive as a result of being born again is that we have an inheritance. An inheritance is something that is passed down from one person to a family member, usually their children or grandchildren. The inheritance is primarily money, stocks, jewelry, cars, homes, books, etc. Most people are thrilled they have received an inheritance. However, recall Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 6:19-21:

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The inheritance we may receive from others on earth is subject to decay. Vehicles break down, homes fall apart, jewelry fades, and cities become ruins. My favorite vehicle I had growing up was my Chevy S-10. I bought it when I was in high school and had it until our first year of marriage until it became so corroded that it would have taken about $1,000 of work just for it to pass inspection. However, the inheritance we received upon being born again is not subject to earthly corrosion like my wonderful truck. Notice how Peter describes the inheritance that the Father graciously gives you. The inheritance is imperishable, it is undefiled, and it is unfading. As imperishable, your inheritance is not able to be destroyed or subject to decay. As undefiled, your inheritance remains pure at all times unable to be corrupted. As unfading, your inheritance will never wither away. Your inheritance can never be taken, stolen, or destroyed. It is an eternal inheritance given to you by the Father who loves you.

And here is why we know that this inheritance can never, ever be taken away. Ephesians 1:13-14:

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

God Himself gives us the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of the inheritance, to the praise of His glory. The inheritance that is to come is the promise of eternal life, future salvation where you are delivered on the day of judgment, a resurrected/glorified body, and eventually enjoying the presence of God Almighty for all eternity. However, what does both 1 Peter 1:4 and Ephesians 1:14 say together? You enjoy the inheritance right now as the Holy Spirit dwells within you as a result of being born again. You, at this very moment, get to enjoy the presence of God Himself! Have you done that this morning? Have you enjoyed the presence of God with the church of God? Or has Sunday mornings become a mere religious activity where we simply check the box giving ourselves to mere religiosity? Furthermore, do you enjoy the presence of God every day? The great God of heaven has given you His Spirit so that you can enjoy His presence today!

How do we enjoy His presence practically? We come to Him in prayer each day sharing our hearts with Him. We read and study the Word of God daily. We would not know who He is apart from Him revealing it to us and so we enjoy His presence daily in His Word. Also, we enjoy His presence in the sacraments as they are a sign and a seal of the Gospel. So, let this be a time where you prepare your heart for communion. Later we will partake of the Lord’s Supper where we will share a meal with Christ in His presence.

Lastly regarding our inheritance, do you notice where the inheritance is kept or reserved? In heaven! The Jewish Christians hearing this would have especially been reminded of their ancestor’s exiles. The Promised Land ravaged by the Assyrians and the Babylonians due to Israel’s covenant disobedient. Yet for these Christians, there is a much better land awaiting them. The better/heavenly country that father Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob longed to see according to Hebrews 11. Here, dear believer, is where your inheritance is kept. Nothing on this earth can touch your inheritance. If you are a child of God and are going through a stretch of doubt, apathy, or week and feeble faith, know that the inheritance given to you cannot be touched. Your inheritance is reserved with God where he resides - Heaven. Here is where your inheritance is kept safe from the world, the enemy, and even your own flesh.

1 Peter 1:5 - What does it mean we are Guarded or Protected by God’s Power?

You know what these Christians would have found the most encouraging about all of this? The fact they are protected by the power of God. Though they suffer in the moment, God protects them. How? Through faith. So, the same faith that has caused them to be aliens in their world is the same faith that will ensure they endure, only by the power of God, the persecution they face.

Do you see what Peter says about salvation here? Notice that it is in the last time, or put another way, it is yet to occur. In the New Testament salvation is mentioned in three ways: 1) Past - you were saved, 2) Present - you are being saved, and 3) Future - you will be saved. Any guesses on which tense the New Testament uses the most referring to salvation? Yes, the future! Peter writes that these individuals are being guard through faith for a deliverance that is coming in the future. Though they might be displaced, though they may have lost their jobs, though they might face persecution and death, they are promised deliverance in the age to come. Their salvation will be revealed in the last time. Keep your focus on the end when your pilgrimage ends you and you are welcomed home.

This all applies to us today as well. The same faith that has caused YOU to be an alien in this world is the same faith that will ensure you endure, only by the work of God. The Lord, by His mighty power, will sustain you in this world.

Conclusion

As you sit here this morning, God is guarding your faith. He is the one who saved you, He is the one who is saving your right now, and He is the one who will save you in the future. If you are trusting in your “religious works” to save you, be warned that they haven’t saved you, they don’t save you right now, and they will not save you in the future. You will stand condemned when the Son returns. You will be a part of the ones who are conquered by Christ and He will cast you into the eternal fires of Hell. For those of us who love Christ, He will be our great deliverer. Oh how sweet the amazing grace He pours upon us now and in the future.

What is your hope in this morning? The world and all of Babylon’s treasures will fade away one day. Yet, being born again means we have a living hope and an eternal inheritance that we enjoy now and forever. God Himself protects you from falling away. He keeps you in His hands so you can experience the true joy of salvation. So as the prophets prophesied the first Advent, or the coming of the Christ in the flesh, let us hold fast our confession looking to the Second Advent. He is coming again! One day the trump will sound and Christ will return. Have you been born again and do you enjoy the blessings of being a new creation? Believer, do you enjoy the presence of God now and do you look forward to the day when you will be with Him forever?