sf805 - THE SEED OF THE NEW LIFE - 1 of 9 NEW LIFE FOR YOU (1 Peter 1 13-23)
1 Peter 1:13-23 (key 23)
Introduction
Our theme for this series of studies is New Life for You.
There is no more exciting truth in all the range of biblical revelation than that of new life in Christ.
Ø It is the essence of the gospel.
(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Ø The purpose for which Jesus came into the world was to bring life to those “who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
Just as human life starts with the seed necessary for physical birth and growth, so divine life starts with the seed which brings about spiritual birth and growth.
(1 Peter 1:23 NKJV) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
This seed is described as the living and abiding Word of God.
1A. The Seed of the New Life is the Distinctive Word of God (23b)
The message of new life is not the subject of human speculation, but the substance of divine revelation; it is the Word of God.
Four aspects of the Word of God:
1B. It is the Word of Inerrancy (23b)
The Bible reflects the nature and character of an infallible God.
Therefore, we must accept the fact that this Book is divine truth without any mixture of error.
(2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
The Bible’s unity, prophecy, and history prove its inerrancy.
(2 Peter 1:21 NKJV) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
It has God as its author, Christ as its subject, and the Holy Spirit as its interpreter.
2B. It is the Word of Authority (23b)
St. Augustine said, “When the Scriptures speak, God speaks,”
When we listen to Scripture we are listening to God.
Ø We have no right to debate or question what God says.
When the Bible speaks on a subject it does so accurately and with authority.
Ø If not History how Eternity?
Ø If not Creation how Salvation?
(John 3:12 NKJV) "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
3B. It is the Word of Eternity (23b-25)
It shall never fade (24-25)
It shall never falter
(Mark 13:31 NKJV) ""Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."
It shall never fail
(Romans 3:4 NKJV) "…let God be true but every man a liar. …"
4B. It is the Word of Vitality (23b)
It is the Word of life
(Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…."
It is by the Word we know and have life
(John 6:63 NKJV) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."
It is the distinctive Word of God.
2A. The Seed of the New Life is the Dynamic Word of God (23a)
“…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible…”
Inherent in the Word of God is a dynamic power, and from this passage we find that:
1B. The Word of God has a Revealing Power in Jesus Christ. (25b)
“Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
The Bible is the only source of the gospel message.
Ø Outside of the Bible, we have no gospel, no message for a sin-sick world; but as we read the Holy Scripture we see revealed the only hope of mankind in Jesus Christ.
Ø No other book contains the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ø This is why the Bible is indispensable.
Stephen Olford recounts:
I will never forget watching the face of a blind, paramount chief in Angola, Africa as my missionary father read to him some verses from John’s Prologue. Father had just completed the translation of this portion of Scripture into the A-Chokwe dialect and was trying it out on a man who was totally ignorant of the gospel. As he came to those words, “In him (the Lord Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4), the chief interjected with a plea—“Say that again, say that again. I am in darkness and I need a light.” His face was aglow and his sightless eyes were filled with tears as the simple message of life and light in Christ penetrated his darkness, through the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit. This is what Peter means when he says, “Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:25).
2B. The Word of God has a Redeeming Power in Jesus Christ (18-19)
We are slaves to sin
Jesus came to redeem us
Ø He made possible our salvation from sin, self, and Satan.
Ø So there is a redeeming power in this seed of the Word.
Cannibals or Christians
The story is told of a college professor who visited the Fiji Islands. Being agnostic, he critically remarked to an elderly chief, "You're a great leader, but it's a pity you've been taken in by those foreign missionaries. They only want to get rich through you. No one believes the Bible anymore. People are tired of the threadbare story of Christ dying on a cross for the sins of mankind. They know better now. I'm sorry you've been so foolish as to accept their story."
The old chief's eyes flashed as he answered, "See that great rock over there? On it we smashed the heads of our victims. Notice the furnace next to it? In that oven we formerly roasted the bodies of our enemies. If it hadn't been for those good missionaries and the love of Jesus that changed us from cannibals into Christians, you'd never leave this place alive! You'd better thank the Lord for the Gospel; otherwise we'd already be feasting on you. If it weren't for the Bible, you'd now be our supper!
3B. The Word of God has a Renewing Power in Jesus Christ (23)
It is the Word of God that brings spiritual life to man.
(Ephesians 2:1 NKJV) "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,"
It is the Word of God that brings maturity to the life of a believer.
(1 Peter 2:2 NKJV) "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,"
3A. The Seed of the New Life is the Directive Word of God (22)
No one can listen to the Word of God and stay neutral.
The Bible demands obedience.
Ø Failure to obey is disobedience, and disobedience is sin (1 Samuel 15:22-23) judged by God with eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).
Ø So we must be quick to obey what the Bible teaches.
The Bible directs us into three areas of obedience:
1B. The Word of God Demands the Obedience of Faith.
“that your faith … in God” (21b)
We are to place our faith in God alone.
Ø The Bible never directs us to place our faith in men, in works, or institutions, but rather in God.
This calls for repentance, or a change of mind.
Ø The reason for this is that our natural tendency is to depend on ourselves or on human resources —and God calls this sin.
Ø Repentance is a change of mind which leads to a change of direction and destiny.
Faith in God means commitment or surrender to Jesus Christ.
(Romans 10:17 NKJV) "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
2B. The Word of God Demands the Obedience of Hope.
“hope … in God” (21b)
No gospel, no hope
Ø There is no hope in human inventions and institutions.
Ø The existentialist describes life as “a long, dark tunnel without an end.”
Life, he tells us, is an absurdity, a meaningless nightmare.
This is the doctrine of despair.
When we turn to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and find hope!
Ø The Son of God died and rose again to give us hope, and because He lives we can know this living hope in a personal, powerful way.
3B. The Word of God Demands the Obedience of Love.
“in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,” (22b)
Our world knows nothing of true love.
We have the love of Christ.
Ø It is unconditional
Ø It is unfailing
Ø It is unmerited
Application
This new life in Christ starts with a seed—the Word of God.
It is a distinctive Word, trustworthy and authoritative.
It is a dynamic Word which has power to reveal, redeem and renew.
It is a directive Word which demands obedience.
To listen to this Word calls for a verdict.
To accept its message is to come into blessing; to reject its message is to remain in bondage.
In the final analysis, when we refer to the Word we speak not only of the written Word but also the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is God’s Seed who longs to be planted and nourished in our hearts.
Are we prepared to accept or reject Him? This is the crucial issue.
THE SEED OF THE NEW LIFE
New Life for You – 1 of 9
Sunday, January 12, 1999 – 1 Peter 1:23
Introduction
The essence of the gospel is that Christ came into the world to bring life to men and women who were dead in trespasses and sins. Just as seed produces physical birth, so divine life springs from incorruptible seed. Peter tells us:
1A. The Seed of the New Life is the Distinctive Word of God (1:23)
1B. It is the Word of Inerrancy (1:23)
2B. It is the Word of Authority (1:23)
3B. It is the Word of _____________ (1:23)
4) It is the Word of Vitality (1:23)
2A. The Seed of the New Life is the Dynamic Word of God (1:23)
1B. The Word of God has a Revealing ___________ in Jesus Christ (1:25)
2B. The Word of God has a Redeeming _____________ in Jesus Christ (1:18-19)
3B. The Word of God has a Renewing Power in Jesus Christ (1:23)
3A. The Seed of the New Life is the Directive Word of God (1:22)
1B. The Word of God Demands the Obedience of ______________ (1:21)
2B. The Word of God Demands the Obedience of ________________ (1:21)
3B. The Word of God Demands the Obedience of ______________ (1:22)
Application
The Word is both written (the Bible) and living (Jesus Christ) and is God’s seed to be planted and nourished in us. What is our response?