You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 ESV

• The apostle Peter was always with Jesus, even in the most intimate conversation. Where did he hear Jesus speak about being born again?
• Sometimes people talk about eternal life as if it were something that begins after a human body has died. Is that what Peter says here? What is the perishable seed to which he refers?
• If you are already born of imperishable seed, what does that say about eternal life?

Eugene Peterson paraphrases this text this way:
Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! ^[1]

• How does the phrase, “conceived by God himself” change your view of your life?
• If your life feels like a mess right now, why do you suppose things are happening this way? Does the origin of your eternal life have any bearing on the way you address things that are hard to handle in your daily life?

After these words, Peter quoted Isaiah, who said,
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. 1 Peter 1:24b-25, Isaiah 40:8

• When facing tough problems, it is wise first to remember that you can trust God, and second to try to see the problem from God’s perspective. How does this passage encourage those two principles of problem-solving?
• When children face challenges, parents often say, “Remember who you are.” Put the words of this passage into your own language and look for the message Peter is sharing. What is it?

 

 

^[1] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (1 Pe 1:23). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.