Page 40 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

Study Section 8: New Birth and Response to New Birth.

8.1 Connect.

God is Holy. That means God is separated from sin and in Him is no blemish at all. But it means
so much more. For a person to be holy, he must not only be separated from the wrong things
in life, but he must be wholly dedicated toward what is pure and right. A holy person stands out
as salt and light in a tasteless and dark world!

There are numerous verses in the Bible that communicate that the Lord is Holy. “Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord of Hosts.” This is the cry of the four living creatures without ceasing in Heaven (Revelation
4:8). We know that God certainly is HOLY. However, in I Peter, God commands Christians to be
Holy, just as He is Holy. Wow! Is that possible? I think the focus of this command as we read it in I
Peter 1:16 is not to be sinless, which is impossible for you or me to obtain. However, we can be fully
dedicated to God and righteousness in the way we live. In fact, that is the emphasis of this
command – to be holy in all manner of living! Let’s see how this is possible…

8.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to identify and describe the foundation of new birth (salvation).

2. The student should be able to explain why once saved you should always be a saved person.

3. The student should be able to identify and explain why Christians experience suffering.

4. The student should be able to identify, describe, and apply the response to the new birth caused by
the great mercy of God.

8.3 New Birth and Response to New Birth (1 Pet. 1:1—2:3).

New Birth (1 Pet. 1:1-12).

Basis and Security of our New Birth (1 Pet. 1:1-2).
Notice that apostle Peter addresses his audience as God’s elect in keeping with the
foreknowledge of God the Father. Elsewhere, in the same book, the term choosing or electing
is used when Peter described Jesus Christ to have been “chosen before the creation of the world, but
was revealed in these last times for” their (and our) sake (cf. 1 Pet. 1:19-20). That should be a source of
realization and encouragement to us that our God does not plan to do something at the time of the
event. Our God does not decide to bring relief or revenge to our enemies at the time when relief or
revenge is needed. God foreknew us before anything ever existed. As to the audiences’ atmosphere,
God through Peter’s encouragement wanted them to know that before they could suffer grief, God
knew them and became His. Everything was already planned because He is the omniscient God. Before
they could actually know or realize it, God chose them. As a result, the Holy Spirit had to set them apart
from a bunch in order that they can put their faith in Christ, so that they can continue to obey Jesus
Christ and be sprinkled by His blood. “Jesus’ blood cleanses (present tense) us and enables us to be in
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fellowship with God (1 John 1:7, 9).” Notice here the involvement of all members of Godhead in our

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