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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
There have been certain terms that have changed over time to become put-downs. The word Fundamentalist originally meant someone who believed the fundamentals of the faith, virgin birth, inerrancy of the Bible, atonement, resurrection, and miracles. Now it means anyone who appears rabidly narrow-minded and crazy. “Born again” began as a description of what happens to a person when they meet Jesus but now means crazy person. Nicodemus was told he needed to be born again. Paul told the Corinthians they become new creation, born again. Here, Peter uses the same term in the same original context. He proclaims that Jesus Christ mercifully became the substitute for us on the cross but the resurrection and his subsequent return are our hope for life, in this world and the next.
May we never fear to be a fundamentalist and born again in the truest sense of the term. May we believe the core truths of our faith and be changed into new creatures who worship Jesus and suffer for him. Peter wrote this to those undergoing the beginnings of persecution. As we begin on the same road, let God be true and every man a liar.
Dear Lord, thank you that we have these core beliefs of our faith that you gave us in your holy word. May we cling to them for our rebirth and renewal. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church