Born Again

For you have been born again [that is, reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [but from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God. – 1 Peter 1:23 AMP

Being born physically does not make us alive spiritually. In fact, Paul wrote that we all start out spiritually dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1).

God is the one who makes us alive when we come to Him through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:5–9).

Peter wrote at the beginning of this chapter that God had caused his believing readers to be born again.

So, as Christians who have been born again, we now have the ability to love each other with spiritually alive hearts. We can do this with all our might and complete sincerity. 

This spiritual birth leads to a life that will never end.

Physical birth results from a seed that dies eventually. But the new birth springs from an undying seed, through God’s undying word.

What is this “word of God”? In verse 25, Peter will tell us it is the good news that has been preached to us. We sometimes call it the gospel. It is the message from God that He will forgive our sins and make us spiritually alive forever in Christ.