“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25)

In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” (John 3:3) Nicodemus was surprised by the statement and asked, “How can someone be born when they are old?” (John 3:4a) Jesus then gave the meaning of being born again. “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:5-6)

It is here that we see the reason for the Word of God, Jesus, to become flesh. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:12-14) We are born of flesh and in our flesh we will die. When we come to faith in the Living Word of God, Jesus, He comes into our lives and we are born again. This can happen because Jesus has overcome our death in the flesh as He rose from the dead. Peter writes, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23) We are given a new life as we are now born again of the Spirit. This new birth is imperishable. “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25) The Word of God who dwells in us gives us life that lives forever.

Our new life will be both of the spirit and of the body as the perishable will be changed. “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54)

There is a day coming when we who have the new birth, will also see the transformation of our perishable body which will be raised and it will be the imperishable body. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) Then we will be in God’s presence for eternity. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4) Let us learn to walk with the Living Word of God as we look forward to eternity with Him.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block