Born Again Through the Living and Enduring Word of God

Our experience of inner purification by obeying the truth (given in the Word of God) should lead to our sincere love for one another. We have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God ("imperishable seed"). God's Word transforms us and sanctifies us. Our heart, mind, and spirit are purified and made new by the Holy Spirit and by God's Word. This new spiritual life is eternal/imperishable, not subject to decay and death. "Because he is reborn, the life of God is in him. The great characteristic of the life of God is love, and so the Christian must show that divine love for men. The Christian is the man who lives the Christ-filled life, the life that is different, never forgets the infinity of its obligation, and is made beautiful by the love of the God who gave it birth." (William Barclay) One of the evidences of our genuine regeneration is our sincere love (philadelphia in Greek, referring to the love that family members have for each other) for our brothers and sisters in Christ. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14) 

In addition, we are commanded to love (agape) one another deeply/fervently (ektenos in Greek) and sincerely (without pretense and without hypocrisy). "For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another...And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us." (1 John 3:11, 23) Agape is to love unconditionally, selflessly, and sacrificially. "Ektenos was an athletic term conveying the meaning of “striving with all of one’s energy” and was used to describe a runner who was moving at maximum output with taut muscles straining and stretching to the limit. This meaning presents the clear picture that love is not something that will just happen, but is something we have to work at like an Olympic athlete who strives to master his area of expertise with all his energy. We must make the choice and be earnest, resolute, even intense in our practice of agape love, always in complete dependence of God's indwelling Spirit and His living and abiding Word." (from preceptaustin.org)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for my spiritual rebirth and for Your living and enduring Word that continues to guide me and mold me! Please empower me to love like Christ. May my love for my brothers and sisters in Christ be evident through my words and actions! Please enable me to live a life of faith, love, obedience, and integrity always. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.