Reborn as Descendants of the King of kings
Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for May 4th, PM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
Also available as a podcast at: http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/kindle/2008/05/29/reborn-as-descendants-of-the-king-of-kings-2/
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“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)
Peter most earnestly urged the scattered saints to “love one another deeply, from the heart” and he wisely obtained his argument, not from the law, from nature, or from philosophy, but from that high and divine nature which God has implanted in His people.
In the same way that a prudent tutor of princes might labour to instill and foster in them a kingly spirit and dignified behaviour, basing arguments in the prince’s position and descent, so too did Peter says to us: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:22-23)
Peter says this as he looks upon God’s people as heirs of glory, princes of the royal blood, and descendants of the King of kings, earth’s truest and oldest aristocracy. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in the spirit of humility, we recognized the true dignity of our reborn nature, and actually lived up to it?
What is a Christian? If you compare him with a king, he adds priestly sanctity to royal dignity. The king’s royalty often lies only in his crown, but with a Christian it is infused into his inmost nature. He is as much above his fellows through his new birth as a man is above all animals.
Surely we ought to carry ourselves, in all our dealings, as people who are not of the common rabble, but chosen out of the world. We should be distinguished by sovereign grace, written among “the peculiar people” and who therefore cannot grovel in the dust as others, nor live after the manner of the our culture’s conventions.
Let the dignity of your reborn nature, and the brightness of your prospects, you believer in Christ, constrain you to yearn for and cling to holiness, and to avoid the very appearance of evil.
Question: What is the significance of Jesus’ title “King of kings”?
About this Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalformen/authors/charles-spurgeon/
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
God cannot reward us as long as we are self-centered and seek our own selfish interests and the approval of others.God will begin listening and showing God’s self to us when we learn to do things for God alone.
A believer and a doer, is one who sees what cannot be seen and happy to know that God sees and knows him and what is kept secret.
Matthew 6: 6-13, John 3:3,6 and John 4:24 are good readings for a Divine Therapy and the healing of the wounds of original sin and its serious consequences that hampers Eternal Life.
Francis Andrew
Challenging words. I am not sure I live up to this standard and tend to see Christian primarily as fallen rather than Holy. Such a change in perspective would certainly change the way we deal with people. I dont think of myself as “distinguished by sovereign grace” but it would be nice to be thought of in that way. I good goal to strive for? or better still a great place to be with the Lords help.
Kym from Brisbane Australia.