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Begotten From Above: Who? How? And For What Purpose?

March 05, 2006

Those begotten are the elect

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (ASV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us ~~again~~ from above [or literally up-begotten us] unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Anagennao

The Greek word anagennao, found in 1Peter 1:3 and 23, is translated by most English versions as “born again.” However, the prefix ana which is a preposition can be translated "up, upwards, above, or on high." The word gennao means, “to be born or begotten.” It can refer to “of men who fathered children,” or “of women giving birth to children.” A better and more literal translation is “up begotten” or “begotten from above.”

God’s elect are found in the churches

2 John 1 The elder unto the elect lady (the church) and her children (members), whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth

According to God’s abundant mercy

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Election is to aionios life

Acts 13:48 And when the (saved) Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified [or honored] the word of the Lord: and as many (not all) as were ordained to eternal life [aionios life] believed.

Aionios life is in the age to come

Luke 18:30 "who (that has forsaken all for the kingdom) shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life [aionios life]."

Aionios life is to inherit the promised kingdom

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life [aionios life].

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

To see the kingdom requires a birth from above

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born ~~again~~ FROM ABOVE, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

A lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus

1 Corinthians 6:14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

1 Peter 1:21 Who (“the elect,” 1:1; “begotten from above,” 1:3) through Him (Jesus) believe (present active) in God (the Father), who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

John 14:19 Jesus said, “… because I live, ye shall live also.”

The resurrection is the hope of all the Scriptures

Acts 24:14-15 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets;15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

By the resurrection we inherit the promise land

Ezekiel 37:11-14 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land (“a part in the first resurrection…will reign with Him for a thousand years,” Rev.20:6) then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Hope – inheritance – salvation

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us from above unto [eis – with view a to] a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To [eis – with a view to] an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto [eis – with a view to] salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Begotten from above by the word of God

1 Peter 1:23-25 ~~Being born again~~ Having been begotten from above [or up-begotten], not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by [or through the means of] the word of God (“the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” Lk.8:10-11), which liveth and abideth for [or with a view to] ~~ever~~ the age. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for [or with a view to] ~~ever~~ the age. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The children of God may know they have aionios life

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you (that have been born of God 2:29; 3:9;4:7;5:1;5:4,18) that believe [continually – present active] on the name of the Son of God (“the King of Israel,” Jn.1:49); that ye may know that ye have eternal life [or aionios life], and that ye may [continue to] believe on the name of the Son of God.

The character of those “born of God” in the First Epistle of John

They practice righteousness

1 John 2:29 If [since] ye know that He (God the Father) is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth [present active – practice] righteousness is born of [out from] Him

They do not continue in sin

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of [out from] God doth not commit sin [as a practice – present active indicative]; for His seed remaineth in him [present active indicative]: and he cannot sin [as a practice – present active], because he is born of [out from] God.

They continue to love one another

1 John 4:7 Beloved (“the elect of God,” Col.3:12), let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth [as a practice – present active] is born of [out from] God, and knoweth God.

They continue to believe that Jesus is “the Christ”

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth [as a practice – present active] that Jesus is the Christ is born of[out from] God: and every one that loveth [present active] Him that begat loveth [present active] him [a brother] also that is begotten of him.

They continually overcome the world

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of [out from] God overcometh [as a practice – present active] the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

They continue keep themselves from the devil

1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of [out from] God sinneth not [as a practive - present active indicative]; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself [as practice – present active], and that wicked one toucheth [continually fasten to or clings to] him not.

Examine yourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Don’t be self-deceived

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Keep walking worthy

Ephesians 4:1-2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.

Your calling and election are conditional

2 Peter 1:10-11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure[safe from danger; without any doubt]: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered [provided or supplied] unto you abundantly into the ~~everlasting~~ age-lasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.