Sermon
Praise God For Our Future Inheritance
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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Last week we looked at Peter's opening greeting here in verses 1 and 2, which functions as a really helpful introduction to the material of the letter.
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! If you remember, he does something specific there that's helpful for us to remember as we work our way through the letter.
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He characterizes these Christians as spiritual exiles.
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Not meaning that they are being punished by God as exiles for something that they have done.
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Not even necessarily meaning that they are physical exiles in the sense of being displaced from a particular community or a particular land.
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They're spiritual exiles in the sense that they are strangers in this world.
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That's who we are as believers.
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We serve a different king.
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We belong to a different kingdom.
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A different country.
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And our time here is purposeful.
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It's intentional.
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God's glory is to be displayed through us.
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But this is never to feel like home.
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We are exiles here.
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Waiting for our king to return and to take us home.
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And of course, such an existence is obviously full of hardships.
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And Peter addresses many of those hardships throughout the letter.
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But still, the purpose of his writing is not just to show these Christians that they can survive the exile.
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It's more than that.
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He's writing so that they might understand that they can actually thrive in it.
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That you and I, as God's people, we don't have to struggle in the sense of just hoping to make it to the end.
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Even though most days feel that way.
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No, Peter writes to say, no, there's a way that despite the hardships and despite the temptations and despite the sufferings,
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you can actually thrive in this time of exile, in this time as a stranger in the world.
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And that's really the purpose of the letter.
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By God's grace, that's what we will do.
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We'll thrive.
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Our text today in verse 3 begins the first major section of the letter which focuses on the call to salvation.
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In order to thrive in exile, we must remember who we are in Christ and live our lives in light of that new identity.
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And a focus on this gospel identity that's rooted in the person and the work of Jesus Christ will show itself supremely in sincere and joyful worship.
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And that's precisely where Peter begins.
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Look with me at verses 3 to 5.
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
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To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
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Kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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Now I want you to notice that Peter's first order of business was not to confront those who were conforming to the world in which they lived.
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It wasn't to instruct those on how to handle their persecutors on how to exist in that kind of environment.
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That's not the first order of business here.
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Instead, Peter's first objective is to call us to worship.
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blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ he opens the primary content of the letter
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as a matter of first importance peter is recalibrating our focus he's reorienting our
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hearts to a sincere and joyful burst of praise to god if you're new to christianity you're just
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trying to sort things out there's there's something that you need to notice here in this opening praise
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blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ he says he doesn't call us to worship some
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generic god in the great unknown this is this is not the god of islam
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this is not the god of orthodox judaism this is not a god of any other religion
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don't let anybody ever tell you that we're all basically serving the same god we're just all
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doing it in a different kind of way that's not true there's a specific thing that peter says here in this
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praise that makes it distinctly christian he says that we are to bless our god and father the god
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and father of our lord jesus christ in other words the way that we relate to god is through our lord
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jesus christ we know him not only in his creation but supremely because he has been revealed in the son
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jesus christ it is jesus who reveals the father to us it is jesus who gets us to the father through his
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atoning sacrifice christianity fundamentally is us coming to god through the work
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of the son and that's who peter calls on us to worship here now why is it so important for peter to start
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this way just consider the nature of the condition of these people to whom he was writing he's already
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characterized them as exiles that that word is loaded with significance in this letter
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as you read through the letter you find that some of them are really facing intense suffering
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not just the suffering that all of us face in a fallen world but suffering as specifically because
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they are followers of jesus christ that's their circumstances their condition
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some of them are battling through temptation at this point because they're they're getting to a point
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it's getting really hard to live distinctly in this world it's getting increasingly more difficult for
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them to represent their king in this exile they're struggling with sin some of them are struggling with
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doubts many of them are just struggling why is it important that peter starts this way for struggling
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christians for strangers for strangers in this world worship can very quickly grow cold can't it
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the various difficulties that we endure as believers in this life they can overwhelm our joy
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they can distract us from the hope that god has given us in christ jesus
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and yet peter reminds us right here from the very beginning we were created to worship
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that's our purpose
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through sin we fall short of that purpose and yet through christ that purpose has been redeemed
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god is calling out his people why in order that they might bring him glory
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and peter starts right here from the very beginning and he says look i know you're struggling
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so why don't we just start with a worship service peter says blessed be the god and father of our lord
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jesus christ you know many times what we really need most is not necessarily for our problems to be fixed
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or for our circumstances to be changed what we need is for someone
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to simply remind us of the glories of the gospel
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and call us back to a sincere and joyful praise of god
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and we're to be thankful for peter in this in this instance
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because many of us are struggling
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all of us for different reasons
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maybe it's a season of life maybe it's a particular hardship
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and yet all of us
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who are in christ
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can lift this same praise that peter
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calls on us to lift
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peter helps us here
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he lifts our heads he lifts our
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hearts to the magnitude
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of god's great salvation
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now this call to worship it's it's going to run all the way through from verse 3 to verse 12
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and it's focused entirely on god's grace and salvation
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we are to praise god in other words for the salvation that god has brought us
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through jesus christ
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there's various ways that we speak about this salvation and they're represented in these
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few verses that peter gives us here
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sometimes we speak of salvation in the past tense that we
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were saved or we have been saved what we mean by that is there was a time in our lives where we were converted
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to the gospel of jesus christ to faith in the lord jesus christ the spirit bringing us to life and we trusted in him we say say we're saved past tense
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sometimes we speak of our salvation in the present tense don't we
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we think of the fact that we are being saved that is by god's gracious work he is sanctifying his people he's purifying us he's making us holy in this life presently
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still there's other times we speak of salvation in the future tense one day we will be saved
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there is a future dynamic to our salvation an eschatological dimension to our future salvation and that's what
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peter has in mind here in verses 3 to 5
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this future
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this future eschatological reality of salvation and he speaks of it in unique terms he speaks of it here as an inheritance
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so believers are to praise god for their future
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inheritance peter says an inheritance that does not come in its fullness now an inheritance that is promised to us
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and is waiting for us beyond this time of exile
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and by doing that by being cognizant of living in light of the gospel by praising god for this future
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inheritance
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we start this journey
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of not surviving the exile
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thriving
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in the exile
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there's three dynamics of this
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eternal inheritance that i think
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should motivate
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our sincere and joyful worship
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number one notice
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we are to praise god
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for the right
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to this future inheritance
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we're to praise god for the right
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to this future
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inheritance
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look again at verse 3
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blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ
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according to his great mercy
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he has caused us to be born again
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to a living hope
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through the resurrection of jesus christ
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from the dead
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and what is it that we have been born again to
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he tells us in verse 4
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to an
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inheritance
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now
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the concept of inheritance
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it isn't foreign to us at all
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an inheritance simply is the passing of something from one
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generation to
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another
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sometimes we we speak of an inheritance as inheriting certain
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physical characteristics or
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personality traits
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from our parents right
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look around the room at the kids who are here
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there's really no question which kids belong to
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amy blevins
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which kids belong to
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jenny allen
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which kids belong to
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julie blankenship
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right there's certain things about them
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they inherit
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through their parents right
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but most of the time when we think of an inheritance
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we're not so much thinking of
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inheriting certain traits
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we're thinking of inheriting possessions or
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wealth
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and the thing about an inheritance
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is that it's not something you can just simply claim for yourself
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an inheritance is something that is
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given to you
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not based on something that you do
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not based on
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a means of earning
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or even something that you deserve
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it's based on the virtue of who you are
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a birthright
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it is given to
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sons
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and daughters
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and this is how Peter speaks of our salvation
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in verse
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three
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it is an inheritance
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to be received in full
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after
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our exile
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but what gives us the right
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to this eternal inheritance
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well he says
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it is given to us by virtue
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of our birth
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not a physical birth
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a spiritual
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birth
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notice what he says
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according to his great mercy
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God has
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caused us
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to be born
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again
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the new birth
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the spiritual birth
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to an inheritance
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we receive
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the internal
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inheritance
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of eternal salvation
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by virtue of the new
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birth
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and that new birth
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comes
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from God
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to receive this salvation
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to receive
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this inheritance
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in other words
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you must
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be born
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again
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let's just look a little closer
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at how
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Peter describes this
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first
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he
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tells us
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that the new birth
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is
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undeserved
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and it is undeserved
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because it is
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according
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to God's
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great
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mercy
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do you see that
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he says
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it is according
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to his great
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mercy
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that he has
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caused us
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to be born
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again
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now there is
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a lot
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of words
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Peter could have
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used here
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he could have
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said
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that this
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was according
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to God's
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great
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kindness
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he has
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caused us
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to be born
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again
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he could have
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said
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this is
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according
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to God's
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great
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love
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that he
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has caused
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us to be
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born
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again
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both of those
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things would be
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absolutely
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true
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but that is
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not what
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Peter says
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why does
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he use
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mercy
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I think
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what Peter's
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doing is
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reminding us
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that God
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doesn't actually
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owe us
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anything
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by nature
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we are not
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his children
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by nature
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we're his
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enemies
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fallen
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in rebellion
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dead
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in our
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trespasses
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and sins
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he doesn't
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owe us
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anything
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Peter says
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you are
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born again
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today
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if you're
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a Christian
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you're born
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again
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first
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because of
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God's
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mercy
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it's not
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because you
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deserve it
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it's because
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he is a
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merciful
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God
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remember
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the Bible
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tells us
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that
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apart from
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the Lord
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Jesus Christ
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there is
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not a person
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on this
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planet
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who is
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truly
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righteous
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that apart
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from God's
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gracious
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work in
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our lives
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no one
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even
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really
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seeks
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for God
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we talk
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about
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seekers
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sometimes
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in
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Christianity
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right
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those who
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seem to
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be seeking
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for something
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more
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seeking
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for God
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seeking
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for
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truth
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certainly
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we want
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to have
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a category
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for that
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but
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Romans 3
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it tells
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us
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plainly
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that no
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one
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in and
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of
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themselves
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really
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even
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wants
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God
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we're
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his
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enemies
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by
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nature
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what
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does it
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take
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in order
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for us
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to become
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his
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children
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mercy
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mercy
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that's
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what Shane
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read to us
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just a
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moment ago
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in David's
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prayer
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from Psalm
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51
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David
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says
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have
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mercy
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on me
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oh
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God
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if
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you're
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a
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Christian
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you're
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right
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to this
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future
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inheritance
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you need
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to remember
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it's
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totally
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of God's
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great
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mercy
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and you
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know
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what
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that
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should
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do
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for you
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it
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should
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cause
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you
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to
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join
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Peter
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in
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saying
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blessed
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to be
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the
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God
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and
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Father
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of
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our
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Lord
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Jesus
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Christ
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because
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I
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don't
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deserve
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anything
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he's
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given
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me
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but
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he
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is
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a
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merciful
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God
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second
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Peter
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tells
-
us
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that
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the
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new
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birth
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is
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unearned
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it's
-
undeserved
-
because
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it's
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according
-
to
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God's
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great
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mercy
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it's
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unearned
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because
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he
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says
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God
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has
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caused
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us
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to
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be
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born
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again
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of
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course
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we
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understand
-
here
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born
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again
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is
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it's
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not
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a
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spiritual
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status
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that
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you
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receive
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after
-
completing
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a
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series
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of
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steps
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along
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a
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religious
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journey
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it's
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not
-
something
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you
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can
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choose
-
it's
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not
-
something
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you
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can
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earn
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in
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any
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sense
-
of
-
that
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word
-
again
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Ephesians
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tells
-
us
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we
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are
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dead
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in
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our
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trespasses
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and
-
sins
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meaning
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we
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are
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utterly
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incapable
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of
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obtaining
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spiritual
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life
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save
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that
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God
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the
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living
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one
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intervenes
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and
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invades
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who
-
we
-
are
-
and
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brings
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us
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to
-
life
-
again
-
this
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new
-
birth
-
it
-
is
-
something
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that
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happens
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to
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you
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by
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God's
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gracious
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initiative
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now
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where
-
exactly
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does
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Peter
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get
-
this
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idea
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is
-
he
-
just
-
making
-
this
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up
-
is
-
this
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just
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something
-
that
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he's
-
brought
-
to
-
mind
-
and
-
he
-
thinks
-
that
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maybe
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this
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is
-
his
-
interpretation
-
on
-
things
-
related
-
to
-
the
-
gospel
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and
-
the
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way
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that
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God
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works
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so
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he
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decides
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he's
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going
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to
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throw
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this
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little
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phrase
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in
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there
-
to
-
trip
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us
-
up
-
no
-
you
-
know
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he
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gets
-
this
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from
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Jesus
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doesn't
-
he
-
that
-
great
-
conversation
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that we
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read in
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John chapter
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three
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of
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Jesus
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with
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Nicodemus
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Jesus
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plainly
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tells
-
Nicodemus
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he says
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unless
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you're
-
born
-
again
-
you can't
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see
-
the
-
kingdom
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of
-
God
-
seeing
-
the
-
kingdom
-
of
-
God
-
in
-
Jesus
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words
-
there
-
is
-
the
-
same
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thing
-
that
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Peter
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is
-
saying
-
when
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he
-
talks
-
about
-
an
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eternal
-
inheritance
-
Jesus
-
speaking
-
of
-
the
-
kingdom
-
same
-
thing
-
he's
-
talking
-
about
-
salvation
-
he's
-
talking
-
about
-
eternal
-
life
-
and
-
Jesus
-
tells
-
Nicodemus
-
unless
-
you're
-
born
-
again
-
you
-
can't
-
have
-
salvation
-
and
-
do you
-
remember
-
what
-
Nicodemus
-
response
-
was
-
how
-
is
-
it
-
possible
-
do
-
I
-
have
-
to
-
go
-
back
-
into
-
my
-
mother's
-
womb
-
how
-
is
-
this
-
actually
-
possible
-
I
-
don't
-
think
-
Nicodemus
-
was
-
confused
-
about
-
what
-
Jesus
-
was
-
saying
-
he
-
was
-
a
-
rabbinical
-
teacher
-
I
-
think
-
this
-
probably
-
was
-
maybe
-
an
-
analogy
-
that
-
some
-
rabbis
-
would
-
have
-
used
-
for
-
different
-
spiritual
-
truths
-
I
-
don't
-
think
-
he's
-
that
-
disconnected
-
from
-
what
-
Jesus
-
is
-
saying
-
about
-
the
-
new
-
birth
-
I
-
think
-
his
-
question
-
is
-
actually
-
just
-
to
-
say
-
how
-
can
-
I
-
be
-
born
-
again
-
if
-
a
-
new
-
birth
-
is
-
what
-
I
-
need
-
to
-
see
-
the
-
kingdom
-
how
-
do
-
I
-
get
-
that
-
I
-
know
-
I
-
can't
-
go
-
Nicodemus
-
as
-
the
-
Lord
-
is
-
working
-
on
-
his
-
heart
-
as
-
the
-
spirit
-
is
-
working
-
on
-
his
-
heart
-
he
-
already
-
seems
-
to be
-
putting
-
some
-
of
-
the
-
pieces
-
together
-
I
-
can't
-
do
-
this
-
for
-
myself
-
and
-
you
-
remember
-
how
-
Jesus
-
responds
-
to
-
that
-
he
-
says
-
you
-
know
-
Nicodemus
-
that
-
which
-
is
-
born
-
of
-
flesh
-
is
-
flesh
-
and
-
that
-
which
-
is
-
born
-
that
-
way
-
doesn't
-
receive
-
the
-
kingdom
-
of
-
God
-
but
-
that
-
which
-
is
-
you
-
know
-
Nicodemus
-
the
-
spirit
-
is
-
like
-
the
-
wind
-
you
-
can't
-
control
-
him
-
and
-
you
-
can't
-
exactly
-
discern
-
everything
-
that
-
it's
-
doing
-
but
-
the
-
spirit
-
he
-
comes
-
in
-
and
-
he
-
he
-
blows
-
in
-
with
-
great
-
effect
-
and
-
what
-
is
-
that
-
effect
-
faith
-
in
-
the
-
Lord
-
Jesus
-
Christ
-
and
-
what
-
is
-
it
-
based
-
on
-
not
-
something
-
that
-
Nicodemus
-
could
-
do
-
not
-
something
-
that
-
Nicodemus
-
chose
-
but
-
on
-
the
-
saving
-
initiative
-
of
-
through
-
the
-
work
-
of
-
the
-
Holy
-
Spirit
-
this
-
new
-
birth
-
it's
-
it's
-
undeserved
-
it's
-
according
-
to
-
God's
-
great
-
mercy
-
it's
-
unearned
-
because
-
it is
-
God
-
who
-
has
-
caused
-
us
-
to
-
be
-
born
-
again
-
and
-
third
-
we
-
find
-
here
-
that
-
the
-
new
-
birth
-
is
-
unmistakable
-
when
-
it
-
happens
-
it
-
can't
-
be
-
denied
-
why
-
because
-
it
-
results
-
in a
-
living
-
hope
-
through
-
the
-
resurrection
-
of
-
Jesus
-
Christ
-
from
-
the
-
dead
-
now
-
how
-
exactly
-
does
-
God
-
accomplish
-
this
-
work
-
of
-
the
-
new
-
birth
-
how
-
do
-
we
-
experience
-
it
-
what
-
is
-
its
-
effect
-
we
-
understand
-
theologically
-
there's
-
these
-
things
-
that are
-
happening
-
but
-
what
-
does it
-
actually
-
look
-
like
-
how
-
do
-
we
-
actually
-
come
-
to
-
be
-
born
-
again
-
now
-
Peter
-
helps
-
us
-
a
-
little
-
bit
-
later
-
in
-
the
-
chapter
-
just
-
set
-
your
-
eyes
-
on
-
verse
-
23
-
he
-
uses
-
this
-
terminology
-
again
-
Peter
-
says
-
since
-
you
-
have
-
been
-
born
-
again
-
not
-
of
-
perishable
-
seed
-
but
-
of
-
imperishable
-
that
-
is
-
the
-
spiritual
-
birth
-
not
-
a
-
physical
-
birth
-
through
-
the
-
living
-
and
-
abiding
-
word
-
of
-
God
-
now
-
look
-
at
-
verse
-
25
-
and
-
this
-
word
-
is
-
the
-
good
-
news
-
that
-
was
-
preached
-
to
-
you
-
so
-
what
-
is
-
Peter
-
saying
-
there
-
he's
-
helping
-
us
-
to
-
understand
-
how
-
this
-
actually
-
happens
-
how
-
does
-
God
-
bring
-
about
-
the
-
new
-
birth
-
that
-
is
-
undeserved
-
!
-
and
-
unearned
-
well
-
he
-
does
-
it
-
through
-
the
-
preaching
-
of
-
the
-
gospel
-
that
-
as
-
the
-
gospel
-
is
-
proclaimed
-
the
-
spirit
-
of
-
God
-
the
-
wind
-
blows
-
God's
-
spirit
-
comes
-
in
-
and
-
brings
-
us
-
to
-
life
-
and
-
that
-
results
-
in
-
faith
-
in
-
the
-
gospel
-
message
-
the
-
gospel
-
is
-
preached
-
the
-
spirit
-
regenerates
-
and brings
-
to
-
life
-
there's
-
new
-
birth
-
and
-
that
-
is
-
affecting
-
a
-
living
-
hope
-
a
-
saving
-
faith
-
rooted
-
in the
-
resurrection
-
of the
-
Lord
-
Jesus
-
Christ
-
from
-
the
-
dead
-
now
-
the
-
theological
-
progression
-
here
-
is
-
important
-
it
-
shouldn't
-
be
-
overlooked
-
it's
-
the
-
very
-
thing
-
that's
-
actually
-
driving
-
Peter's
-
call
-
to
-
worship
-
God's
-
mercy
-
comes
-
to
-
us
-
through
-
the
-
preaching
-
of
-
the
-
gospel
-
he
-
causes
-
us
-
to
-
be
-
born
-
again
-
by
-
the
-
spirit
-
and
-
the
-
result
-
of
-
that
-
new
-
birth
-
is
-
a
-
living
-
hope
-
and
-
faith
-
in
-
the
-
Lord
-
Jesus
-
Christ
-
so
-
what's
-
Peter's
-
main
-
point
-
then
-
his
-
point
-
is
-
that
-
Christians
-
are
-
to
-
praise
-
God
-
because
-
his
-
great
-
mercy
-
he's
-
caused
-
us
-
to
-
be
-
born
-
again
-
to
-
a
-
living
-
hope
-
so
-
that
-
we
-
might
-
have
-
the
-
right
-
to
-
this
-
future
-
inheritance
-
not
-
on the
-
basis
-
of
-
something
-
we've
-
done
-
but
-
on
-
the
-
basis
-
of
-
who
-
we
-
are
-
in
-
Christ
-
we
-
are
-
his
-
therefore
-
we
-
are
-
to
-
praise
-
God
-
even
-
in
-
the
-
hardest
-
parts
-
of
-
our
-
exile
-
number
-
two
-
we're
-
to
-
praise
-
God
-
for
-
the
-
right
-
to
-
the
-
future
-
inheritance
-
secondly
-
we're
-
to
-
praise
-
God
-
for
-
the
-
quality
-
of
-
the
-
future
-
inheritance
-
look at
-
verse
-
four
-
he has
-
caused
-
us to
-
be born
-
again
-
to
-
an
-
inheritance
-
and then
-
he describes
-
the
-
inheritance
-
that is
-
imperishable
-
undefiled
-
and
-
unfading
-
kept
-
in
-
heaven
-
for
-
you
-
now what
-
exactly is
-
this
-
inheritance
-
that's being
-
kept
-
for
-
us
-
that's
-
eternal
-
life
-
salvation
-
what was
-
it that
-
Jesus
-
said
-
he said
-
I have
-
come
-
that they
-
may
-
have
-
life
-
and
-
that
-
they
-
may
-
have
-
life
-
abundant
-
John
-
in
-
John
-
chapter
-
three
-
writes
-
whoever
-
believes
-
in him
-
shall
-
not
-
perish
-
but
-
have
-
everlasting
-
life
-
what is
-
this
-
future
-
inheritance
-
It is
-
an
-
eternal
-
life
-
that
-
is
-
the
-
living
-
hope
-
that
-
is
-
found
-
in
-
the
-
resurrection
-
of
-
Jesus
-
Christ
-
it's
-
not
-
just
-
that
-
this
-
is
-
a
-
spiritual
-
life
-
it's
-
even
-
a
-
physical
-
life
-
because
-
he
-
rose
-
from
-
the
-
dead
-
so
-
will
-
all
-
who
-
are
-
in
-
him
-
by
-
faith
-
because
-
his
-
resurrection
-
was a
-
bodily
-
resurrection
-
so
-
will
-
our
-
resurrection
-
be
-
a
-
bodily
-
resurrection
-
that's
-
the
-
nature
-
of
-
this
-
life
-
but
-
what's
-
the
-
quality
-
of
-
it
-
it's
-
unlike
-
anything
-
that we
-
have
-
or ever
-
will
-
experience
-
here
-
in
-
this
-
life
-
I
-
think
-
it's
-
beyond
-
what we
-
can
-
really
-
comprehend
-
end
-
which
-
I
-
think
-
is
-
why
-
David
-
Helms
-
said
-
Peter
-
finds
-
it
-
difficult
-
to
-
find
-
words
-
to
-
do
-
justice
-
in
-
capturing
-
the
-
greatness
-
of
-
this
-
future
-
inheritance
-
!
-
So
-
in
-
describing
-
it
-
he
-
can
-
do
-
no
-
better
-
than
-
use
-
three
-
words
-
that
-
tell
-
us
-
what
-
it's
-
not
-
it's
-
not
-
that
-
he
-
has
-
all
-
of
-
this
-
language
-
to
-
tell
-
us
-
what
-
it
-
will
-
be
-
like
-
!
-
it's
-
but
-
he
-
can
-
certainly
-
point
-
to
-
a few
-
things
-
to
-
say
-
this
-
is
-
what
-
it
-
won't
-
be
-
like
-
he
-
gives
-
us
-
three
-
first
-
he
-
says
-
it's
-
imperishable
-
that
-
is
-
it's
-
not
-
able
-
to
-
be
-
destroyed
-
Christ
-
having
-
died
-
for
-
sin
-
will
-
never
-
die
-
again
-
and
-
if
-
our
-
life
-
is
-
hidden
-
in
-
Christ
-
Jesus
-
then
-
that
-
means
-
that
-
in
-
the
-
new
-
life
-
we
-
will
-
never
-
die
-
again
-
it
-
can't
-
be
-
destroyed
-
it's
-
it
-
means
-
it's
-
not
-
corrupted
-
it's
-
not
-
polluted
-
we're
-
thinking
-
about
-
our
-
sin
-
nature
-
at
-
this
-
point
-
and
-
original
-
sin
-
and
-
how
-
even
-
in
-
exile
-
as
-
believers
-
with
-
a new
-
identity
-
in
-
Christ
-
we
-
still
-
wrestle
-
with
-
our
-
flesh
-
and
-
temptation
-
and
-
Peter
-
says
-
this
-
new
-
life
-
I
-
don't
-
know
-
exactly
-
all
-
that
-
it's
-
going
-
to
-
be
-
but
-
I
-
can
-
tell
-
you
-
it
-
will
-
be
-
undefiled
-
it
-
will
-
not
-
be
-
corrupted
-
by
-
sin
-
it
-
will
-
not
-
be
-
polluted
-
by
-
a
-
sinful
-
nature
-
and
-
then
-
third
-
he
-
says
-
it's
-
unfading
-
meaning
-
it's
-
it's
-
not
-
subject
-
to
-
decay
-
it
-
won't
-
fade
-
away
-
this
-
may
-
just
-
sound
-
like
-
three
-
basic
-
synonyms
-
but I
-
think
-
Peter
-
is
-
doing
-
something
-
particular
-
here
-
by way
-
of
-
contrast
-
he's
-
helping
-
us
-
to
-
grasp
-
the
-
beauty
-
and
-
the
-
quality
-
of
-
the
-
life
-
that
-
is
-
being
-
kept
-
for
-
us
-
heaven
-
here
-
in
-
exile
-
our
-
lives
-
can
-
be
-
destroyed
-
through
-
great
-
suffering
-
and
-
persecution
-
but in
-
heaven
-
we will
-
inherit
-
a life
-
that cannot
-
be
-
destroyed
-
that's
-
our
-
inheritance
-
here
-
in
-
exile
-
our
-
lives
-
are
-
corrupted
-
by
-
sin
-
as we
-
battle
-
against
-
the
-
flesh
-
but in
-
heaven
-
we will
-
not only
-
be free
-
from the
-
power
-
of sin
-
we will
-
be free
-
from the
-
presence
-
of sin
-
no longer
-
corrupted
-
by the
-
nature
-
we inherited
-
from
-
Adam
-
that's
-
our
-
inheritance
-
here
-
in
-
exile
-
our
-
bodies
-
are
-
subject
-
to
-
decay
-
fading
-
on and
-
on
-
as the
-
years
-
go
-
by
-
you
-
know
-
what
-
this
-
is
-
like
-
we
-
can
-
look
-
around
-
we're
-
praying
-
for
-
for
-
Bob
-
we're
-
praying
-
for
-
Marty
-
they
-
know
-
they
-
know
-
immediately
-
exactly
-
what
-
the
-
hope
-
is
-
that
-
Peter
-
is
-
giving
-
to
-
Christians
-
when
-
he
-
says
-
this
-
new
-
life
-
will
-
be
-
unfading
-
it
-
won't
-
decay
-
we'll
-
be in
-
a place
-
and we'll
-
experience
-
a life
-
an eternal
-
body
-
that will
-
never
-
again
-
endure
-
sickness
-
and cancer
-
and pain
-
or decay
-
of any
-
kind
-
that's
-
our
-
inheritance
-
Peter
-
says
-
it's
-
imperishable
-
it's
-
undefiled
-
it's
-
unfading
-
and God
-
is keeping
-
it
-
just as
-
it is
-
for you
-
what an
-
incredible
-
encouragement
-
this must
-
have been
-
to these
-
Christians
-
in
-
Asia
-
what a
-
joy
-
it must
-
have brought
-
to their
-
hearts
-
to think
-
about
-
what was
-
waiting
-
for them
-
beyond
-
their
-
exile
-
what a
-
joy
-
for us
-
Andrew
-
Wilson
-
published
-
an article
-
with the
-
gospel
-
coalition
-
this week
-
it was
-
so good
-
it was
-
basically
-
a book
-
review
-
of two
-
secular
-
books
-
that were
-
recently
-
written
-
that were
-
really
-
looking
-
back
-
on
-
sociologically
-
on the
-
nature
-
of what
-
we have
-
experienced
-
over
-
maybe the
-
last
-
15 to
-
20 years
-
one of
-
them
-
focuses
-
especially
-
on the
-
summer
-
of 2020
-
which is
-
a summer
-
that probably
-
all of us
-
would love
-
to forget
-
about
-
and he's
-
bringing
-
various events
-
to the
-
surface
-
right
-
global
-
pandemic
-
contentious
-
political
-
election
-
the death
-
of George
-
Floyd
-
so on
-
and so
-
forth
-
things just
-
are exacerbated
-
from there
-
it gets worse
-
and worse
-
and there's
-
all of this
-
carry over
-
from that
-
sociologically
-
in the
-
life that
-
we're living
-
today
-
the other
-
book is
-
it's called
-
We Were
-
Never Woke
-
and basically
-
it's not a
-
Christian book
-
it's not even
-
really a
-
conservative book
-
but it's
-
looking back
-
really going
-
all the way
-
back to
-
2008
-
and it's
-
examining
-
what has
-
led us
-
to this
-
moment
-
and it
-
talks about
-
social
-
capital
-
that really
-
the wokeness
-
that is being
-
portrayed
-
if that's the
-
word you
-
want to
-
use
-
it's not
-
legitimate
-
that if we
-
just look at
-
the data
-
what's behind
-
this is not
-
legitimate
-
and Andrew
-
Wilson he
-
writes and
-
he says
-
both of
-
these books
-
are worth
-
reading
-
and he
-
says the
-
glaring
-
weakness
-
in both
-
books
-
though
-
is that
-
for all
-
of the
-
devastation
-
that they
-
present
-
for all
-
of the
-
triggers
-
that they
-
present
-
probably
-
for some
-
of us
-
mentally
-
and emotionally
-
they don't
-
offer a
-
single
-
piece
-
of hope
-
no hope
-
for the
-
future
-
no hope
-
that things
-
will get
-
better
-
and everybody's
-
looking for
-
hope
-
and we'll
-
try to find
-
it anywhere
-
we can
-
we'll look
-
for it in
-
politics
-
we'll look
-
for it in
-
education
-
we'll look
-
for it in
-
wealth
-
or in our
-
careers
-
we'll look
-
for it in
-
friendships
-
and relationships
-
we'll look
-
for it in
-
family
-
we'll look
-
for it in
-
all these
-
places
-
and all of
-
those things
-
are empty
-
hopes
-
they're not
-
living
-
hopes
-
and then
-
Peter comes
-
alongside
-
those of
-
us who
-
have experienced
-
this in the
-
last few
-
years of our
-
life
-
all of us
-
together
-
just by
-
virtue of
-
existing
-
in the
-
United States
-
the last
-
five years
-
and we say
-
you know what
-
I don't have
-
a hope
-
here
-
but I do
-
have a
-
certain hope
-
ahead
-
and it
-
fills me
-
with joy
-
which should
-
lead us to
-
burst with
-
praise
-
why
-
because the
-
inheritance
-
that we
-
have
-
is of
-
a quality
-
that we
-
could never
-
even imagine
-
it's imperishable
-
it's undefiled
-
it's unfading
-
and God is
-
keeping it for
-
you
-
and it will
-
be yours
-
third
-
we're to
-
praise God
-
for the
-
certainty
-
of the
-
future
-
inheritance
-
so we're
-
praising God
-
for the
-
right to
-
it
-
he has
-
caused
-
us to
-
be born
-
again
-
we're
-
praising
-
God
-
for the
-
quality
-
of it
-
all of
-
the things
-
that Peter
-
just mentioned
-
in verse
-
four
-
and then we
-
get to the
-
end and we
-
say okay
-
we're to
-
praise God
-
for the
-
certainty
-
of it
-
the
-
difficulties
-
that we
-
experience
-
when thinking
-
about this
-
inheritance
-
as exiles
-
here
-
is coming
-
to terms
-
with the
-
fact that
-
it is
-
actually
-
indeed
-
future
-
it's
-
kept in
-
heaven
-
Peter
-
says in
-
verse
-
four
-
it's
-
a salvation
-
ready to
-
be revealed
-
not today
-
maybe not
-
tomorrow
-
but in the
-
last time
-
the return
-
of the
-
Lord Jesus
-
Christ
-
and that's
-
hard isn't
-
it
-
because life
-
hits pretty
-
hard now
-
this time
-
of exile
-
can be
-
seriously
-
difficult
-
and we
-
may begin
-
to wonder
-
about the
-
certainty
-
of what
-
God has
-
promised
-
we may
-
be plagued
-
with doubts
-
about whether
-
or not we
-
can even
-
make it
-
to the
-
end
-
still
-
believing
-
and it
-
is the
-
certainty
-
of those
-
that those
-
who are born
-
again will
-
receive this
-
eternal salvation
-
that Peter
-
takes up in
-
this final
-
statement
-
and once
-
again
-
he rested
-
all
-
ultimately
-
on the
-
power of
-
God
-
at work
-
in us
-
look again
-
at verse
-
five
-
it is
-
kept in
-
heaven
-
for you
-
who by
-
God's
-
power
-
are being
-
guarded
-
through
-
faith
-
for a
-
salvation
-
ready to
-
be revealed
-
in the
-
last time
-
how can
-
we be
-
sure
-
that this
-
inheritance
-
is ours
-
how can
-
we be
-
certain
-
that we
-
will truly
-
inherit this
-
kind of life
-
in eternity
-
well the
-
necessity
-
of faith
-
cannot be
-
overlooked
-
in this
-
verse
-
Peter makes
-
it clear
-
that we
-
are being
-
guarded
-
through
-
faith
-
faith
-
here is a
-
continuing
-
trust
-
in the
-
Lord Jesus
-
Jesus
-
Tom
-
Schreiner
-
said
-
Peter does
-
not conceive
-
of a
-
faith
-
of faith
-
as a
-
single
-
isolated
-
act
-
genuine
-
faith
-
persists
-
he says
-
until the
-
day of
-
redemption
-
there is
-
no salvation
-
apart from
-
continuing
-
faith
-
and thus
-
faith is a
-
condition
-
for obtaining
-
the eschatological
-
inheritance
-
but look back
-
at the verse
-
and Schreiner
-
is exactly
-
right
-
but look
-
back at
-
the verse
-
notice
-
who is
-
guarding
-
this faith
-
that you
-
are being
-
guarded by
-
God's
-
power
-
through
-
faith
-
which leads
-
Schreiner
-
to then say
-
1 Peter 1
-
5 contains
-
a remarkable
-
promise
-
God's
-
power
-
protects
-
us
-
because
-
his
-
power
-
is the
-
means
-
by which
-
our
-
faith
-
is
-
sustained
-
our
-
assurance
-
then
-
and our
-
certainty
-
then
-
it rest
-
ultimately
-
not on
-
who we
-
are
-
what we're
-
doing
-
it rest
-
ultimately
-
on the
-
power
-
of God
-
to guard
-
us
-
to the
-
very
-
end
-
we've
-
sung
-
about it
-
over
-
and over
-
this
-
morning
-
in the
-
various
-
songs
-
that
-
this
-
salvation
-
comes
-
from
-
God
-
it is
-
given
-
to us
-
by God
-
and we
-
are
-
kept
-
by God
-
for it
-
so what's
-
the point
-
here
-
what is
-
Peter
-
saying
-
well you
-
can take
-
courage
-
in the
-
certainty
-
that you
-
will receive
-
this
-
inheritance
-
because the
-
same God
-
who is
-
keeping it
-
in heaven
-
is keeping
-
you
-
until the
-
time
-
that he
-
sees fit
-
to reveal
-
it
-
salvation
-
is being
-
kept
-
for us
-
and we
-
are being
-
kept
-
for it
-
therefore
-
bless
-
be the
-
God
-
and father
-
of our
-
Lord
-
Jesus
-
Christ
-
because he
-
has caused
-
us to be
-
born again
-
to an
-
inheritance
-
that's
-
imperishable
-
and it's
-
kept in
-
heaven for
-
us
-
who by
-
his power
-
are being
-
guarded
-
through
-
faith
-
so that
-
we will
-
actually
-
receive
-
the
-
inheritance
-
that he
-
has
-
promised
-
lost
-
we sing
-
it from
-
time to
-
time
-
he'll not
-
let my
-
soul be
-
lost
-
his promises
-
shall last
-
bought by
-
him at
-
such a
-
cost
-
he
-
will hold
-
me
-
fast
-
I know
-
sometimes you
-
may feel as a
-
Christian
-
that all you
-
can do
-
is cling
-
barely
-
but you
-
know where
-
your assurance
-
really lies
-
it's not in
-
your ability
-
to hold on
-
to him
-
it's on his
-
power
-
to hold on
-
to you
-
therefore
-
praise God
-
in your
-
exile
-
for he is
-
keeping you
-
well thriving
-
in exile
-
it doesn't
-
begin with
-
fixing our
-
problems
-
it begins
-
with worshiping
-
the God of
-
our great
-
salvation
-
he's provided
-
an eternal
-
inheritance
-
the quality
-
of which
-
is unlike
-
anything we've
-
ever known
-
through his
-
mercy
-
he's given
-
us the right
-
to this
-
inheritance
-
through the
-
new birth
-
so that
-
all our
-
hope and
-
faith rest
-
in the
-
resurrection
-
of the
-
Lord Jesus
-
from the
-
dead
-
and while
-
he keeps
-
our
-
inheritance
-
secure
-
in heaven
-
he is
-
guarding
-
us by
-
his
-
power
-
so that
-
our faith
-
in Christ
-
is
-
sustained
-
until the
-
very end
-
why
-
because our
-
faith follows
-
the new
-
birth
-
and if it's
-
his power
-
that brings
-
about the
-
new birth
-
it's his
-
power
-
that will
-
keep us
-
to the
-
end
-
so for all
-
of this
-
and more
-
we can
-
join with
-
Peter
-
and exclaim
-
blessed be
-
the God
-
and Father
-
of our
-
Lord Jesus
-
Christ
-
let's pray
-
together
-
let'sย