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God’s Word: The
Incorruptible Seed
(1 Peter 1:23-25)
Ephrem Chiracho Ouchula
The Word of God has never left us to speculate about its nature and
work. The Holy Scripture bears sufficient witness to its fundamental
characteristics that are eternal by nature. In 1 Peter 1:23-25, the
Apostle Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has written about
the nature of the Holy Scriptures. May the Spirit of God illumine our
minds to unravel the gems of truths concerning God’s Word that are
mentioned in this passage.
1. God’s Incorruptible Word Gives New Birth
“Being born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. . .” (v.
23a).
The Word of God is the
“seed” that brings new life (cf. Luke 8:11). There is an inherent divine
power in the Word of God that brings about spiritual birth in the hearts
of sinners who receive it by faith (cf. James 1:18; Romans 1:16-17;
10:17). Just as God accomplished the creation of all things by the power
of His Word, He also designed to accomplish re-creation of man in Christ
Jesus through His incorruptible Word (cf. Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 11:3).
As the preached Gospel is heard (v. 25b), the Holy Spirit releases the
dynamic power of the Word of God to bring about salvation (cf. Romans
1:16; Titus 3:5). The supernatural work of regeneration by means of the
Word enables believers to purify themselves, believe and obey the truth,
love the brethren, and motivate them to accomplish their Christian
duties. And this change in their lives will be permanent, because it
takes place through God’s Word, which is imperishable, living and
enduring (v. 23b, 25a). The saving power of the Word of God is enduring
and that is only because the Bible remains intact through the ages and
changes of time. This is what is affirmed by 1 Peter 1:23-25.
2. God’s Word Is the Incorruptible Seed
“Being born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. . .” (v.
23a).
Here the word used for
“incorruptible” in the original language of the New Testament Scripture
is aphthartos, the same word that is used in 1 Peter 1:4 to
describe the imperishable nature of the believer’s eternal inheritance.
This Greek word refers to something that is not liable to corruption or
decay, i.e., uncorrupted, or imperishable. The same word is used to
describe the incorruptible nature of the Almighty God in 1 Timothy 1:17.
This implies clearly that as much as God’s nature is incorruptible, so
is His Written Word. Thus, the Word of God shares in the character of
its Author. God’s Word is not liable to corruption because its Author
has set His seal of protection over it (cf. Psalm 12:6-7). The word
aphthartos is also used to refer to the eternal life and the
resurrection bodies of believers (Romans 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:52).
Again, the implication is that God’s Word is beyond any possibility of
corruption. Thus, the Scripture firmly declares that the Word of God is
incorruptible as its Author, the eternal God Himself, is incorruptible.
Thus, Peter declares that God’s Word is preserved beyond any corruption.
What great comfort and assurance can every child of the living and true
God draws from this truth!
3. God’s Incorruptible Word Lives and Abides Forever
“The word of God, which
liveth and abideth for ever. 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: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (vv.
23b-25a).
Peter further describes
the incorruptible Word of God as that “which liveth and abideth for
ever” (v. 23b; cf. Hebrews 4:12). Grammatically, the adjectives “liveth
and abideth” could refer either to “God” or to the “Word of God.” But
the context strongly argues for the latter. The contrast being made here
is between the frailty of man and the permanence of God’s Word that
saved him (vv. 24-25). This is confirmed by the illustration in verse 24
and the restatement of this truth in verse 25a. Thus, the statement in
verse 23b again reinforces the fact that God’s Word abides eternally
intact beyond any possibility of corruption. It answers the question:
“How long does God’s Word remain pure and uncontaminated?” It lives and
abides intact forever. As much as God is eternally immutable, so is His
Word. The verb “abide” implies “to stay in a given place, state,
relation or expectancy,” meaning to continue or endure without any
change of state.
Thus God’s Word retains
its vital and efficacious power of regenerating and sanctifying souls
forever. And the Word does not lose its life-giving power because it is
eternally whole, incorruptible and unchanging. Truly, the word of God is
the everlasting truth; it is so in its nature, and also in its effects
in regenerating and sanctifying our souls. Therefore, as much as we are
sure of the eternal preservation of the Word of our God, we are sure of
the eternal security of the salvation of our souls.
4. God’s Incorruptible Word Does Not Fall Away
To reiterate and
illustrate the unchanging and indestructible nature of God’s Word, Peter
quoted Isaiah 40:6-8. Isaiah was giving consolation to the exiles of
Israel to trust in God’s Word through which they received the promise of
a future restoration and glory. The Apostle Peter was also speaking to
the believers in the Diaspora (cf. 1 Peter 1:1) to reaffirm the surety
of their salvation and future glory that are built upon God’s permanent
Word. Peter, having declared that God’s Word lives and abides intact
forever, now contrasts these characteristics of the Word with the
defencelessness of man. He asserts that “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.” Every man and his riches, wisdom, power
and glory will fade away like the flower of grass. But once he is
born-again by the Word of God, he will be made a new creature, and his
glory will not fade like a flower, but shine like an angel of God in
heaven (cf. Daniel 12:3). Our evangelistic efforts must be centred upon
the Word of God and our lifestyle must back its power and
trustworthiness (Philippians 2:14-16; Matthew 5:13-16).
In sharp contrast to man’s
frailty, Peter affirms that “the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (v.
25). The Word of God is fixed, and permanent. Amidst all the revolutions
on earth, all the natural objects continue to fade in glory. But against
all hostility and destructive powers, His truth remains unaffected. Its
glory, beauty, power, and efficacy remain unabated forever because it is
the incorruptible seed that God gave for man’s salvation, sanctification
and edification. And it is this same Word which is preached unto us by
the Gospel (v. 25). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is as lovely now as it
was when it was first revealed to man. This is the foundation of our
faith. The fact that God’s Word stands unchanged and unchanging through
all ages, gives us the surety that God’s precious promises to us, even
the whole of God’s Word, stands forever; and so is our salvation that is
produced by it and our faith that is built on this eternally
incorruptible Word of God.
- Published in
Bible Witness, Vol 5 Issue
2
(March - April 2005)
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