ODJ: born into privilege

February 11, 2014 

READ: 1 Peter 1:3-6 

It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead (v.3).

I thank God that I was born into privilege. No, I don’t mean that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My dad isn’t a rich tycoon, and I don’t live in a luxurious mansion. In fact, when I was young, my dad had to work extremely hard so that my family could experience reasonable comfort. Yet I can confidently say that I was born into privilege based on what we read in 1 Peter 1:3-6.

Just as we were born physically, so we must also be born spiritually. And just as we had nothing to do with our physical birth—we didn’t will it nor help in the process—so we can’t bring about our spiritual birth. As Peter wrote, “It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead” (v.3).

With this new birth we have a glorious inheritance! Now “inheritance” is an interesting word—meaning that a legacy has been given to us because we’re the member of a specific family. It’s not something we earn, nor is it something we purchase. It’s simply something we receive as a gift because of the family into which we were born.

What’s our inheritance? According to verse 5, it’s the “salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see”. Bible teacher John MacArthur explains it this way: “Your inheritance is that full final salvation from the curse of the law, from the power of sin, from the presence of sin, from all decay, from every stain of iniquity, from all temptation, from all grief, all pain, all death, all punishment, all judgement, all wrath . . . eternal full salvation”.

So let’s rejoice! For regardless of our social position, economic status or nationality, we have a shared reality—we’re born into privilege. —Poh Fang Chia