In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

We have been born from the Father by the word of truth, which is the gospel, which is his Son, for the Father's purpose, which is to glorify Him.

This, our second birth from above, is vastly greater than our first birth.  It is the new wine which cannot be placed in old wine skins.  It is the better wine which Christ provided at the marriage in Cana once the old wine was consumed.  It is the New Testament which fulfills and brings to completion the old law.  Do you see how the rebirth of an individual soul in baptism mirrors the mystery of salvation history in itself?  No wonder the angels in heaven rejoice over the conversion of a sinner.

"You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God."  (1 Peter 1.23)  Our earthly life, given to us by our parents, will perish.  Our heavenly life, given to us by our birth from the Logos, will never perish.  Of course it is possible to extinguish that flame by denying Christ or living in such a habit of sin that we deny our new life and live entirely for our perishable life on Earth.  It seems so unthinkable during meditation but our godless culture is so debased it requires constant prayer to keep the divine life nourished.

"Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."  (John 3.3)  This tells us it is not possible to see the kingdom of God with our perishable eyes, with our earthly self.  It is only the new life, born of God's Word, which can enter in and behold that mystery.  So what, then, are we to continue living and embracing our earthly life until death, when our new life will begin?  This would be a denial of the truths of our faith.  We must make every effort to cast off the old man each day so the new make come ever more alive.  We have the greatest care and concern for our perishable life, are we to imagine our life from above does not require even greater attention?

Finally, we have been birthed by the word of truth.  We must therefore live in truth.  Our words and actions must be truthful.  Everything about us must be true since that is our heritage.