05/28/2026
Three Marks of A Born-Again Believer
1. A Born-Again Believer Pursues Righteousness (vv. 5-6)
Meekness is not the absence of strength , it’s a fruit of the Spirit expressed outwardly as gentleness.
Gentleness is a humble attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, with no desire for revenge.
It shows up as submission to God’s will (Col. 3:12), teachability (James 1:21), and consideration of others (Eph. 4:2).
2. A Born-Again Believer Extends Mercy to Others (vv. 7-9)
God’s mercy is Him withholding the punishment we deserve. Whereas, God’s grace is Him freely offering salvation we don’t deserve
There’s also a difference between peacekeeping (passively avoiding conflict) and peacemaking (moving toward conflict because reconciliation matters more than comfort)
3. A Born-Again Believer Stands Firm in Their Faith (vv. 10-12)
A life shaped by meekness, mercy, and righteousness will eventually be noticeable and it will be persecuted.
Penal substitution-Jesus suffered the penalty for the sins of man and served as the substitute for them.
Union with Christ-being permanently joined to Jesus, (Gal. 2:20)
